Amy, a federal law would protect you if you switched jobs, it is called HIPPA, and it allows emplyoees to switch jobs and you condition can not be considered pre-existing as long as you do not have a lapse in coverage greater than 62 days.For counting the lapse ends on your hire date,not your new effective date. For example, if you leave your job today 4-5-06 and you start your new job 4-10-06, according to HIPPA you would have been without coverage for 5 days. Even if your new coverage does not start for 90 days, the new hire date is used. I hope this helps.