Health Insurance Trap

[trapped]

I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how I may be able to escape from the health insurance trap I currently find myself in. Both my wife and I have medical issues that aren't huge, but are costly. Because of this, I'm stuck in a job that I despise due to the health insurance it provides. If I were to quit, we would lose the insurance and would not be able to find any on the open market. Basically, I'm trapped and I'm wondering how I might escape it since I think it's taking a toll on my marriage and definitely my sanity.

Has anyone else ever found themselves doing something they don't like for the money or the benefits it provides? What options do I have? If you have been in this situation, how did you escape it?

[disneysteve]

This is a very common problem today. Many people work just to get the benefits. Since many jobs have a 90-day probation period, switching jobs means you would have no coverage for 3 months and lots of people with health issues can't afford to take that chance.

Is it possible for you to get coverage through COBRA during the period when you wouldn't yet be covered by a new employer?

[simpletron]

I know that at my company, that you would still have health benefits until the end of the current month. so if your last day was the 1st - you still have benefits until the 30th or 31st. this may or may not be the case with your company.

there are some companies that benefits start on day one. if it is important that health benefits start soon, ask about them during the interveiw/negotiation. companies are always looking for high quality employees, so if health benefits is the only hang up, they might work out a deal. on the flip side, a health benefits deal will make it hard for you, especially if there is equally qualified person that doesn't need it.

you aren't trapped. you just have to make sure you won't have a gap in health insurance before you quit your current job.