Feeling Trapped

[j9rose]

So I am in depserate need of advice. I am in a job that I need to leave, it is a small business and is going downhill, I am not being compensated whatsoever for my work and not to mention a hundred other reasons.My career is VERY important to me and I take it very seriously. I know for a FACT I could get another job that pays what I deserve and treats me like a human being. The ONLY reason I have not left is because of the flexability of the job/health insurance(which honestly I fear could be canceled at anytime because of the finanical state of the business) I am going to PT for Pelvic Floor Therapy/Biofeedback twice a week for IC, I am meeting a specialist in the beginning of April for a consult for a lap for Endometriosis, and on top of that I have HPV and have to go for biopies/tests and all that fun stuff every few weeks. How could I possibly get a new job? No one would want me in the current state I am in! What about health insurance? I want to leave this job so bad that it makes me sick everyday I wake up at just the thought of having to go there. I feel so stuck, part of me wants to just leave and get another job and put my health stuff on hold (though I am FINALLY making progress after 13 YEARS of HELL) Basically I dont know what to do, and I am sure people on this board have gone through this plus a lot worse. Any advice?

Thank you

[Moonheart]

I think you have to leave. Isn't there a law that says you have to be covered by your health care policy for a certain amount of time after you leave?

I'm sorry, I don't know much about this but I'm sure you have to be compensated for your time and effort and also can't just be cut off from health care.

Take care!

[ihurttoo]

I am sorry to hear that you are in such a stressful place right now. I know it is always scary to leave something known for something unknown. However, I agree with Moonheart, if you are that miserable there, the stress alone will be impacting your health each day you are there. Besides, if you really think it is in that bad of shape, chances are you may not end up having anything you are clinging to anyway.

I am not real sure how the insurance part works, but hopefully someone will come along that knows. I know if you are fired, they have to let you sign up for Cobra, where you pay for your insurance yourself on their policy, so you dont lose coverage. But, I am not sure how it works if you quit. But, to be certain, you could call your local unemployment office. I do agree that is information that you need to know before you make a decision.

I have left a job before where I quit and paid the insurance thru Cobra, but I dont know if they had to offer it or if they just did. I also dont know it it is a state to state thing. But, mine was like $400 a month. But, the local unemployment office would be able to tell you not only those rights, but all your other rights, pertinant to your situation.

I really hate that you are forced to make this descion right now, with everything you are facing with your health. However, with things the way you described them, it has to be extremely stressful for you, and taxing on your body.

I hope that things work out well for you with your job and your upcoming Drs. appts, biopsies, tests, etc. I will say a prayer for you that you are led to choose the right path regarding your career and that things also get better for you healthwise.

Sending big hugs your way,
Amy

[ladylin]

My in social work class, we discussed a topic regarding job employment interview and what is ethical. The prof said that it is unethical for the employer to ask any questions regarding your health, although you need to ask about their health insurance policy, but they aren't allowed (not that it doesn't happen) to ask about your health issues, etc. Just something to think about.

Also, I think you should really leave your current job. It is adding more stress to you, which makes more IC flares. Also, if they aren't going to be around much longer, your gonna lose your health insurance either way. Better start looking, there is got to be something out there for you!

[ICNDonna]

I know the insurance issue is a huge one. Nearly all group policies will cover pre-existing conditions, but you'll want to be certain about health coverage when searching for a new job. In some instances there is a waiting period, but normally COBRA can cover you until you have coverage at a new job.

Good luck!
Donna

[Sunflower2]

I feel the same way.

You are not the only one feeling like this. I feel the same way. I am working for a foreign import company as an assistant to my boss(vice president). I have been with this company for over 2 years now.This will be my 3rd year. I feel so frustrated because I don't think I am treated fairly compared to other oversee employees. They get all kinds of benefits, bonuses twice a year plus increase in base-pay yearly. What do I get??? My company pays 70% of my health insurance. However, I don't have any other benefits besides this. I have no dental, vision, 401K, no life insurance whatsoever. Ever since I started working for this company, my health insurance premire got increased. That means that the company should be paying me more to my health insurance. However, they haven't done so. I am very frustrated. I know that I should say something about it. However, I cannot. The reason that I cannot bring this up to my boss is.... He's been very understanding about all my medical leaves related to my IC/PFD. He's been very kind to me. I think he's the best boss that I've ever had. However, things need to be changed somehow. My boss is a son of our company president. So He's the heir to the company. I knew that he had to go back to his home country to take his place in the future. However, this future came sooner than I expected. They want him back like next March. This news is greatly affecting my life right now. The reason is...my boss wants me to run this office by myself after he's gone. It sounds like a pretty good opprtunity, right??? That's dead WRONG!!!! This means that I have more work to do, and God knows my working hour would be like... I might have no weekend, vacations...working 24/7. My boss wants me to go to company headquarter for training in May. He mentioned about all the stuff that I had to do EXCEPT possible increase in my salary. I told my hubby about it. He said that if I don't get compensated for all the stuff I mentioned, I should find another job. Truth of the matter, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about career, family plan, and my marriage. I just don't know what to do. I have no special skill, or talent whatsoever. I want to go back to school and study for Physical therapy. However, without sufficient funds, I cannot even go back to school. I feel like I have been stuck in a dark tunnel

[armslee]

I work in insurance and as long as you currently have a GROUP health insurance plan, here are the rules:
You can leave your job and elect to have COBRA coverage. It is expensive, but continues your health coverage.

What you don't want to happen is have a lapse in your group health coverage for more than 63 days. If you do then your new employer's coverage does NOT have to cover your pre-existing conditions.

Short Term medical and Individual medical insurance do not qualify as coverage for those 63 days.

Most companies do have a waiting period for new employees before their health coverage will begin. Therefore my suggestion would be to you:
If you get another job, find out what the waiting period is and pay for the COBRA coverage from your current employer so that you have no lapse in coverage.

Best of luck in finding a new career

[TerriT]

I was laid off as a medical layoff. The place of employment (not sure if it matters how many people are employed) had to offer me COBRA insurance for 18 Months. I pay 380.00 a month but just one trip to one of my doctors is over 200.00. This was for my medical, dental and vision. My insurance is better than my husbands so I pay my co-pay for meds which is 10 or 20 depending on genaric and name brand, then I submit my co-pay to my husband's insurance. My COBRA is good until the end of April. I am looking into what insurance Providence will offer me because they have to offer to cover me since I have had them without a break. I am also going to look into keeping my dental because I just went in to get a tooth capped, and since I have been insured by Willamette Dental for so long, I no longer have to pay a co-pay. My husband's insurance only covers 50% on those things so it would have cost me over $500.

[Briza]

I was laid off as a medical layoff. The place of employment (not sure if it matters how many people are employed) had to offer me COBRA insurance for 18 Months. I pay 380.00 a month but just one trip to one of my doctors is over 200.00. This was for my medical, dental and vision. My insurance is better than my husbands so I pay my co-pay for meds which is 10 or 20 depending on genaric and name brand, then I submit my co-pay to my husband's insurance. My COBRA is good until the end of April. I am looking into what insurance Providence will offer me because they have to offer to cover me since I have had them without a break. .

This is an interesting thread and I'm so glad the topic was brought up. I think there are many of us who feel trapped in our jobs because....insurance plays such a large factor in why we stay.

Terri, I'm guessing that Providence is the group insurance you had with your former job? I'm wondering how that works if you try to continue your coverage with Providence. I'm interested to know what your premium will be compared to what your former employer paid, plus any additional premium you had to pay (if any) out of pocket? You mentioned that they have to cover you, but at what cost? If you find out anything about this please let me know, if not exact #s then if it is comparable to what your employer was paying.
Also, does the COBRA coverage match what your group coverage was, as far as copays, out of pocket expenses, Rx coverage?
Please post or PM me when if you know or find out this info. Many thanks!

[Briza]

I work in insurance and as long as you currently have a GROUP health insurance plan, here are the rules:
You can leave your job and elect to have COBRA coverage. It is expensive, but continues your health coverage.

What you don't want to happen is have a lapse in your group health coverage for more than 63 days. If you do then your new employer's coverage does NOT have to cover your pre-existing conditions.

Short Term medical and Individual medical insurance do not qualify as coverage for those 63 days.

Most companies do have a waiting period for new employees before their health coverage will begin. Therefore my suggestion would be to you:
If you get another job, find out what the waiting period is and pay for the COBRA coverage from your current employer so that you have no lapse in coverage.

Best of luck in finding a new career

Wendi,
Thanks for this info. Do you mean that if you find a new employer who offers coverage, then you should continue to pay for COBRA, even after employed, to hold you over until pre-existing condtions waiting period is over and your pre-existing conditions are covered? Thanks