Cathy and Chuck --

Thanks to you both for replying. It sounds like the hassles in dealing with two insurance companies -- and the expense of a second policy -- may outweigh any benefits we might obtain if he signed on for his own health insurance at his new job. Fortunately, I like my job and it has good insurance (better than his old job's, which is why we are all covered on my policy). Keep your fingers crossed that my industry, which has been going through some tough times of late, stays afloat for a while longer!

I don't know whether his new company's health insurance plan asks those questions, Chuck. I figured that since he had been covered under my policy, it wasn't a problem -- i.e., he could show continuous insurance coverage for the last five years and it wasn't like we were trying to put something over on the new company. In addition, the booklet we received about the new company's plans says nothing about pre-existing conditions and health insurance. It DOES talk about pre-existing conditions as they relate to the company's long-term disability and long-term care policies. He should be fine with both of those, as long as the fine print is as straightforward as the language in the booklet.

What is a POC 80?

Nuclear subs! I'm impressed. My son (just finished his first year of Navy ROTC) is at CORTRAMID in San Diego -- he has his sub week this coming week.