Fired on 2/3

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tangandchris
tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
edited April 2017 in Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues

Lost my job last Friday and I'm still trying to piece everything together. I'm fighting depression big time and not sure that I'm going to be successful. I feel like a failure at this point and the thought of having to pick myself up and look for a new job is terrifying. I worked there only 3 years but it was a good fit as I was working from home. I'm still struggling with the SE'S of treatment and AI's and being home allowed me to work and juggle that to some extent.

My insurance will end at the end of this month and I'm very scared. I have appointments lined up with MO and PCP on the 20th. But not having insurance is not a place I thought I'd be in after dealing with breast cancer. Not to mention that I'm dealing with major arthritis problems now that are going to be pretty much untreated as a result of this.

I'm heading into pity party mode pretty quickly here. It's been suggested by my parents that I should look into disability. It's so depressing to be in this place.

Thx for letting me talk.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited February 2017

    Tang&Chris - so sorry to hear about your job. You definitely didn't need this on top of everything else. I'm thinking of you.

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  • AmyQ
    AmyQ Member Posts: 2,182
    edited February 2017

    Me too! So very sorry to hear this news. Just what you don't need at this time or anytime. I'll be thinking and praying for you.

    Amy

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  • Falconer
    Falconer Member Posts: 1,192
    edited February 2017
    Hang in there! You have the strength to get through this. I know you must feel so tired and confused right now, but keep looking for a way to open. You'll find it. ((Hugs))
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  • cliff
    cliff Member Posts: 290
    edited February 2017

    did they give a reason? there might be basis for a law suit, or does your state have any agency with recourse for firing improperly?

    my employer is great, spirit aerosystems, formerly boeing commercial airplanes in Wichita. 2 and a half months of temporary disability last year last year for surgery and a kidney failure later.

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  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited February 2017

    Thx everyone....I appreciate the support. I was fired because of errors, that is the reason on paper. But I think it was bigger than that. I was a remote employee that worked out of state and I think they didn't want to have this arrangement any longer. So the error came into question and it was an opportunity to let me go.

    The errors were there, but I'm not the only person to make an error. Also I have considered that chemo brain has affected my ability to not make mistakes. Idk, I'm feeling lost.

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  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited February 2017

    I'm so sorry to hear about this. If you live in the US, you should be able to buy COBRA through your employer for 18 months. And a life-event, like this (or your COBRA expiring) means should be able to buy insurance on the marketplace, even though it's after Jan 31. In my experience, the COBRA insurance I bought through my ex-husband was cheaper and has better coverage than the ACA marketplace plans. (at least where I live).

    There are people who can point you in the right direction:

    --your company's HR dept

    --the social worker at the hospital or affiliated with your surgeon or other docs

    --your state may have a consumer-oriented org to help with health insurance

    --some cancer support organizations can help people find resources

    I'm sorry to hear this is happening. Hang in there. You can get through this too. (((hugs)))

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited February 2017

    I will echo Peggy about the COBRA option. Perhaps you will qualify for unemployment compensation which would help temporarily. Claiming Social Security disability status can be a challenge but use whatever resources are available to investigate that possibility, especially since you have multiple issues to be taken into consideration.

    Did HR follow all the correct steps: warning, correction plan, etc? If you were singled out unfairly, there could be a case. A decent lawyer would offer a consultation at no charge in order to evaluate the situation.

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  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited February 2017

    vlnrph raised an interesting point about consulting with a lawyer. Where I live I don't think they will neccesarilydo initial consultation for free, but our local bar association has a referral program (so they can point you in the right direction, if you don't already know of a good lawyer who specializes in labor issues). I believe the initial appt is $50. So not free, but cheaper than the usual hourly rates. (Or some of those resources I mentioned above, like the cancer orgs, might know of good lawyers who deal with cancer-related employement disputes).Good luck!

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  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited February 2017

    I love you ladies!! Thank you for taking the time to answer me, means so much.

    The company went entirely by the book so I don't think I have a leg to stand on. Much of my speculation is just that speculation so nothing really to go on but gut and instinct. I have applied for unemployment benefits and have been told it takes up to 4 weeks to hear back. I went ahead and applied for other assistance as well, food help. Not sure we will qualify but I'm trying.

    As far as COBRA it's expensive.... $368 a month just to cover me. It's just not gonna work right now. I'm getting everything in I hope before the end of the month. So thankful that I'm not in active treatment.

    I'm not going to pursue disability at this point. I've applied for a couple positions this week and I'm going to try and be positive for right now.

    However, I do wonder if yoy receive disability if you and your family qualify for assistance programs.


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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited February 2017

    Just in case you, or anyone else reading, need this, here is a link to the National Cancer Legal Services Network. Also, a link to the Cancer Legal Resource Center, affiliated with Loyola Law School, which has a telephone service that provides guidance and assistance to cancer patients.

    http://www.nclsn.org/

    http://cancerlegalresources.org/about/

    You can sign up for an ACA plan even though you have passed the deadline because of the job loss (qualifies as a life event), and you can qualify for an ACA plan even if you have Cobra available. You can keep the ACA plan until you qualify for a new employer's insurance plan.

    SSDI disability, which most have paid into through deductions from their paycheck, is not tied to income, but rather to how many quarters you have paid in. You need to be unemployed for a number of months (I believe it is 5, unless you are Stage IV and eligible for Compassionate Allowance, which is an expedited approval based on the severity of illness) before SSDI begins to pay out and the amount paid is linked to your wage level I believe, much like Social Security. It is basically designed for folks who will be less likely to return to work due to long term disability.

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  • Lisey
    Lisey Member Posts: 1,053
    edited February 2017

    Tang, just a thought. Given the unknown about the ACA.. you may want to find a way to pay for Cobra because if the pre-existing conditions clause comes back into play, not having any insurance will hurt you for the long future. So long as you have continuous coverage, the pre-existing clause doesn't hurt you. Having insurance without gaps may be very important in the future.

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  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited February 2017

    I haven't really posted in a while. I have my last MO appointment tomorrow before insurance runs out. I'm still up in the air on how to proceed with all this stuff. In all honesty I'm overwhelmed and depressed. It's alot of effort to get my 7 year old out the door for school in the morning, after that I'm done.

    I'm nervous about tomorrow. I'm afraid something will be found and no insurance....on the flip side I'm afraid nothing will be found and by the time I can go back it'll be too late.

    I do have a strange blister like thing close to my arm pit on the radiated side that needs looking at.

    Anyway I just wanted to reach out again and not feel so alone. Thx

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited February 2017

    Tang&Chris - in your pocket tomorrow. Hoping everything will be good & the blister is nothing.

    I think you have a period to decide about Cobra before you have to commit. Maybe 30 days?

    I also suspect that signing up for ACA because of a 'life event' will also have a grace period. It might be a good idea to get enrolled in case that enrollment date becomes relevant in the days to come.

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  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited February 2017

    Thx friend.....I feel you in there ☺

    I'm going to work on those insurance issues this week. I'm still waiting to hear if they are going to deny unemployment benefits or not.

    I'm getting wait to used to life crisis' at this point.

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  • gardengypsy
    gardengypsy Member Posts: 769
    edited March 2017

    Hey tangandchris~Your situation is such an indictment of our pathetic system. I hope you aren't completely stressed and that some of the resources above were helpful.

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  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited April 2017

    thx so much....I actually became so overwhelmed and depressed by all of this that I didn't get the insurance worked out. I'm embarrassed to admit that, but its the truth. Hopefully I can make some positive headway.

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited April 2017

    tangandchris, thinking about you hoping everything works out.

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  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited April 2017

    thx for thinking of me...really means alot💗

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  • Kattysmith
    Kattysmith Member Posts: 738
    edited April 2017

    I feel your pain, Tangandchris. I don't get on this site very often, but saw your post and hope like hell that things are working out. I got laid off in October 2015 after almost 15 years with my company. I was diagnosed Stage 4 that same week. Like you, I was the breadwinner and provided insurance for myself and my husband. We've been on COBRA ever since then, only because a generous and kind immediate family member paid for it, over $1000 per month. It runs out at the end of April and they denied an extension, even though I'm Stage 4 and on disability. I didn't notify them during a specific time frame. :(

    I go on Medicare as of late August and am working on getting some help through MD Anderson & Pfizer, plus applying for a gap policy through ACA, although no providers offer MD Anderson in network in Texas. Bastards.

    I wish you the very best in every possible way. It is crushing to have to deal with insurance while fighting to stay alive and healthy. I often joke that I'm not afraid of death, but I am afraid of being destitute or of leaving my aging husband destitute, which is true. It is criminal that in this country we have to cope with this on top of being ill. The women on this site have a tremendous amount of resources and tried and true advice. Hold tight to your family and enlist someone you trust as your advocate to help you deal with insurance and other financial resources, so you can have more time and energy to spend with your child. My heart goes out to you, little sister.


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