Trying to stay afloat financially during all this

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JennH8
JennH8 Member Posts: 65
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I just heard back from my benefits supervisor at work.  Basically, between my PTO and sick time accrued, I have less than 2 weeks in paid hours I can take after surgery and for any time off needed down the road for chemo, etc.  After that, it's all unpaid.  Plus, I would have to come up with the premiums for my insurance to keep it going.  That just added a whole new boatload of stress to my situation.  Unfortunately, we are a family struggling pay check to pay check.  Anyone else in this situation?  How did you handle it?  I was wondering if applying to social health services would work in a situation like this if I end up needing more time of than that.  It's really freaking me out.  I'm hoping and praying for fast healing and no complications. 

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  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 881
    edited August 2013

    Hi Jenn...So sorry you have to go thru this...I talked to a social worker at my breast center and she was a big help to me.  Sorry I can't be of more help.  I am binding my prayers to yours for fast healing and no complication.

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited August 2013

    please check out www.pinkfund.org

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  • JennH8
    JennH8 Member Posts: 65
    edited August 2013

    Thank you so much!  I will look into that.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2013

    Jenn, we're so sorry that you're facing this double worry! You'll want to check out the Paying for Your Care section of the main Breastcancer.org site. There are lists of resources about lowering medicine costs, help paying for living expenses (such as transportation to appointments), and managing your health insurance.

    • The Mods

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  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited August 2013

    Jen ... try contacting your local health department and ask them about the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening program.  That program saved my life when I was diagnosed, as I'm self-employed and didn't have insurance at the time.

    It's tough living paycheck to paycheck ... we're in the same boat and it sucks.

    Please let us know what you find out and how you're doing.

    Hugs,

    Bren

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  • JennH8
    JennH8 Member Posts: 65
    edited August 2013

    Thank you for the suggestions.  I'm writing everything down.  It really threw me for a loop this morning when I realized how little paid time I had.  Feeling a bit better now knowing there are resources out there that could potentially help us. 

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  • gale1525
    gale1525 Member Posts: 232
    edited August 2013

     Can you get state disability?

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  • DMarie24
    DMarie24 Member Posts: 40
    edited August 2013

    I have absolutely no PTO left :(



    Have you fill out the appropriate FMLA paperwork so you don't have to worry about losing your job too. Federal program gives you 12 week (unpaid if course) but at least it takes one less thing off your mind. At least it did for me.

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  • JennH8
    JennH8 Member Posts: 65
    edited August 2013

    Gale1525 - I'm not sure if I could get state disability.

    DMarie24, I'm not worried about losing my job.  My husband has done the FMLA paperwork but I haven't.  He was on  that day one after I was diagnosed actually.  It kind of irritated me at first to be honest because I was still trying to process everything and didn't want to believe I had this going on but glad he was ahead of the game now.  My biggest concern is if I have any complications and need an extended period of time.  We will be hurting with no paycheck.  Just keeping my fingers crossed all goes well.  I'm sorry to hear your PTO is gone.  :(  I found out through my job that if I would have signed up for short-term disability, I could have used that but I didn't.  Didn't even realize it was offered as a sepearate thing.  I'll be more aware next time.

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