Hello all! Back at it after a long hiatus!
Basic summary: I lost my job at the beginning of the year two days after returning from a medical leave. I point out the curious timing, repeatedly, and with emphasis. They have the good sense to look ashamed and don't engage further beyond logistics. No pink slip or explicit reason was given. I apply for unemployment and NOW they have a reason: attendance. I point out the obvious: Medical leave, call-ins reflect medical leave, etc. They come back with "It's not about THAT. There were absences in October that were just NOW concerned about." I'm fighting them, but WOW are they petty. Gung-ho about putting a sick man in his place. So, there's that.

Given that my health is such that I need a specialist team, losing health insurance was a gut punch in addition to the low blow. I applied for Medicaid almost immediately (February) and was promised a ten day decision window. They've blown through that one. Not their fault though. The state government didn't want to implement the Medicaid expansion the voters approved and went to court to fight it. When the state lost, they decided to quibble. "We'll expand Medicaid because we have to. We don't have to fund the office though." And now they're buried in applications that may or may not be approved but have to be made. Why? Literally every other avenue of assistance will not lift a finger to help until Medicaid makes a decision. Hospitals won't. Obamacare won't. Some of the low cost clinics won't. I'm stuck.

Although, I might get unstuck in one aspect. I'm two interviews in for an insurance sales position. I've done well in similar positions, selling contracts and policies. I can break that stuff down for people in plain language. I seemed to get on well my boss and fellow coworkers. Hopefully, I get it. One minus is that it's an hour drive to the business, but at $15,000 more than I made at my previous job, I'll happily shell out the extra gas money!