Quote Originally Posted by Edwina's Secretary View Post
That situation is specifically addresses in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Protection under the act is extended to people with disabilities, a history or perceived as and those who are associated with a person with a disability. This is to prohibit employers from doing exactly what you state - making a decision based on the (expensive) disability of a dependent.

As always there are two side. An expensive disability on the part of a dependent can cause a small employer to be unable to qualify for group medical - or at least at an affordable price.

On the other side - if the individual cannot get medical through an employer - no insurance company will sell them a policy so what are they to do?

Do employers still make decisions based on the cost of insuring an employee...well...
Without going into much detail, this very example played out to someone close to me. The person carrying the dependent with significant health issues was making it nearly financially impossible for the employer to carry the load. This was going to affect a rather large group of employees.

While it might be true that employers cannot fire someone for insurance related issues, it happens. Often.

I don't blame the employer. I surely don't blame the person with the health issues. I flat out blame the devil- the insurance company.