So Annoyed

Mike works for a very small family owned business and they were paying for our insurance premiums.  Well he just got notice that not only are they not paying the premiums anymore, but they are taking away the prescription drug program, uppping our deductible from $500 to something like $1500 and changing some other things.

Thank goodness that I am done with my surgery though.  I am just annoyed because now Mike is pushing me to get a full time job with benefits so I can carry the insurance for us.  I told him I will NOT go back to wor****il the kids are back in school.  The way things are with Austyn around here, I just know that something bad would happen and how would Tyler get back and forth to school everyday for football camp.  We'll just have to deal with it for now I guess.

Oh Monica!  I am SOOO sorry to hear this news.  Heath Insurance is a real problem.  I also work for a small family-owned business and I am part of the decision-making process each year when it comes to health insurance.  It is very difficult.  EACH year, our costs go up about 30% and it becomes a balancing act between affordable premiums and coverage.  It seems like you just can't win. Look into starting a "FLEX Plan" or Medical Savings Account.  These can be set up with both employers and sometimes through your bank if your employer does not offer this service.  We have this and it is a great help. As for the full time work, you will have to do what is comfortable for you.  Tell Mike that since Austyn is the youngest, you would have to put him into some kind of "Day Care/Day Camp" situation to keep him out of trouble and safe.  What would THAT cost?  Would it really be worth it?  Then, if Austyn gets to go to "camp" would Jacob want to go too?  That could be VERY EXPENSIVE......... (you DO see where I am going with this, don't you?  ;-)  Tyler is old enough to be on his own, but the younger ones aren't necessarily........... Hang in there and know that I am thinking of you!

Dawn, I am sitting here LMAO at your sugesstion for Monica. That is something I would come up with. In fact, I did before my kids went to school.  Hugs

Mike is meeting with his boss today to talk about a medical spending account they are offering so maybe this will help.  I just know that I have heard some people say that once they've had this surgery insurance can be hard to find.  If I get a full time job with benefits does the insurance have to cover me then?   It's more losing the prescription coverage that concerns me too.

Now our insurance doesn't cover Tyler or Jacob, their dad does that thank God!  So it's just Mike, Austyn and myself. 
Jacob is 12 and stays home by himself no problem and him and Tyler can stay alone, but throw Austyn into that mix and it's WW3.  Would Mike pay for camp or daycare?  NO, he feels that Austyn can stay home himself and if the other kids are here it's okay.  Like I said, he just doesn't get it..  Jacob would not want to go to daycare/camp either, both of my boys got their fill of it when I was a single mom and had no other choice. 

Thanks Dawn!

Hey Monica - I've never had any problems with employers covering pre existing health issues and trust me, Calvin has a ton of health issues.   It's probably different if you are trying to get insurance independently instead of thru your employer. Good Luck, Christina

Usually as long as you show proof of continuous coverage, pre-existing conditions are covered when you are grandfathered into a new companies insurance.  So sorry this is added to your ever growing plate-I will keep you in my prayers-stay strong-Big Hugs-Janet K

Monica, another sugesstion would be to see if they would split the cost of the insurance. You can also look into All-Kids, its a state run program, but a family can make a huge amount a year and still be covered.  Or, consider what Dawn had to tell you. Full time jobs with benefits are really hard to come by, which you already know. BTW, have you checked into unemployment yet? Hugs

Lisa, I am not eligible for unemployment....the business I worked for before surgery was an even smaller family business (it was me and the owner) and he didn't even offer benefits or paid days off or anything like that.  If he decided to not open one day, well I didn't get paid.  No choice in the matter.  He also filed bankruptsy while I was in the hospital, so the business is gone anyway. 

I am going to start collecting applications for all the vets in the area...there are a lot and even if I get a part time job to start it will help with money I guess.  I might be being a ***** but I am not going to wor****il the kids start school though...I just can't with a clear mind.

Just chimming in here. I work for a small business to but no matter if he is out of business & filed bankruptsy if he was abiding my the law then he would have had to pay unemployement benefits on you. This is where the unemployment would come from not from him personally. He should have already paid in the benefits...like I said, if he was doing business & taxes the right way. If you got a paycheck with taxes taken out then there had to have been employment taxes taken out. Unless he was just giving you a 1099 at the end of the year. It couldn't hurt to checkout though. Call the unemployment office and they can surley tell you before you go in there and waste your time. All Kids is great! I have it on my kids and depending on how mu*****ome he makes you may even be able to get it for yourselves then it turns to All Family plan. This is the income guidelines link for you. You would be very surprised at the coverage & how cheap the premiums are. Check it out... http://www.familycareillinois.com/income.html

Yeah......what lessofme2008 said!!!! She is right about the unemployment.  As long as he took taxes out of your check, you are entitled to unemployment.  ESPECIALLY if he went out of business......that is what it is for.  It is required by law that he pay into it.  If he did not for some strange reason, you could possibly still get unemployment and they will send him a bill. Now.....if you sub-contracted for him and got a 1099 at the end of the year, you would be responsible for you own taxes and YOU would have paid into unemployment and you might STILL be able to get it.   It can't hurt to check it out.