(Untitled)

[madeleine]

I got an estimate of the hospital bill. $30,000 and change. Holy shit what if I didn't have insurance?!

Also -- HR is very apologetic to tell me that I have used all my sick time, personal days and vacation time in being ill.

I now how 6 hours of vacation time coming to me. Any wonder I love this job?

Comments

[ladyvox]

Sorry to hear you lost all your spare/free time :((

And omgosh, yes, thank god for insurance.

[fridgemagnet]

I don't really understand how this works over there. Is the law such that if you're ill, they can basically tell you to bugger off and fend for yourself?

[kingnixon]

yeah pretty much

[madeleine]

Yup. I begged HR to put me on sick leave (no pay) but they wouldn't do it. Once I got back to work I asked if I could buy back the time by giving them my paycheck and they still said no. "We've never done that" they say.

Even worse - if you get fired you don't have health insurance which means someone like me would have to pay the full $30k plus other bills that didn't come in yet. If I didn't pay they could force me to sell my house or whatever assets until they're paid off.

The only way around it is to show you're destitute; that way you get "charity care" but also shitty treatment and shorter hospital time.

So I can't quit and basically I'm fucked. 6 hours of vacation?? You have no idea how much I want to quit. Just can't afford to do it.