Question
What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?
NC
I am five months pregnant, am currently covered by BCBS. My boss just informed me this morning that our corporate-owned office has been bought out by an individual. This individual may not even keep the same employees that work there now. Anyways, my question is if this new guy keeps me as an employee and has his own insurance policy for us to use, will I be covered by this policy seeing that I am 5 mos. along? Can I be let go by this new individual, or is that discrimination here in NC? What are my rights as a pregnant woman? Also, will PTO time be lost?
Answer
if this new guy keeps me as an employee and has his own insurance policy for us to use, will I be covered by this policy seeing that I am 5 mos. along?
Under HIPAA, pregnancy CANNOT be considered a pre-existing condition on employer sponored insurance, so assuming that he provides insurance coverage for the employees at all (he is not required to do so) the pregnancy will be covered.
Can I be let go by this new individual, or is that discrimination here in NC?
He cannot let you go BECAUSE you are pregnant, but he is under no obligation to keep you employed just because you are pregnant either. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act does not give you any special privileges; it says that you have to be treated exactly the same as if you were not pregnant. You can be fired because of poor performance; for cause; in a business-related decision that is unrelated to your pregnancy; or for any other reason that a non-pregnant employee can be fired.
What are my rights as a pregnant woman?
Exactly the same as anyone else. No more; no less.
Also, will PTO time be lost?
That's a matter of company policy.