Can you be denied insurance from your employer if they have a health benefits program?

Yes, because the health benefit package will have an underwriter. If their program cannot get an insurance underwriter to accept a person's health status, they wouldn't be eligible for benefits. The employees focus would just need to be changed to focus on sounding insurable (as in, not in the active process of dying) through health screenings and physicals with your doctor and provide that information. Good luck!