Question:
I would like some logical people's opinion on this
The benefits are going to be changing significantly for the better next year(that's a switch!) so much so that I'm wondering if I should put off my hopefully approved surgery till next year. Here's what's making me stop and think: Short-term disability and life insurance will be added in addition to the medical and dental I already receive. If I'm approved this year and have surgery this year, I'll have to use vacation time to cover my unpaid leave of absence. I'm willing to use the vacation time because I feel like at this time whatever it takes to get this surgery. Any opinions? I work at Target and the benefits are changing according to how many hours you work vs what level or postion you are excluding Executives. So, this change is a good thing for me and I'm wondering if I should wait and take full advantage of these added benefits. I don't think I have the patience to do that though! — kathleen-Joan piper (posted on April 25, 2003)
April 25, 2003
This is strictly a personal decision that you're going to have to make.
Can you afford to not take advantage of short term disability? Most
importantly, can you wait until next year? I'm not a very patient person,
and I probably wouldn't be able to wait. BUT, like you said; there are
plenty reasons to wait. It's all up to you.
— Kim L.
April 25, 2003
There are a few things you might want to take in consideration. Short term
disability doesn't kick in till you have been out over a week, so depending
on your type of surgery (lap or open) you could be out of work from 2-6
weeks and you only get paid 60% in most cases. I had open RNY without
complications and I was out for 5 weeks. I was very lucky to have short
term disability because I wouldn't have had enough vacation time to cover
that long of a time frame. The second is that insurance companies seem to
make it harder and harder every year to get this surgery approved. No one
can make this decision for you but I would take everything into
consideration before you make your decision.
— samizaki
April 25, 2003
kathy,
i am 6 weeks post-op and i have short term disability, i took 6 weeks
off work (I had laproscopic) and by the time they take out taxs, there is
not much left. i am glad i have it and it did help alittle. it' s your
decison
good luck
robin allen lazar
— Robin
April 25, 2003
Short term disability might not start for much longer than a week. It all
depends on the policy. For me, it was 30 days before I started receiving
it. My experience is NOT typical, but without short-term disability, I
would have had to declare bankruptcy. Yes it was only 60% of my salary,
but since I wasn't driving, buying groceries, going out to lunch or
stopping on my way home to buy chips and sodas, it was enough to pay my
house payment, utilities, etc. As another poster said, it really is a
decision only you can make. Do you have enough vacation time to cover the
amount of time you expect to be out? Can you live without a paycheck for a
couple of weeks if it comes down to that? Is your health so compromised
that waiting 7 more months is not a good option? All are things that
should factor into your decisioin.
— garw
April 25, 2003
TRUE, this is a decision only you can make but being a member here and
knowing of the struggles people go thru to get ins. approval, If you get
your approval why wait. But only you know your financial situation. I
guess I would be afraid they would reverse their approval or something
while I waited.
— Delores S.
April 25, 2003
Hi Kathleen..
I was reading your profile.. When I read your question, the first thing I
wondered was how is your current health and can you afford to wait?
Reading your profile, I noticed that you've had pain.. I guess you need to
look at the pros and cons and weigh the differences for yourself.
Economically it may be beneficial.. can your health wait or would it be
better to be on the road to recovery now versus later? Really ask yourself
the hard questions and I'm sure you'll find your answer. God Bless! Cheri
— cheri123
April 25, 2003
I wouldn't wait. I'd be afraid of qualifications changing or becoming
harder if I waited. It seems a lot of people are getting denied and
insurance companies are regularly changing there requirements and becoming
stricter. Though some states are changing there laws and forcing insurance
companies to pay which is good. That's my opinion. That and I couldn't
wait. I wanted my surgery so bad I don't think I could have had the self
control to just hold on for another year. Carrie
— Carrie D.
April 25, 2003
This is a personal decision and you should research it and base the
decision on your personal finances, but if it is just losing vacation time
vice losing weight and bettering my health and life...for me the decision
would be easy to make.
— Lisa N M.
April 25, 2003
Some things are not what they seem. The "better" insurance might
exclude this surgery. I have been on this board a long time. Waiting has
caused many people to not have surgery. If you are waiting for personal
reasons fine, but for hope for better coverage, is not advantageous. My 2
cents worth only
— faybay
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