Can new insurance decline me?

I'm no expert, but I'm about to go through the same thing, so I've gathered information.  It might depend on laws in your state though.  In Maryland at least, as long as you have had UNINTERRUPTED coverage, they cannot deny pre-existing conditions. So no, they cannot decline you.  Where it's a problem is if your insurance from the first job runs out and you have a lapse (even days) before the other starts.  That's where a COBRA plan would need to be used.

You may need to check into laws in your state because they might be different.  I would contact the office manager or agent in charge of the insurance at the new job.

Good luck Catherine; I'm hoping things are on your side and MN law is similar.

I know how stressful it is to have to deal with that stuff on top of treatment and recovery.  

You are not alone!

Teresa

It it my understanding that you could not be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition unless you were without insurance for  60+ days per federal law.  They don't usually check in the beginning but expect them to ask for a certificate of prior coverage sometime after signing up.  This applies to employer sponsored health plans, not individually purchased plans.  If you are concerned about a lapse in coverage then COBRA is a good but expensive option.  I quit my job and started somewhere else as a contractor not a permanent employee (no benefits) two days before my diagnosis.  This was a major concern for me so I've done my homework on all this.