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"Anonymous" <anonfwd -at- raycomm -dot- com> asks:
> Is it common to have some sort of benefit package with long-term
> contracts? (This one would be 6 months, with a very large and successful
> company) Or is that something peculiar to certain agencies or geographic
> areas?
No. Not unless you are an employee of an agency or a "job shop" that also
handles your payroll and taxes. Benefits are for employees, and you won't be
one.
> Do most of you carry your own individual health insurance, or are you
> able to rely on a spouse or relative for that? How hard is it to find
> individual policies that are both affordable and actually useful?
First, since you are already working and have health insurance through your
employer, you can continue the coverage through COBRA. The rate you will
pay is the same rate the company pays per employee plus a percentage (8%?)
for "administrative costs). COBRA coverage is for 18 months, though it can
be extended in some circumstances.
If you are young and in perfect health, you can find a policy for under
$100/month (I'm talking Northern California here.) If you have a chronic
health condition such as ashtma, diabetes, are pregnant, or overweight, the
insurace costs will be quite high.
If it looks to you like the company is being honest (this is a real "try
before you buy" and not a "let's get someone cheap for a short term
project"), you might want to negotiate some compensation or consideration
about the benefits. For example, have a 3-month waiting period before an
employee can have health care coverage. Ask them to waive this if you are
hired. They'll say they can't, that the carrier won't allow it. They *CAN*
if they pay a bit extra for the first three months of your coverage--or you
can make up the difference.
===================
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