My question is this.

I am a full time salaried employee who does not recieve benefits. I have worked for the same company for two years and now am realizing the necesity for health insurance. Other employees of the company are offered health insurance and when I questioned my avalibility for it I was giving the run around. I live in New York and I'm wondering if they have to offer it to me?

Any help would be great

Thanks, Kevin

IF the company offers benefits and IF you meet the qualifications they have to offer it to you. You haven't told us enough to make a definite yes or no. There is no mandate that they offer benefits but if they do they are obligated to offer it to all employees who qualify, based on the plan document. You have indicated that other employees have it but depending on how the plan is written, you may or may not be eligible. For example, the plan could legally be written so that only employees of certain departments, pay grades, or classifications are eligible. I'm not saying that's how I'd run my benefits plan but it can be done. Also, even if you do qualify, they do not have to make it available to you until a regular Open Enrollment period. So basically the answer is, maybe.

I agree with Cathie for most part. It sounds like you work for a small employer. If so, they probably have a fully insured medical plan and such plan has an eligibility provision set up by the employer and insurer. If you meet that eligibility provision you are entitled to enroll. Contact the insurer and ask them what the eligibility is. If they won’t cooperate contact the state insurance commission.

You still may not be able to get into the plan until open enrollment, as Cathie says.