really need to know the answer to this, it is about work place?

Most companies have an open enrollment period each year that allow you to sign up for benefits after being employed. This is also when you can change your coverage by adding or removing certain items (medical, dental, flex spending, vision, etc.)

If he has had a life changing event - getting married, having or adopting a child, getting divorced, he may be eligible to make changes to the benefits.

The company can deny him medical coverage if he is asking to be enrolled in a non-open period and is not having a life changing event.

Living in Iowa has nothing to do with answering this question...unless your state employees, which would force the state to allow a once-annual enrollment period. Private companies establish their own policies, and it is the responsibility of the Human Resources department of a given company to inform new employees of what is available. Additionally, the employee has a responsibility to read the employee manual and act in his/her best interests. So, basically, tell your coworker to get off his butt and check with HR or reread the employee manual on policies. Your question does NOT have an answer that can be of any help because noone knows your coworker's situation or the company policy.

some companies have policies that you can only sign up for annual coverage on certain dates. Our company for instance has sign up in June for next year's coverage, if we fail to enroll during the time frame then we decline coverage and are not eligible until next year. Best thing to do is talk to HR and find out when is their annual enrollment.

It can depend on the companies policies. He can ask the HR department for any rule and regulation which state that he cant get it now, if there is any such manual of the company saying that he cant get the coverage now, then he cant but if it says that he can get it any time then he must get it. It is his right. If the HR refuse to give such policy manual or regulation manual he can have it under the Right to Information act, provided if it is in your country.

Yes, your work can deny him coverage. Though your work should have open enrollment periods when this person can join and get medical coverage. there are also laws where upon major 'life' events people can change their coverage too, such as getting married, divorced, death, etc.

all this should be in your workplace benefits manual.

That's a new one to me. The jobs I've held and my current job allow you to get coverage on your anniversary of hire. You may not receive coverage for some things because they can call it a preceding condition but as long as you prove that you haven't received treatment previously you will be covered. I am a resident of North Carolina though I still think he should investigate. It sounds shady.

Yes many insurance companies have open enrollment periods. Usually they will allow new people to enroll once or twice a year. Check with your HR dept on when it is for your company.

I think it is typical to make people wait until open enrollment (which ususally happpens once a year) to purchase or change plans if they did not do it when they started with the company. Did they say that he can NEVER have it or that he would have to wait to enroll?

Typically there is an enrollment window that you sign up in. When is the next one? I'm thinking there is a miscommunication here, since you mention the word "Buy"...why would they not sell it to him.

Yes, you can only purchase it once a year for certain companies, you can still purchase it but you have to wait for the new cycle. You have to talk to hr when that happens.