Question:
My company will need to pay for this out of pocket, will this hurt my job

I know it is supposed to be confidential, but with the ownwers working directly with us, and a company of 200, does anyone know if having this surgury will hurt my career? I plan to be with this company for at least 2 years for added stock and would hate to think that people at work know how much my surgury has cost the company! Is this a career mistake while the company is self-insured?    — [Anonymous] (posted on December 3, 2000)

December 3, 2000
Perhaps I am misunderstanding your question. Are you telling us that instead of hiring an insurance company, your company pays for all it's employees' medical expenses by itself? With no insurance company involved? If that is the case, then what would happen to the individual who might need a transplant or a long drawn out procedure which costs thousands upon thousands of dollars? who would make the decision whether someone needed a procedure? If, on the other hand, you are talking about the company having a private insurer, then I see no problem at all. They are not supposed to be privy to your medical problems and the insurance company is not supposed to tell them. there is a premium that either you or the company pays to the insurer and that's the only involvement that the company you work for should have. How you use that insurance is YOUR business alone. How is it that you are saying that they will have to pay out of pocket? I am not understanding. Call me dense but this makes no sense to me.
   — Barbara H.

December 4, 2000
A self-insured company usually has a reserve pool to pay health expenses as they occur. Then the increase in health coverage is covered in the annual budget. Most self-insured companies work with a third-party administrator to process claims and administrate the benefits. The third-party administrator also works with the employer to customize the coverage package. Now, as to your surgery having reprecussions on your employment, has anyone at your company had a diffcult pregnancy that required neo-natal intensive care? Your surgery is cheaper. Has anyone at your company needed treatment for cancer involving surgery and chemo and/or radiation? Your surgery is cheaper than that. Has anyone had a hot appendix removed? Has anyone gat a diabled child or spouse whose medical and theraputic needs anr being covered. Has anyone needed heart bypass or angioplasty? One of the important things to remember with insurance is that we as individuals form a "risk pool." Someone having a catastrophic illness or accident will raise the risk experience which will increase the cost to the company. But, there are many things that incur medical costs and the company may be paying $40,000 dollars for your surgery, but they will be getting a healthier, more productive employee in return. In the realm of medical bills for hospitalization and surgical costs $40,0000 is not really that high. That is why the lifetime caps are usually in the neighborhood of one million.
   — Nanette T.

December 4, 2000
Also, you have a right to expect your medical information to be handled confidentially by you employer. If it isn't you can file a formal complaint. Also, if your employer does respond negatively because of the cost of your surgery, document that time and date of all interactions and the content. Then you will have documentation to take action in the form of a discrimination suit. Be sure to not the names of anyone who may hear or see these incidents so they can be deposed if need be.
   — Nanette T.