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Help wanted: Forced into family health coverage

Quick ReadThe company, without my approval, recently deducted money from my paycheck for a family plan, even though I had selected individual coverage. Is this legal?

Any employer who deducts a premium amount for

Photo credit: iStock | Any employer who deducts a premium amount for health coverage from an employee’s paycheck without that person’s previous written consent may be in violation of labor law, experts say.

Carrie Mason-Draffen

Newsday columnist Carrie Mason Draffen Carrie Mason-Draffen

Mason-Draffen, a business reporter, writes a column about workplace issues.

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DEAR CARRIE: Can my employer require me to take family health-insurance coverage because I claim my children as dependents on my IRS withholding form? The company, without my approval, recently deducted money from my paycheck for a family plan, even though I had selected individual coverage. Is this legal? -- Forced Plan

DEAR FORCED PLAN: Sounds as if your employer misunderstood something...

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