My Horrible Employer

LOPSIDED · 07-19-2006, 08:37 PM

BARBARA, I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE THIS JOB BUT ITS ALL ABOUT MEDICAL INSURANCE. MY BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD WOULD END AND I WOULD HAVE COBRA INSURANCE WHICH IS SO EXPENSIVE. IF I LEAVE I CAN ONLY GET COBRA FOR 18 MONTHS----WHAT IF I HAVE MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS. SAY I PAY IT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND GET A NEW JOB. WILL I BE ABLE TO GET INSURANCE WITH ANOTHER COMPANY. I DON'T SEE HOW-----I HAVE HERCEPTIN TREATMENT FOR A 10 MORE MONTHS. WOULDN'T THEY SAY I HAD PRE-EXISITING DISEASE. I'M SINGLE AND MY LONG TERM DISABILITY CHECK IS NOT THAT MUCH. I READ UP ON THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND AFTER YOU USE FMLA LEAVE AND PERSONAL LEAVE THEY CAN LET YOU GO........THEY CALL IT AN UNDO HARDSHIP ON THE COMPANY TO KEEP YOU ON. I GUESS ALL WE CAN DO IS PRAY.

Barbara H. · 07-19-2006, 09:02 PM

Hi Lopsided,
I understand what you mean about preexisting conditions, but I have heard that this may no longer be true for companies that offer group insurance. I can't be sure about this and it may be vary by state. Perhaps there are others here who have changed jobs and can offer you help. Hopefully, after 10 months this cancer will be licked, and you may never have to deal with it again. I'm still hoping that you will find something better that works for you. In the meantime, just tell them that your getting your strength back, and expect to put this behind you. Thank them for what they have done, and try to make it though the next 10 months. But, keep your eyes open and pursue other options.
Best wishes,
Barbara H.

Sandy H · 07-20-2006, 05:37 AM

My insurance person, who is also a friend, told me the insurance company can not deny you insurance based on a pre existing condition however, that is not to say they can not charge you a high premium and/or a high deductible. I am sure that they can get around this some how if they don't want to take you on. I know when you mention cancer that changes everything but we are not suppose to know that. I thought I was going to have to go on Cobra when my husband went out on disability and the premiums for me were tripled because of my diagnose. Not fair. You may need to ask an attorney this question as each state may vary. This whole thing can be so unfair for us. I had a friend who fought her way through the state system as she had no insurance but worked 3 jobs when diagnosed. She won and now they have to cover her for 5 years with follow ups etc! They even dropped her after the first year and her doctor called right up and told them they could not do that and they then, said it was a paper error and should never happened!!! But then the stress of it all was not good. I wish you well and keep us posted on how you make out. hugs, Sandy

07-20-2006, 05:59 AM

Hi,
I have found that the workplace is not very compassionate. They are looking at their bottom line and prefer healthy candidates. I have needed my job so I try to keep quiet about my cancer. It is very stressful so I will be going on disability next month. For me I just felt while I stayed I would just make the best of it as unfair and unjust as that may be. I have Stage 4 bc for 6 years and my company provides excellent benefits. So that is the trade off in my case. I am very physically able but I do not like the fact that I have to put up and shut up. I think all jobs give one stress (to different degrees).

Ruth · 07-20-2006, 06:59 AM

I just hated reading this post!!! I truly don't understand why employers can't be more considerate??!! You may need to go to a lawyer if you are terminated and can sue for discrimination...but before that happens I would suggest searching for a new job while you are still employed. An employer with a more understanding attitude and pleasant work environment that also offers health insurance. Also, document, document, document at work in case you do get fired, moved, demoted. The more physical evidence the better the case. Remember conversations, write them down, date, time and who spoke & what about.

COBRA insurance payments must be the same amount that you & your company pay for your coverage currently...it can't be more. The coverage will be exactly the same for the 18 months as if you were still covered at your job. Different states have options afterwards...for example in Georgia as long as you apply for medical insurance & will be turned down before the 18 months are up in COBRA you will be placed into a pool of denied insurance people (yes, pre-existing conditions do apply when you go for insurance on your own). From that pool a carrier would have to pick you up and usually it is the largest carrier in the state (like BCBS). The premiums may be higher at that point but you can also do high deductibles. If you don't apply for insurance and get denied while you are still covered by COBRA, then you lost the golden opportunity to get into the pool of insured who are denied. You can get insurance but most likely no coverage for cancer since it is a pre-existing condition until 10 years are up. I learned all of this recently after going through a pleasant divorce with my insurance attorney Ex!

I hope that things improve at work for you. This is just such a crappy situation when someone who is fighting for life has to worry about health insurance! This country has a lot going for it but I must say the health insurance issue stinks!

Ruth

LOPSIDED · 07-20-2006, 07:45 AM

I'VE MADE UP MY MIND I WILL NOT QUIT. THEY WILL PROBABLY FIRE ME FOR SOMETHING BUT I AM GOING TO TRY TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND DO MY JOB CORRECTLY. THE PERSON IN HUMAN RESOURCES TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT MOVE ME TO ANOTHER POSITION BECAUSE THEY HAD ALREADY HIRED PEOPLE AND NOTHING WAS AVAILABLE. I WORK FOR A CREDIT UNION WITH OVER 6 BRANCES AND KNOW FOR A FACT EVERY BRANCH IS SHORT-HANDED. HE SAID IF I STAYED OUT OF WORK WAITING FOR A POSITION I HAD NO LEAVE AVAILABLE THAT WOULD LEAVE THEM WITH NO OPTIONS----BUT HE WAS CAREFUL AND DIDN'T ACTUALLY USE THE WORD TERMINATE. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY CAN DO THAT------I BELIEVE MY RIGHTS ARE TO REQUEST REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS AND THEY HAVE TO MEET THEM AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT PUT A HARDSHIP ON THE EMPLOYER. ANYWAY THEY BACKED DOWN AND LET ME GO BACK TO THE LOBBY BUT HE DID TELL ME IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS WHEN ITS MY TURN TO GO BACK TO DRIVE THRU I WOULD BE EXPECTED TO DO IT. HE SAID IF I BROUGHT A DOCTORS NOTE LIMITING ME FROM THAT JOB ---THAT THEY WOULD BE TELLING THEM I COULD NOT DO MY JOB ANYMORE AND THEY WOULD HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO LET ME GO. I BELIEVE THEY WOULD BE WRONG IN THAT CASE----BECAUSE I FEEL I CAN DO MY JOB IN A LESS STRESSFUL ATMOSHPHERE JUST NOT IN DRIVE-THRU WHERE IT IS MORE PHYSICALLY EXAUSTING. INSIDE I CAN SIT AT MY DESK AND ITS NOT SO NOISEY AND FAST-PACED.

Esther · 07-20-2006, 07:52 AM

About 18 months after I finished treatment for primary BC, I began a new job with a large national corp. Their insurance picked me up with no problems and no pre-existing conditions.

Less than six months after I got there, I developed mets and the policy picked up treatments without a problem.

If that's an option for you, I'd look into working for a large national company, those tend to have the least roadblocks to being picked up by a group policy.