Another one without health insurance

Well, I guess I should be happy, but I'm not. Finally got a job offer. Taking a 1/3 pay cut. Ok, can deal with that for a while.

It just so happens that they were VERY quiet about the health insurance. I had to keep emailing questions about it to the hiring partner.

Turns out all they have is a catastrophic medical plan with a $5000 deductible per individual! They repay you for the first $1000 per year out of your pocket. However, my Cymbalta costs over $200 per month alone, never mind the five other drugs I take, plus pdoc visits and dental and vision, etc.

And, for that reimbursement, it's not an outside party who takes care of it for them, it's one of the partners (it's a CPA firm). So, I would have to turn in receipts for Klonopin, Cymbalta, Neurontin, pdoc visits, etc. Not pleasant, nor something that I would want to do.

Oh, and I'm paying $115 per month for this crappy insurance!

I guess I keep my COBRA insurance that I now have for $400 per month and keep looking (taking the job). It's just such a pain in the butt to interview while you have a job.

I'm hating life right now. Falling into that black hole again.

I got almost $70K in life insurance from both of my parents dying. It's almost gone with me not being able to work since January and paying off all my debts (still have house and student loans). That too is depressing - it's like I wasted it. I was so depressed though at losing both of my parents within 9 months of each other that I could not function.

Not in a good place at all.

cobra sounds like a good plan - how much longer do you have...

Til' February.

I have to keep looking. I cannot afford that plus the pay cut over the long haul. I cannot believe any employer has just that - probably everyone that works there has a working spouse or is healthy as a horse.

Do you think most places will interview after hours? You can't be leaving constantly to go on interviews or you will get fired.

SO discouraging.

Yes on the after hours interviews...I have interviewed people over lunch, before work, after work, saturdays, whenever...

Your probably right about the working spouse thing...

Now I feel really angry at them that I had to really pry that information out of them. That is a big detail to leave out of an employment offer.

Who would ever dream that a single person would have to pay $115 per month for basically NO health insurance?? They are a small company, but that is still horrendous. I've been the person choosing health plans before - there are other things you can do to offset that.

It makes me wonder if there are any other big details that they are conveniently leaving out?

Lesson learned get the offer in writting with all costs associated with your employment...dental, vision, health, etc.

I will tell you that costs have sky rocketed as the govenernment keeps adding mandatory coverages...many copies are switching to major medical and antiicipate that you have 5,000 in savings....what ever...keep the government out of it and things would be more affordable (sorry that's a bit political)

I haven't accepted yet. And, thank God I kept making him answer the questions in email.

It's just the only place that even seems interested right now.

I'm glad you kept pursuing it also

Health insurance costs is a big issue when it comes to actual compensation....

And they had the nerve to include that in my offer letter (that they pay $xxx amount a year toward your health insurance), which to me is a joke. That really isn't health insurance to me. And what they are paying per person for this "insurance" is insane. (If I can trust what they had in the offer letter). There are lots of things they can do - form a buying group with other companies, go through a Chamber of Commerce, etc.

I am so mad. No one really seems to understand why I am so mad and disappointed either.

My aunt said I need to be a child of God and let him take care of it. God certainly has never helped me pay my bills in the past. Maybe I don't have enough faith, who knows.

All I know is that I am resentful that I got another degree in the last 5 years, and now I am making less than I did ten years ago at a job where they require you to have that degree that I just got. Is the U.S. really in that bad of shape that you have to have more schooling and experience just to make what you did in 1997?

My aunt also said that I am "starting over from scratch". In a way, maybe, but I also think that your compensation should be based on your skills, experience and education. Do I not have more than what I did ten years ago? (The answer is a resounding yes - I have had about 200% more responsibility in my jobs since then, gone $15K more in debt to get another degree, and have more skills).

I am going to have to work really hard to not let my resentment show and keep my attitude in check there.

Direction -

After many, many questions - I find out that they indeed do have prescription copays and doctor visit copays. Geesh, all of this aggravation that could have been saved if he would have just elaborated to begin with. It took five emails and three phone calls to get the information.

I don't know if they cover mental health. I did ask what about if I provide my own insurance (got a quote on a decent plan for about $240 a month after COBRA runs out). I would get the amount they pay toward insurance added to my salary. So, I'm going to look it over on the first day and decide then (my deciding factor will be whether they have mental health benefits). The $240 plan doesn't have great mental health - but it's 12 visits a year. Just enough for a pdoc - no therapy. Which bites, but it's better than nothing.

That and finding out about another $800 car repair left me without sleep last night.

So, I'm starting there on Wednesday. And I'm still going to keep looking - I feel as though I deserve that other 1/3 of pay that I was getting, if not more. I'm an excellent employee and worker (that is one area that I have 100% confidence in myself).

I'm so happy for you...what a relief on the insurance...

Hopefully all the rest will work out for you...

Have you worked with head hunters before...they really go to bat for you...

I have once, and I felt like they were trying to force me into jobs that I didn't want (too far away, very weird potential bosses, companies in financial jeopardy). However, that was 1999 when jobs were all over the place. I sent out 15 resumes, and had five job offers. That is only a fantasy at this point.

Let's just pray that the cancer doesn't come back - $5000 is a devastating deductible for me. Maybe I can look for some kind of supplemental insurance for that difference.....hmmm.....

i can't get health insurance due to breast cancer.....the deductible would be unbelievable and the monthly premium would be more than i make!!!!!! so, i'm looking at two other jobs and praying that i can get decent coveraage......pat

I understand your feeling mad.

Calling these plans "insurance" is a joke. My company, who I've been with for 4 years just switched to a plan through a major national health insurance company, UHC, that is catastrophic with a $3000 deductible ($6000 per family AND that $6000 must be met before ANY family member gets benefits--if one family member meets $3000 he/she still has to wait for the $6000 to be met before receiving any benefits!). We went from a choice between HMO and PPO to this horrible plan. They might as well say "We could care less about your health". And next year they will have a "Wellness Plan" where they will have people come in and "assess" each employee and if they have a health issue such as they smoke or they are 20lbs overweight, they will be given a time period to stop smoking or lose the weight and if they don't then their premium will go up. Nice. I am looking for another job. I am too uneasy without real health insurance. (And, guess what I do for a living--I pay health insurance claims!!)

I hope you find something that offers you true health insurance coverage. Good for you for asking the questions that need to be asked these days!

Look at larger companies - the smaller ones are the ones getting squeezed. Good luck fayerody.

i'm interviewing at two hospitals this next week. big ones. and i have a job offer here in this small town from a very big company and they also have great benefits. i'm excited..........xoxoxo pat

Great Pat - I'm happy for you. I'm still sending out resumes, now I get to be a bit pickier since I have a job (starting Wednesday).