Health insurance has been stopped

18 years ago

This is my first time on this forum and I don't know if this is an appropriate question, but I thought I'd give it a try. My BIL was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer last month. He has been taking chemo once a week and radiation therapy 5 days a week. The company he worked for for 30 years was taken over by a large conglomerate recently and they have now told him they have to let him go and stop his health insurance. We know about Cobra for insurance, but is it legal to just drop someones insurance like that? It's hard to afford the Cobra if you can't work. Is going on disability the answer? The family will pitch in and help with whatever needs to be done, but we're looking for any alternatives that may be available. He's doing fairly well and other than his voice being pretty much gone due to the cancer and feeling tired from the treatments, he's felling pretty good. Any advice would be appreciated.

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Comments (14)

njtea
18 years ago
Have other employees been let go or is your BIL one of only a few? If there has been a wholesale discharge of employees, I don't think there is anything that can be done.

However, if only your BIL and a few others have been laid off, perhaps there is a discrimination issue here.
stu2900
Original Author
18 years ago
He's the only one being let go. It's because he can't work.
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njtea
18 years ago
If he's the only one, then I'd make a call to an attorney - it may or may not be discrimination.
Vickey__MN
18 years ago
Many places have a policy that states you can terminate employment at any time for no reason and the employer can terminate employment at anytime for no reason. Sucks! Cobra has to be offered, but is usually VERY expensive. Check with social services may be able to get general assistance or something.

Vickey-MN
Pawprint
18 years ago
Vickey is correct. It is legal because they are not completely cutting him off. They offer Cobra. Yes, I know how extremely expensive it is, (can't afford it myself) but that is their legal way out. They offered other insurance.

Maybe there are other facilities or programs that can help out.
Good Luck!
beaglebuddy
18 years ago
At will employees w/o a contract may be dismissed at any time w/o recourse.
the_crispycritter
18 years ago
the only way it would be against the law for them to lay him off, if the illness was a work related illness and related to a worker's comp claim. Does he work with fumes, asbestos, etc.?
marie26
18 years ago
This is what's wrong with an employer driven health care system. Wouldn't it be nice to know that if you were fired, you'd still be getting the same insurance for the same amount of money you were already paying? Obviously, the people who are afraid of universal health care are the ones that don't have anyone in their own family who are ill and don't understand the implications of what happens when an illness strikes.

My daughter has diabetes and because of that, now has gastroperisis. Her husband left her and quit his job. So, I am paying for her Cobra although I am now earning 1/2 of what I used to due to the economy which is barely above minimum in some states. How are people supposed to survive? What if she didn't have me to help her out? She already used up her lifetime 5 bottle supply of free insulin.

I didn't mean to hijack this thread but this makes me so angry, especially when so many people are uninformed and so insensitive.
Kristeen
18 years ago
I'm sorry for your b-i-l. What a crappy way to be treated after 30 years, take over or not! Unless it's changed, and it may very well have, when my dad signed up for disability after a cancer diagnosis, sadly, he died before the waiting period was over. But that might not be the case anymore. It really makes me angry how people pay into this stuff and get brushed aside in the end!
PeaBee4
18 years ago
Some States will allow someone like him to enroll in a limited Medicaid plan. It would pay for treatment for the cancer and anything related to that, but unlike regular Medicaid, it will not pay for other illness like broken legs, flu, etc. Check with your local Human Resource Department. I have no idea what it might be called in your State. He might get help there. Also, some hospitals have connections with the American Cancer Society and they will help with payment.
oldroser
18 years ago
Call your senator and your congressman. Call your state officials. Call everyone. And check with social services too. In this state it would fall under the laws against discrimmination because of disability. Call your local paper and write the editor. Make as much noise as possible.
agnespuffin
18 years ago
The Insurance carrier, not the employer, calls the shots as to who is covered. If the policy says "Full Time Employees" and it usually does, and the employer continues to pay premiums on anyone not working full time, the employer is in danger of having the coverage canceled for ALL his employees. This has NOTHING to do with discrimmination. The employer is powerless to do anything except keep the BIL on full pay and indefinite leave of absence, which in this case, could be considered fraud.
devorah
18 years ago
He should absolutely go on disability. I assume his diability is either terminal or likely to last for at least 12 months. That's the standard.
carol_in_california
18 years ago
Check with your local Department of Social Services...our county has medical assistance until a person can either go back to work or qualifies for total disability or Medicaid.
I am sorry to hear about his illness and his dilema.

Health insurance has been stopped

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njtea

stu2900
Original Author

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Health insurance has been stopped

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stu2900Original Author

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stu2900
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