Hi, Betty,
I am gonna reply to all your posts that I have missed lately.
First, you and Cindy have helped Ellyn and myself tremendously!! Many thanks to you both!
Your HR Monster should be fired!! The company is not at a great loss financially if they help you. How easy would it be to replace you? Add in time for interviews, retraining, etc. I bet this figure is about right for getting a raise that would cover the Enbrel. Talk money to them. Go to the President. The HR monster has to anwer to someone!!!! I bet that they would rather help keep you than you miss time from work come January.
How much do they lose when you are not there? Multiply that times the average days of your flares and see if you can't win by showing them that by paying just half, they are saving money and keeping a faithful employee. That is bullcrap!! The HR Monster is supposed to be YOUR advocate. You might also flippantly remind them that AS is part of the disabilities act. You may not be state qualified disabled, but it might make them think again!!!
On United Health Care....There are several small companies here that "go in together" to make health care premiums affordable to employees. You may be able to join one of these groups as an individual. Companies like contractors, construction, small manufacturing plants do this here. It's like a coalition. If not, I can almost guarantee that the premium for you would be less than $1250. You can apply what you pay now to the new premium. Also, you migh want to let your daughter's dad carry insurance on her and you purchase single coverage. I did this for a while with my ex. (AND the bills went to him,,,
.
OK, I am off my soap box...it just KILLS me that in a nation that is sooo wealthy, we have honest, hard working people unable to afford adequate medical care. I won't even go into the cost of supporting one federal inmate.
I hope you get some resolution soon!! I would try to write a letter to Wyeth, detailing the financial hardship and the fact that you have been in the trial and see if it works!!
Thinking about you!
Holly
