Going to work is hurting me/my health

[Kruza]

Good day warriors: While I initially made the decision to work as long as I could, I am seriously considering leaving. I was denied work from home because I have a supervisor who is a micro manager. And now she is just nit picking everything I do. I am tired, I don't feel good, and I am working becoz I need my health insurance. I do not have short or long term disability so that is out. What can I do? Fellow warriors please help me feel better.

[kokopelli2017]

hi Kruza.

so sorry to hear your boss is making work-life difficult for you....such a shame she won't let you work from home. and of course you are tired and don't feel well. I get it. we all get it.

perhaps you already know how social security disability (SSDI) works but I will share what I know. others may also have information to pass on as well.

so let's suppose you quit your job on Oct 1st (just an example).....then you would want to apply for social security disability....SSDI...on Oct 2nd or as soon as humanly possible. you can apply on-line at SSA.gov. the website is pretty user friendly and easy to navigate. MBC is a diagnosis that is automatically approved as a disability, as long as you are not working. in addition, the application process for those with MBC is fast-tracked....meaning you should have your answer within weeks, not months. I personally was approved within 3 to 4 weeks.

once approved, there is a 5 month wait period, and they run a month behind, so you should receive your first disability check 6 months after approval. (the amount is determined the same way as social security payments.....based upon your work history income and using the highest 35 years of income).

also, once approved, you will be eligible for medicare health insurance 2 years after your SSDI approval date.

so the catch here is that you are not eligible for medicare for 2 years. so you need to have your own health insurance during that time period. your current health insurance should provide COBRA....I think they need to by law. I believe your present health insurance has to offer COBRA for 18 months but best to discuss that with your current insurance provider. that would still leave you with a 6 month gap of no health insurance for 6 months before medicare kicks in. but you can purchase health insurance through the open market or Obama-care I believe. it will be expensive... but only for 6 months.

I hope this info was helpful.

best wishes in your decision. I hope you are able to work things out🤞.

carole💛 (yellow heart signifies friendship😊)

[Best521]

I am in a similar situation. While my company has allowed me to work from home , this may change in January. I also want to protect my employment and health insurance coverage. My employer has more than 50 employees so I have applied for Intermittent FMLA to run concurrently with existing sick time and vacation time. If intermittent FMLA is approved it will be up to a period of 12 months. I have also formally requested an accommodation under the Federal American with Disabilities act to continue to work from home. My employer uses Sedgewick as their leave administrator. I have sent the forms to be completed to my cancer center and I am waiting to hear back. My heart goes out to you as I know how difficult it is to navigate a challenging office environment. Various states also have additional laws protecting people with disabilities. Dana Farber has an excellent video which covers this topic on You Tube under “2020 EMBRACE Metastatic Breast Cancer Virtual Forum Series | Working with MBC”

There is also the Social Security Disability Insurance option to consider.

It is always worthwhile to follow up with an attorney who specializes in handling ADA cases. I had to consult an attorney once before and it was well worth the fee. It brought me peace of mind and provided a plan to move forward.

You will find you have a lot people out there and the law to support you.

[Rbeth]

Do you like what you do, but want to quit your boss? Can you change departments or go part time? Is there an HR department that can help you? What is your profession? I own a company. It is 51 years old. I can’t work full time and I am 72 years old. I work afternoons and my staff is supportive. I am very lucky for this and they are always concerned about my well-being.

So sad for you and your situation. I wish I could help you. Do you have a Breast cancer organization in your area? Maybe there is someone there who can advise you better. Maybe your profession may be helpful to them? There is a solution, it’s sometimes hard to find. I don’t know what I would do without my work. It keeps me sane and drives me insane at times. It keeps my mind off my disease. Best to you and all who are going through this journey. Reenie

[Supermary]

apply for FMLA

You can take the days off when you need them and you are protected

They don’t have to be consecutive days

Research your state rules and your HR rules

You have a disability and are protected

[Best521]

In addition to applying for FMLA and continuing to discuss accommodations with your employer, document, document, document all interactions with your supervisor and others. If your goal is to protect your income and health insurance you need to take these steps. COBRA is expensive, paying out of pocket for private insurance is expensive and SSDI will be a lot less than your paycheck. Don’t let that supervisor push you out if you want or need to continue working until you are eligible for Medicare

We may have to fight cancer, but we also fight back.

[Fiercefighter13]

I was in a similar situation. If you are here in the U.S. you can apply for Social Security Disability. You are automatically eligible once you are no longer working because of a law President Obama signed while in office. However, there is a six month lag between benefits and approval. The applications do get fast tracked, I was approved within 3 months and they back dated my benefits due to all the work I was missing from illness so that my first checks began in November (application was in August). Medicare begins two years from the approval date. I went on the healthcare exchange for those two years and received excellent benefits with the insurance I chose to sign up with. It was very low cost on the exchange and the co pays were much lower than Medicare. Once on Medicare many of the cancer medications (cdk 4/6 inhibitors in particular) are very expensive with no out of pocket max. I get mine from the charity programs through the pharma companies. I hope this helps, wishing you the best, take care!

[dnamscg]

If retirement is an option with Healthcare as a benefit would be better.

[kearnan]

I live in NY. I was NOT working at the time I was diagnosed. (I had left the job I hated and had two interviews the following week after I was diagnosed. I was under the impression that I had no medical at all. So I was very very stressed.

Does your cancer center have a social worker? Because at least in NY (and I am sure other states) there is a special medicaid for women with stage iv breast cancer (and other advanced cancers for people). See below.

But there is a special medicaid in place. Look up on your state's health website. You may be able to quit your job with no medical insurance and get full NYC medicaid until Medicare kicks in.

Medicaid Cancer Treatment Program (MCTP): Breast, Cervical, Colorectal and Prostate Cancer

Eligibility for the MCTP:

Breast Cancer: To be eligible for Medicaid coverage for the treatment of breast cancer or pre-cancerous breast conditions under the MCTP, applicants must be:

Screened for and diagnosed with breast cancer or a pre-cancerous breast condition by a New York State licensed health care provider, OR, if diagnosed with such in another state, were screened and/or diagnosed by that state's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program;

Not covered under any creditable insurance at the time of MCTP application;

In need of treatment for breast cancer or a pre-cancerous breast condition;

A resident of New York State; and

A United States (U.S.) citizen or an alien with satisfactory immigration status.

[Kruza]

Thank you to all for the information, I am always amazed at the wealth of information and experiences on this forum. Again, thank you.