Guest guest Posted July 8, 2006 Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 Hello, all! I'm up late worrying and if you don't mind, I'll do a little venting to you nice folks. The situation with 's (my husband with Diffuse Esophageal Spasm) work has reached a critical stage. In the last few weeks, he's only been able to work 2 to 3 days per week because of his spasms. This week was even worse and today was the only day he made it in to work (although they were closed Monday and Tuesday for the holiday) this week. Besides being a strain on him physically and on our finances, these last few weeks have left him about maxed out on the days he's allowed to take off under FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act). I talked to someone in human resources at his company yesterday and found out that they no longer grant medical leaves (I thought that would be his next option so that he wouldn't lose his job)! If he needs more time off, he would have to submit for a personal leave, then he could apply to their insurance company for short term disability benefits. That actually doesn't sound too bad, because he could actually get paid something for being off, except for the fact that his medical coverage would lapse on DAY ONE of his personal leave time! My employer doesn't carry medical coverage and the COBRA from his company would be over $800 per month. Even if he opts to have surgery (in his case, it would be an open long myotomy, with probably a couple of months or so of recovery), it would still be considered a personal leave and because he's used up his FMLA days, we'd still have to pay COBRA or lose coverage! A few people have suggested that he apply for social security disability. I just looked at their website and the application and guidelines for disability seem very intimidating! According to part of their guidelines, he could be automatically considered disabled if he lost another 30 lbs. (on top of the 70 lbs. he's already lost), but I don't want to wait for that to happen! There just doesn't seem to be any good options out there for him! Maybe it's just that I inherited a worry gene from my late mother (rest her soul), but I'm starting to get really scared thinking of what may lie ahead, even in the near future! Thanks for reading my venting (worrying). If anyone has any experience with FMLA or work issues or social security disability, I'd appreciate any advice you can give. Here's hoping everyone is swallowing and healing well! in Michigan (and hopefully not in the poorhouse soon from paying for medical insurance) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 , I know exactly where you are coming from!!! I had the same situation come up while I was pregnant the last time. Used all my FMLA and then short term. It sucked. I ended up losing my job! I haven’t been employed since and that was almost 2 years ago now. Good luck, I wish you two all I can. I do hope he gets to feeling better soon. I know how hard it is when you are really sick from this disease. I have been there. They do grant SSI for Achalasia, but their guidelines for it suck pond water! Wish I would have been smart enough to file when I was really sick!!! C Warren Co-Founder www.achalasia.us From: achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf Of let45ride Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2006 1:25 AM achalasia Subject: Work Woes Hello, all! I'm up late worrying and if you don't mind, I'll do a little venting to you nice folks. The situation with 's (my husband with Diffuse Esophageal Spasm) work has reached a critical stage. In the last few weeks, he's only been able to work 2 to 3 days per week because of his spasms. This week was even worse and today was the only day he made it in to work (although they were closed Monday and Tuesday for the holiday) this week. Besides being a strain on him physically and on our finances, these last few weeks have left him about maxed out on the days he's allowed to take off under FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act). I talked to someone in human resources at his company yesterday and found out that they no longer grant medical leaves (I thought that would be his next option so that he wouldn't lose his job)! If he needs more time off, he would have to submit for a personal leave, then he could apply to their insurance company for short term disability benefits. That actually doesn't sound too bad, because he could actually get paid something for being off, except for the fact that his medical coverage would lapse on DAY ONE of his personal leave time! My employer doesn't carry medical coverage and the COBRA from his company would be over $800 per month. Even if he opts to have surgery (in his case, it would be an open long myotomy, with probably a couple of months or so of recovery), it would still be considered a personal leave and because he's used up his FMLA days, we'd still have to pay COBRA or lose coverage! A few people have suggested that he apply for social security disability. I just looked at their website and the application and guidelines for disability seem very intimidating! According to part of their guidelines, he could be automatically considered disabled if he lost another 30 lbs. (on top of the 70 lbs. he's already lost), but I don't want to wait for that to happen! There just doesn't seem to be any good options out there for him! Maybe it's just that I inherited a worry gene from my late mother (rest her soul), but I'm starting to get really scared thinking of what may lie ahead, even in the near future! Thanks for reading my venting (worrying). If anyone has any experience with FMLA or work issues or social security disability, I'd appreciate any advice you can give. Here's hoping everyone is swallowing and healing well! in Michigan (and hopefully not in the poorhouse soon from paying for medical insurance) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 , Sorry to hear that you had a similar experience (running out of FMLA days)! Is SSI based on your income? My mom got it at one time and then, when her social security income went up, they cut it out (and she still wasn't making much on that). With her Medicaid and SSI, they made her jump through a lot of hoops. They made her draw cash off of her life insurance to pre-plan her funeral (which depressed her) and then the insurance company treated the draw as a loan, which she had to pay back! The state watched her income and assets so closely, I don't know how someone could possibly cheat the system (although, I guess people do)! Thanks for the encouragement, ! > > , > > I know exactly where you are coming from!!! I had the same situation come up > while I was pregnant the last time. Used all my FMLA and then short term. > It sucked. I ended up losing my job! I haven't been employed since and that > was almost 2 years ago now. Good luck, I wish you two all I can. I do hope > he gets to feeling better soon. I know how hard it is when you are really > sick from this disease. I have been there. They do grant SSI for Achalasia, > but their guidelines for it suck pond water! Wish I would have been smart > enough to file when I was really sick!!! > > > > C Warren > > Co-Founder > > www.achalasia.us > > From: achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf > Of let45ride > Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2006 1:25 AM > achalasia > Subject: Work Woes > > > > Hello, all! > I'm up late worrying and if you don't mind, I'll do a little > venting to you nice folks. The situation with 's (my husband > with Diffuse Esophageal Spasm) work has reached a critical stage. In > the last few weeks, he's only been able to work 2 to 3 days per week > because of his spasms. This week was even worse and today was the > only day he made it in to work (although they were closed Monday and > Tuesday for the holiday) this week. Besides being a strain on him > physically and on our finances, these last few weeks have left him > about maxed out on the days he's allowed to take off under FMLA > (Family Medical Leave Act). I talked to someone in human resources at > his company yesterday and found out that they no longer grant medical > leaves (I thought that would be his next option so that he wouldn't > lose his job)! If he needs more time off, he would have to submit for > a personal leave, then he could apply to their insurance company for > short term disability benefits. That actually doesn't sound too bad, > because he could actually get paid something for being off, except for > the fact that his medical coverage would lapse on DAY ONE of his > personal leave time! My employer doesn't carry medical coverage and > the COBRA from his company would be over $800 per month. Even if he > opts to have surgery (in his case, it would be an open long myotomy, > with probably a couple of months or so of recovery), it would still be > considered a personal leave and because he's used up his FMLA days, > we'd still have to pay COBRA or lose coverage! A few people have > suggested that he apply for social security disability. I just looked > at their website and the application and guidelines for disability > seem very intimidating! According to part of their guidelines, he > could be automatically considered disabled if he lost another 30 lbs. > (on top of the 70 lbs. he's already lost), but I don't want to wait > for that to happen! There just doesn't seem to be any good options > out there for him! Maybe it's just that I inherited a worry gene from > my late mother (rest her soul), but I'm starting to get really scared > thinking of what may lie ahead, even in the near future! > Thanks for reading my venting (worrying). If anyone has any > experience with FMLA or work issues or social security disability, I'd > appreciate any advice you can give. > Here's hoping everyone is swallowing and healing well! > > in Michigan (and hopefully not in the poorhouse soon from > paying for medical insurance) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 , Thanks for your reply! I agree that it's tough enough being sick, but it just adds to the situation when people have to worry about their job and financial issues! I'm starting to realize what people with serious illnesses (that interfere with their work) go through, dealing with both issues. That sounds so scarey what your family went through when your dad had cancer! I'm so glad your dad has recovered!! I'll be thinking of you Wednesday! We have to ask Dr. Rice more questions, but we'll try not to call him Wednesday, so we don't distract him from your surgery ! Take care! > > > > Hello, all! > > I'm up late worrying and if you don't mind, I'll do a little > > venting to you nice folks. The situation with 's (my husband > > with Diffuse Esophageal Spasm) work has reached a critical stage. > In > > the last few weeks, he's only been able to work 2 to 3 days per > week > > because of his spasms. This week was even worse and today was the > > only day he made it in to work (although they were closed Monday > and > > Tuesday for the holiday) this week. Besides being a strain on him > > physically and on our finances, these last few weeks have left him > > about maxed out on the days he's allowed to take off under FMLA > > (Family Medical Leave Act). I talked to someone in human > resources at > > his company yesterday and found out that they no longer grant > medical > > leaves (I thought that would be his next option so that he wouldn't > > lose his job)! If he needs more time off, he would have to submit > for > > a personal leave, then he could apply to their insurance company > for > > short term disability benefits. That actually doesn't sound too > bad, > > because he could actually get paid something for being off, except > for > > the fact that his medical coverage would lapse on DAY ONE of his > > personal leave time! My employer doesn't carry medical coverage > and > > the COBRA from his company would be over $800 per month. Even if > he > > opts to have surgery (in his case, it would be an open long > myotomy, > > with probably a couple of months or so of recovery), it would > still be > > considered a personal leave and because he's used up his FMLA days, > > we'd still have to pay COBRA or lose coverage! A few people have > > suggested that he apply for social security disability. I just > looked > > at their website and the application and guidelines for disability > > seem very intimidating! According to part of their guidelines, he > > could be automatically considered disabled if he lost another 30 > lbs. > > (on top of the 70 lbs. he's already lost), but I don't want to wait > > for that to happen! There just doesn't seem to be any good options > > out there for him! Maybe it's just that I inherited a worry gene > from > > my late mother (rest her soul), but I'm starting to get really > scared > > thinking of what may lie ahead, even in the near future! > > Thanks for reading my venting (worrying). If anyone has any > > experience with FMLA or work issues or social security disability, > I'd > > appreciate any advice you can give. > > Here's hoping everyone is swallowing and healing well! > > > > in Michigan (and hopefully not in the poorhouse soon from > > paying for medical insurance) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2006 Report Share Posted July 9, 2006 I’m really not sure how it works. But I do know someone who was on it. And if she worked they cut it out, so she got paid under the table!!! C Warren Co-Founder www.achalasia.us From: achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf Of let45ride Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2006 10:56 AM achalasia Subject: Re: Work Woes , Sorry to hear that you had a similar experience (running out of FMLA days)! Is SSI based on your income? My mom got it at one time and then, when her social security income went up, they cut it out (and she still wasn't making much on that). With her Medicaid and SSI, they made her jump through a lot of hoops. They made her draw cash off of her life insurance to pre-plan her funeral (which depressed her) and then the insurance company treated the draw as a loan, which she had to pay back! The state watched her income and assets so closely, I don't know how someone could possibly cheat the system (although, I guess people do)! Thanks for the encouragement, ! > > , > > I know exactly where you are coming from!!! I had the same situation come up > while I was pregnant the last time. Used all my FMLA and then short term. > It sucked. I ended up losing my job! I haven't been employed since and that > was almost 2 years ago now. Good luck, I wish you two all I can. I do hope > he gets to feeling better soon. I know how hard it is when you are really > sick from this disease. I have been there. They do grant SSI for Achalasia, > but their guidelines for it suck pond water! Wish I would have been smart > enough to file when I was really sick!!! > > > > C Warren > > Co-Founder > > www.achalasia.us > > From: achalasia [mailto:achalasia ] On Behalf > Of let45ride > Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2006 1:25 AM > achalasia > Subject: Work Woes > > > > Hello, all! > I'm up late worrying and if you don't mind, I'll do a little > venting to you nice folks. The situation with 's (my husband > with Diffuse Esophageal Spasm) work has reached a critical stage. In > the last few weeks, he's only been able to work 2 to 3 days per week > because of his spasms. This week was even worse and today was the > only day he made it in to work (although they were closed Monday and > Tuesday for the holiday) this week. Besides being a strain on him > physically and on our finances, these last few weeks have left him > about maxed out on the days he's allowed to take off under FMLA > (Family Medical Leave Act). I talked to someone in human resources at > his company yesterday and found out that they no longer grant medical > leaves (I thought that would be his next option so that he wouldn't > lose his job)! If he needs more time off, he would have to submit for > a personal leave, then he could apply to their insurance company for > short term disability benefits. That actually doesn't sound too bad, > because he could actually get paid something for being off, except for > the fact that his medical coverage would lapse on DAY ONE of his > personal leave time! My employer doesn't carry medical coverage and > the COBRA from his company would be over $800 per month. Even if he > opts to have surgery (in his case, it would be an open long myotomy, > with probably a couple of months or so of recovery), it would still be > considered a personal leave and because he's used up his FMLA days, > we'd still have to pay COBRA or lose coverage! A few people have > suggested that he apply for social security disability. I just looked > at their website and the application and guidelines for disability > seem very intimidating! According to part of their guidelines, he > could be automatically considered disabled if he lost another 30 lbs. > (on top of the 70 lbs. he's already lost), but I don't want to wait > for that to happen! There just doesn't seem to be any good options > out there for him! Maybe it's just that I inherited a worry gene from > my late mother (rest her soul), but I'm starting to get really scared > thinking of what may lie ahead, even in the near future! > Thanks for reading my venting (worrying). If anyone has any > experience with FMLA or work issues or social security disability, I'd > appreciate any advice you can give. > Here's hoping everyone is swallowing and healing well! > > in Michigan (and hopefully not in the poorhouse soon from > paying for medical insurance) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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