A work question. | Arthritis Information

So I was wondering how many people here hold down full time jobs with RA and what kind of insurance coverage came with their jobs. (if you're provided any at all) All I wanted to do was to earn my A.A.S in medical laboratory technology, which I did in May, and go to work again. I was so disappointed when two weeks after graduation I went into a terrible flare. Now I'm faced with my lousy medicare part D coverage and having to come up with ,050 out of pocket expenses just to get coverage again.

Bob H.

I work a full time job and a part time job. My company pays 80% I pay 20% of the monthly premiums for health insurance. Except when I had to go out on medical leave- they pay 0 and I had to pay Cobra 00 per month because they have less than 50 employees.I work full time as a middle school science teacher. We have pretty good insurance but when you get into chronic or long term stuff it starts to get frustrating. My copay for Orencia would be 0 a month but I have a supplemental insurance co. to pick that up(Healthwell Foundation).

I know it is frustrating but don't give up. There are great meds out there. It just takes a while to get the right combo. Plus, there are organizations to pick up copays. There is no way I could get Orencia otherwise.

Aww so sorry Bob. I had to quit the job I loved the most. Just couldn't be a chef anylonger. Broke my heart. Lost my insurance and am now filling disability. I am living on 479.00 a week. whet for 2 incomes to 1. But I am hanging in there and so should you! It's hard I know, but I will be here for you. We can talk. Please don't give up. Hugs to you

Cinda

Wow Bob, I am so sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time. I can't manage full time right now so I am working 3 days a week as a the assistant to an Office Manager. Currently I am covered under hubby's ins which is okay when it comes to some things but not the greatest when it comes to drug coverage. Enbrel is 0.00 a month and that is with help from Enliven. Don't give up, all hope is not lost. I have a friend that was practically bed fast when first diagnosed and she is now taking up jogging. Sometimes it just takes a while to get the right combo and get it to working at it's max.

Love and gentle hugs to you,

jamieBob, I haven't stopped working. I work 50-70 hours /week. I am a Logistics Manager for a Marketing Distribution Company. I used to work for the State (Law Enforcement). The benefits aren't as good but my company pays 100% of my fees. It ended up being better than I had negotiated, I thought I was going to only have to pay 0/month, but when my contact was finalized, it said the company would pickup 100%. Maybe the owner was feeling generous that day... Of course that was when I was healthy, so he probably didn't think much of it.... Anyway, jobs with decent benefits are still out there. Not as numerous as they once were, but they are there...

Good luck, my friend. Don't despair. It'll get better...

I work fulltime and carry the insurance for my family. I feel our medical insurance is great. Deductible is 0.00/person, 80/20 split, scripts are 12.00,25.00 or 40.00 monthly (Enbrel is 25.00), copays .00. Best part is the cost, we only pay 5.00/month. Or, at least I think it's a great plan. Hang in there, you'll find something and get back on track. I'm not familiar with the programs, but are you able to obtain the Humira with grants (or whatever they're called)

Jose - I admire your work in law enforcement. My son just this year found a position with a city department and while I'm proud of him for wanting to do this type of work, I also worry. I guess there are risks in any job - so need to quit worrying.

Hi Bob,

I work a full-time job as a city manager. The benefits are good and I also supplement with a disability ins and with AFLAC for other types of insurance for vision, dental, etc. My city pays all but 10% of our insurance. It is getting harder and harder to find good coverage. Most of my employees are union, so we are locked in with the benefits. I'm not sure of your age, but if you belong to AARP they have a great supplemental prescription plan that is fairly reasonable, plus they have Major medical. Check into it. One of my employees is retiring and her husband has RA and she is covering his prescription plan for less than 0 per month. I know it sounds high, but it may be cheaper than the out of pocket expenses for your scrips. Don't give up hope, you will find a job with benefits and get your RA under control it just takes time and lots of patience...good luck, Hiking_gal

I am an attorney and still work full time, on account of the fact that I get to sit at a desk and not move all day! :) My insurance for myself is only /month (0 for the family) with about the same stuff as CathyMN, in terms of deductibles, copay, 80/20, and scrip costs. I work for a school dist. in the adminstrative office. I work a fulltime job. Since RA I have had to make certain work modifications due to heavy lifting restrictions. Ijust can't lift those heavy banker boxes of files anymore. I have the insurance the dist pays for. Co-pays for office visits are 25.00. Medicines are 20.00. unless they are really expensive then we pay a percentage of total cost. I too wonder what I will do when I can't work. I wish you luck .Don't give up hope Bob.
Mom2
Bob:

I work ft as a paralegal. Similar health insurance as those mentioned. I would suggest asking your rheumy if he/she knows about any programs that the pharmaceutical companies offer. Many have hardship tracks for those in similar situations. Good luck!
I finally got some encouraging news today after a visit to the social security office. I went in to see if I could opt out of my part D coverage because of the whole gap thing and found out that they have programs in place that would enable me to try to work again. I can basically work up to nine months and not have a limit on my income during that period while still receiving all current benefits.

So that is a baby step in the right direction. I never understood why retired people sometimes decline in mental health so quickly until the last few months. Before, I had school and clinical rotations to keep me plenty busy. Now, nothing but downtime and more downtime. There's only so much xbox I can play before it gets boring. (I'm a 12 year old in a 32 year old body..love my video games)

I hope things will start looking up now. And thanks to everyone for sharing and the words of encouragement. I really appreciate it.

Bob H.

[QUOTE=bob_h76]

I know this is a personal question but I'm so ready to just give up any hope of ever having any future existence having to continually make ,455 for Humira out of the 0 that I'm living on a month. The only words that keep going through my head are "all hope is gone." I have worked part time since my son was five. I wanted to be home when he came home from school. However, now that he has graduated, I will start working full time in October...a big change for me.

I have insurance under my husband. I pay a 10 dollar co-pay for my medication, a 15 dollar co-pay to see my PCP and a 25 dollar co-pay to see a specialist such as my RD.

I work a full time job. I have the "member and spouse" plan. I don't remember how much my monthly premium is, but I was thinking it wasn't that much. I pay copay for office visits. Insurance pays 100% of our tests (labs, x-rays, etc. ). Hospital stays (with or without surgeries) and ER visits are copay. Our prescriptions are:

- generic

- non-generic

- nonpreferred or preferred specialty drugs (like the biologics)

If we use the mail-in option and fill 3 months at a time, we only pay for 2 months at the price above.

Hi Bob

Since being diagnosed I've changed my job 4 times in an effort to maintain health benefits and pay the mortgage. Luckily I'm an RN and have many options for employment. I just wish my doctor's standard greeting for me wasn't 'So, are you still working?'

Regarding the meds, on average I was paying approximately 0 per month in co-pays. None of them worked so I am now trying a dietary approach which is much cheaper!

Hang in there

_popupControl(); Hi Bob,

I have a work question as well but along different lines than yours. I just want to let you know that Humira has been my life saver. I don't know how long you've been on it but it sure stopped my joint distruction. It will help you I believe.

Good Luck,

Sara (odaat)

I've only had four injections, actually three consecutive doses, so I think it's still a little too early to tell. I think I might be getting some benefit from it but nothing extremely dramatic yet. Like I said though I think it's too early to tell. I hope it gets better though.

Bob H.