Can my Ohio employer raise my health insurance rates without my knowledge when it is NOT open enrollment?

Question

I received a memo with my paycheck this week stating the insurance rates had increased starting this pay period. Open enrollment is not until August and no one was given the opportunity to opt out if they did not want the increase in payment. Is this legal?

Answer 1

In Illinois and Iowa this is a no-no.... Ohio, being a red-state (yes, I know, Iowa is too, the fools), might be able to do this. You'll have to check further. Call your state department of employment (you know, the people you would call if you had to apply for unemployment).... They should be able to tell you.... What city in Ohio do you live in? -beaver (Rock Island, Illinois)

Another thing you could do is MOVE HERE! Less people, nicer people, more farmland... More open spaces, good jobs... you can email me if you are interested.

Answer 2

The employer isn't raising your rates. The insurance company is. The employer simply passes these costs to you in accordance with the policy they have in effect (likely that they pay so much and the rest is yours).

Yes, this is legal. As far as opting out, you can drop your health coverage any time you like. But you need a reality check. Health insurance is expensive, and costs continue to go up. These costs will likely continue to climb.

More and more employers are going to a system that requires the employee to cover anything over a fixed amount because the businesses cannot take the unending increase in costs. You may not like it, but that's how it is. Life isn't always fair. You may need to re evaluate your health coverage and swap out for a high deductable plan if you can't afford the one you currently have. Most people on employer plans choose cadillac plans when they need the much less expensive high deductable plans. But this also means you have to cover doctor's office visits out of your own pocket, etc. It's part of the cost of being alive. Get used to it. Life isn't fair.

Answer 3

often, no. you won't be able to drop it if the in undemanding words clarification for dropping that is that you won't be able to manage to pay for it. In very uncommon cases, you may properly be able to drop it for different causes, alongside with marriage, divorce, start of a baby, death, adoption, or in the journey that your better 1/2 receives a clean pastime that factors coverage. those are regularly issues that ensue no more effective than some cases in an finished life, so the wait can be longer than the look ahead to open enrollment.

Answer 4

i would speak to your HR person about it. or call local dept. of labor