Job Interview: Benefits To Focus On When Applying For A New Job

• Health benefits
  • Does the employer offer health insurance?
  • Is there more than one plan? If so what does each cover?
  • What will it cost you? 
    • Will it cost you substantially more than you've been paying?
    • How does the cost compare to plans available through an Exchange?
  • If the plan restricts the doctors and hospital you can go to, ask if you can see a list of participating physicians to determine if your physician, particularly your specialist, participates in one of the plans.
  • Is there dental and/or vision coverage for you? For your family?
  • Is there a tax advantage health savings plan that lets you use pretax dollars to pay for your deductibles and other out of pocket costs?
  • If you have a spouse or partner who has group health insurance, how does coverage and your cost compare to being covered under his or her plan?
• Retirement  (keeping in mind expecting the best, while preparing for the worst)
  • Does the company offer a retirement plan? If so, what is it?
  • When does vesting occur? (Vesting is when you get to keep the money in the retirement plan even if you quit or get fired.)
  • Does the company offer a 401(k) plan or other retirement plan?
• Life Insurance
  • Does the company provide basic life insurance?
  • Supplemental Life Insurance?
  • Does the life insurance cover dependents?
  • Keep in mind that there are new uses of life insurance that permit you to get money from a policy while you are still alive.
    • Does the policy have a "Living Benefit" which allows you to get money from the insurance company if you have a short life expectancy?
    • Does the policy allow a transfer in ownership, or at least the right to convert it to individual insurance if you leave work for any reason?
    • For information about new uses of life insurance because of your health condition, click here
• Time Off
  • How much paid vacation is offered? Can you buy additional vacation days?
  • How many personal days?
  • How many sick days?
  • What is the sick leave policy? Can you take additional time without pay? 
  • Keep in mind that you may be entitled to take time off to deal with your health condition thanks to laws such as the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Disability
  • Does the company provide short and/or long term disability benefits?
  • Do you have the option to pay the premium? (If you pay the premiums with pre-tax dollars, the benefits are tax free.)
  • Can you purchase additional coverage if you want more protection?  If so, at what cost?
  • Keep in mind you may also be entitled to disability benefits thanks to Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income. 

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