Study: Most Workers Have To Wait Longer For Health Insurance Than Congress

[cal04]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/study-most-workers-have-to-wait-for-health-insurance.php

Rep.-elect (and physician) Andy Harris (R-MD) stood up at an orientation of newly elected members, flabbergasted that he'd have to wait a month for his government-provided private health insurance to kick in.

"This is the only employer I've ever worked for where you don't get coverage the first day you are employed," he reportedly complained, outraged by the delay.

For a man of the people, that's a pretty impressive résumé. Most workers in this country have to wait weeks between their first day on the job and the day their health insurance kicks in. Sometimes more.

(snip)
"Seventy-four percent of covered workers face a waiting period before coverage is available. Covered workers in the Northeast are less likely (64%) than workers in other regions to face a waiting period." the report reads. "The average waiting period among covered workers who face a waiting period is 2.2 months.... Thirty-one percent of covered workers face a waiting period of 3 months or more."

[Brickbat]

1. Wow, instant health care as soon as you're hired? At EVERY JOB HE'S EVER HAD?

AMAZING! I think the best I've ever had was 30 days. My last job, you were enrolled after 60 but you could only make changes to enrollment every six months.

[Capitalocracy]

2. I've never had a job that provided health insurance.

:shrug: I guess that's just because I'm lazy or something.

[tanyev]

3. Welcome to real America, asshat.

[SoCalDem]

4. 90 days is pretty standard

and some companies love to hire people, work them 80 days or so and then "lay them off"....after a month or so, they are "called back" ..rinse repeat...

This is what Home Base did to our son on his first "real" job.. He was hired on with about 6 others, and ALL of them were laid off ...but a few days later they hired a friend of his (along with 4 other young guys).. true to form, they were also laid off later...just before the benefits started..

It saved them money and probably cut down on paperwork for them as well.. It was all during the "probationary period", so it was relatively easy to let them go..

[Contrary1]

5. How many "jobs" can you find in his impressive bio?

Born in Brooklyn, New York, January 25, 1957. College of Arts and Sciences, The Johns Hopkins Member of Senate since January 13, 1999. Member, Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee 1999- (health subcommittee, 1999-; licensing & regulatory affairs subcommittee, 2003-04; alcoholic beverages subcommittee, 2003-, chair, 2003-06; member, ethics & election law subcommittee, 2008-); Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing, 1999-. Member, Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 2003; Executive Nominations Committee, 2003-06. Minority Whip, 2003-06. Member, Taxpayers Protection Caucus, 2003-; Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2004-. Member, National Conference of State Legislatures (redistricting & elections committee, 2005-).

Member, Task Force to Study Health Care Needs of Inmates in Transition from Correctional Institutions, 2000-02; Task Force to Study the Availability of Audiology and Speech-Language Services, 2003; Governor's Task Force on Medical Malpractice and Health Care Access, 2004; Statewide Commission on the Shortage in the Health Care Workforce, 2006-08.

University, B.S. (human biology), 1977; School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, M.D., 1980; School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, M.H.S. (health policy & management; health finance & management), 1995.

Served in Medical Corps, U.S. Naval Reserve (Lt. Commander, 1988-94; Commander, 1994-). Commanding Officer, The Johns Hopkins Naval Reserve Medical Unit, 1989-92. Anesthesiologist. Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, and Chief of Obstetric Anesthesiology, The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Member, Society of Anesthesiology (obstetric anesthesia subcommittee), 1993-94; Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology, 1996-. Executive Committee, Maryland-D.C. Society of Anesthesiologists, 1997-. Medical School Council, The Johns Hopkins University, 1996-. Member, Knights of Columbus; Thornleigh Neighborhood Improvement Association (vice-president, 1984-85; president, 1985-86). Board of Directors, Sherwood Community Association, 1987-91. Vice-President, St. Joseph's School Home-School Association, 1992-94. Board of Directors, Maryland Leadership Council, 1995-98. Member, North Central Republican Club (treasurer, 1997-98; vice-president, 1998). Delegate, Republican Party National Convention, 2004. Laughlin Award for Distinguished Public Officer, Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, 2001. Married; five children.

http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/05sen/html/msa02793.html

[Gormy Cuss]

6. High paid professional jobs are more likely to offer day 1 coverage.

Maybe Rep. Harris just bought a clue about the limitations of PPACA.