That is not true at all…

First, this was depicted as being in 2003, the affordable care act (ACA aka Obamacare), came into effect only in 2014, and was the first time it was required that employers have no more than a 90 day waiting period. Before the ACA it was not uncommon for a year long waiting period after starting a new job before becoming eligible for health insurance. 3 months is the law today, but not the case in 2003.

Second, no gap is paid for by previous employers. The gap you are talking about is what is known as COBRA, but basically once you leave a workplace they have to offer you the ABILITY to stay on their plan for 18 months, but they have no obligation to PAY for it. Generally employer insurance is mostly paid by the employer, with the employee paying a very small portion. When you use cobra as an someone not employed you have to pay BOTH portions. I left a job recently and I paid ~$100 each check while there. For me to go onto cobra is was going to be ~$1500 a month.