Scan Medical Insurance

Can your company require a Biometric health screening in order to continue insurance coverage?

My Spouse has worked for the same company for the past 15 years. The company seems to be forcing the issue of a biometric health screening. Under the heading of "Is this mandatory?" it says.."For salaried employees, in order to participate in the 2010 Medical Plans you are required to go through the on-site biometric screen process, and the online Health Risk Assessment. If a salaried employee chooses not to participate in either the Biometric Screen, or the online Health Risk Assessment, they will not be eligible for 2010 Medical Insurance, and you will receive COBRA notification to your home if you were previously participating in the medical plans" Is this crap legal? Can a company terminate your insurance for not completing this so called health assessment?

Public Comments

1. Yes. Welcome to the wonderful world of risk-based, profit-driven health coverage.
2. A company has no legal duty to give insurance at all, generally. In states where it does it MAY be illegal (for companies of a certain size) but I'm pretty sure you would have to take it to court, and the government wants EVERYONE's private records on line 4th amendment or not (look at Obamacare) so I think you'd have a hard time with it. Is there an implication you won't be covered if you have preexisting conditions? Because if that is the case it may not satisfy legal standards IF there are legal standards. Note that there often are not, particularly for small companies.
3. Yes they can. In my case it was a matter of insurance cost being cheaper with the health screening. You have the choice of participating or not and you have been told the results if you choose not to participate. It is not that bad. I have done the screening twice. Also all information is kept confidential and your company does not get the results.