My choice today is continue to feel helpless, cry my eyes out some more, sink into depression and over eat, or I could embrace my anger, moving into action. DH wants me to be careful and remember this is a public forum. Perhaps this is a risk I shouldn't take here, but I think better when I can write, and this is something I must put my mind to.
Our health insurance most certainly will be changing. I can understand the frustrations on an employer's side with rising costs, but I feel insulted when dollar signs are more important than acknowledging the hard work, dedication and sacrifice my husband has given.
We currently pay out of pocket about $300 a month for our current PPO/HMO. DH's employer pays the rest and soon the rate is going up about $300. Rather than ask DH to contribute more, his employer has decided to shop around for new health insurance.
Now its a small office, and of the 4 men that work there, only half use the insurance. The others are covered by spouse plans. Of the two that use the insurance, only 1, my husband, needs family coverage. Keep that in mind. We're talking only ONE employee that would cost an additional $300 to insure. The single worker increased cost, I'm guessing, would be half that, but lets just say for argument sake, its another $300 a month, bringing the total to an increase of $600 or $7200 a year.
The business is an engineering design firm. Depending on the work required, projects could range from $5,000 to $50,000. If this business owner could bring in one more project a year, this increase in health insurance would be paid for. The best answer here is bring in more business through the door. Get out there and sell this company's services!
Instead of approaching it this way, he is shopping for new health coverage, but he's not shopping so far too wisely. The option presented to my husband yesterday made me sick to my stomach as I realized it was NOT an option and we would basically be without coverage.
On the "Americare Plan", our family's deductible per year would be $20,000. If we break our arm, that is covered, (after the deductible), but if we get strep throat, its not. MRI's & CAT scans, are not covered and we may even be rejected if we have pre-existing conditions. I can tell you right now our son will be rejected having been diagnosed with a Chiari malformation. Americare doesn't really seem to care at all now does it!
My husband is already working for less than most in his field because he feels a sense of loyalty to the business owner. My husband has taken on more work than he was originally hired for, picking up the slack, to ensure that this small company succeeds. He's worked with this business owner since 1991. Its not just a paycheck to him. He has vested 18 years trying to help this man reach his goals. I can't help but feel spit upon by the offer of a health insurance with a $20,000 deductible.
Maybe I shouldn't whine. So many have no health insurance. So many are unemployed. I just can't help but feel like the company my husband has given so much to, is turning their back on him.
A very wise woman taught me to never bring complaints to the table without suggesting solutions. So today, instead of baking chocolate chip cookies and eating them, I am researching and shopping for health insurance. I'm praying for answers, for peace, for security, but I'm also the type of person who has to do something while I wait for those prayers to be answered. I hope I can find realistic alternatives and convince DH's boss to embrace our concerns and suggestions.
