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What should I know when I leave my job for a new one?

I live in CT and I am leaving my job for a better offer. Is there anything I should know about my 401k plan, medical benefits, etc. Do I lose all my sick/vacation/floating time or do I have a right to use this time by law / or get a payout? Will I have to use COBRA health insurance for a bit because I'm not sure if I have to wait a certain period before I am offered Medical Insurance through my new job? What will the rates be for COBRA? The employer I am leaving is a big corporation.

Public Comments

1. Basically once you leave your employer you cannot anymore enjoy all benefits given to you. Unless they're government-mandatory benefits in nature.
2. Most people, to keep things simple, will roll their 401K into a new one at their new employer. However, you do not have to in most cases and can keep it as is or roll it over into an IRA. COBRA is nothing more than a continuation of your current policy. The only difference is the employer will stop paying the portion that they've been paying and there will be an additional 2% admin fee. So if you know how much the employer has been contributing simple math will give you the information. If you don't know you need to ask. COBRA regulations require you to be given 60 days to decide whether or not to take COBRA. If something happens and you need medical services during those 60 days you will be covered retroactively when you sign up, but you must also pay the premium retroactively. You must pay back to the day you lost your current coverage; they don't give you a choice. Any probationary period for health insurance through your new job is solely dependent upon that new employer. Some will have probationary periods and some will not. However, it is a federal requirement that pre-existing conditions must be covered as long as you didn't have a lapse of more than 63 days without insurance.