Last week at the conference I attended, many people asked me where Mike was, especially since he had gone with me the last two years.
Mike didn’t get to go to New York City because…he got a new job. He is working as a copywriter for a bank. He’s back doing a similar job to the one he had before the horror of last April derailed our life. It feels like, at least in some small way, that we have put a few of the broken pieces back in place.
One of the best parts of this is that Mike has insurance, and we now have (basically) affordable insurance because we are now part of a large company plan. While this is good for us, it really shines a light on the trouble with insurance as it currently is in America. Even though we were making enough money to live as freelance workers, the insurance we could get was so expensive we couldn’t continue working that way. In the couple months we had the outrageous plan that we were paying $1,400 a month for, we also had insane co-pays. My therapy cost $150 a session, so I had to cut back on my appointments. My prescriptions were full price. Annie’s six month vaccines? I don’t want to talk about it.
Luckily, we don’t have to worry about that at the moment, but it is sad that a family with pre-existing conditions has one option – to get on a company plan. There is no other way around it.
It’s hard for me mentally not having Mike around, but I’m glad that he is working in a job he likes. He is an awesome copywriter, and I know he is doing a great job. We’re so proud of him!
CarrieB says:
That is wonderful news: good for Mike, and richly deserved.
Loving the new look of the blog too.
.
Kate @ UpsideBackwards says:
Hooray! Congratulations, Mike! I hope you really enjoy the new job. And the insurance cover will be a huge weight off your minds, too. Lots of love to you all!
Thurieyyah says:
Congrats on the new job Mike!
Claire says:
Congratulations, Mike! That is great news — and great (if sad that it was necessary) that you are covered under a group insurance plan!
erika says:
i hear ya on the health insurance- my hubbie takes union jobs (he works in tv) so we can have good insurance…we plan our lives around “getting union hours”- i guess that’s the reality…
congrats on the new job!
Olivia Singleton says:
Oh how I know your woes about insurance plans. I lost my job two months ago, and even under COBRA my monthly premiums would be $580. The cost was just too far out of my reach with no job. So at the moment I’m taking the risk of being uninsured. Hopefully America can come up with a suitable solution in the very near future.
Tori says:
Great news about the job.
There is a way around the health care rip off that is the USA … move countries! Come to New Zealand, we have free health care for all children under 6, and it only costs $30 for an adult to go to the Dr here. Hospital care, including having a baby (natural or c section) – FREE!
Love reading your blog … from all the way across the other side of the world!
Jenny says:
I’m glad that you’re insured. I’m sorry that the freelance options for insurance stink right now.
Michelle says:
I’m so happy for all of you. Mostly I wanted to just say is how impressed I am with the love and admiration you and Mike have for each other. I just know of so many couples that are torn apart when they have to go through such a horrific tragedy and grieving process. It’s so heartening to ‘see’ you still together and cheering for one another. Congratulations to Mike on the new job.
kpb says:
yeah, i had cancer when i was 21 (i’m 24 now) and have had lupus and immunodeficincies since i was a baby so it’s really hard for me to get coverage, especially since i need it way more than most. i work as a copywriter too (go mike!) and while i’d love to freelance and live off blog ad money (so i could work around hospital visits, appointments, from bed…), i just can’t do anything without having my company’s health insurance. i’m just lucky they have been so good to me through all the hospitalizations and missed days.
Heather P says:
Congrats to Mike!
Both my fiancee and I work from home, raising the kids together and I know it takes a bit of pressure off of me when I have to run an errand. It’s nice to have another grown up around during the day that I actually care about. I know those aren’t the same reasons in your home, but all the same…
When I read stuff like this it just bothers me that you guys still don’t have universal health care! Even if it means paying slightly higher taxes, there is a certain comfort and relief in knowing that if anything were to ever go wrong, we wouldn’t face losing our home or savings because of it. Don’t get me wrong, Canada’s health care system still has it’s problems, but I hear so many “bankrupt illness” stories it just makes me grateful.
AmazingGreis says:
Congrats to Mike, though I’m sure he misses you both when you’re gone.
amanda says:
Congrats to Mike!
DefendUSA says:
That is surely a comfort to you…here in NC, the one saving grace is that vaccines for children 19 and under are free. Now that “we” are self-employed, that helps a lot. Congrats on the new job…wish I could find a job that was what I “wanted” to do…
karen says:
Geat news for you all!
As ever I am eternally grateful to the NHS for the occasionally rubbish, most of the time great and all of the time (nearly) free service! We do pay for prescriptions (£7.20) and some of the cost of dental treatments but we are so much better off than many Americans.
My Gran felt unwell on Saturday morning. She is in her 80s and felt dizzy and unsteady. She rang for an ambulance. My husband is in the service, and as we had a note attached to her address for him to be called, he was given the job as well as a normal crew. So at 7am a 2 crew ambulance and a responce vehicle turned up at my Grans. They monitored her, then took her to hospital. Not the local one (as it doesnt have a good reputation with older people at the moment) but another one just as close but in the other direction. She was assessed in A&E, bloods taken, a 12 lead ECG done, seen by doctors and nurses. She went to the attached eye A&E for an eye infection, received treatment and eye ointment. She was allowed home. All was free of charge. She has worked all her life and paid taxes towards the service but even if she hadnt she would have still had the same service, in the same way, by the same people, in the same hospital, for free.
It’s hard for America to undo years of a system that has worked well for many. The UK was ‘lucky’ in that our system was built at a time of great change anyway and along with everything else in the post war years we just got on with it. The cost of running a health service was a great deal different too!
I hope that for America they can see the changes through to a service that works for most, if not all, irrespective of income.
Wendy says:
Karen,
This is a great and informative comment. So many people in the US are afraid of changing our health care structure while also stating that what we have can’t humanely continue. There are no easy answers.
thanks for the perspective
Tammy C. says:
Congrats to Mike!!
Congrats to Heather for being such a wonderful mom/sister/daughter/and friend to thousands!
The Daver says:
GO MIKE!
Kristen says:
Congrats on the new job…that’s fantastic that he was able to find something. I lost my job over a year ago, and haven’t found another. My husband lost his just before Christmas, along with the insurance. The company hired him back in the spring, but never offered insurance again. We had to get health ins. through the state of CT. A life saver that they have it, but trying to find ANYONE that will accept it is ridiculous. The doctors we were already seeing won’t treat us anymore because of the insurance we have now. $$$$
Nikki says:
I’m so glad to hear that!! Congrats Mike! I’m glad the insurance debacle is somewhat over now.
XOXO from GA,
Nikki
Deborah says:
HUZZAH to Mike! I’m so happy to hear that your insurance issues have been resolved for the most part. One of the great failures in our insurance industry (in my opinion) is the way mental health is treated. Heaven forbid you need to see a psychiatrist or get some therapy. Just getting the referral approved can be a nightmare and it always seems to cost so much more to go to a mental health professional. It’s like your mental health isn’t a “real” issue to many insurance companies! I hope and pray that one day every American has access to the same level of care that the wealthiest among us has.
(((hugs)))
Hamlet's Mistress says:
Yay for Mike!! That’s great! So happy for him and you all.
cindy w says:
I know we talked about this last week, but it’s so awesome and I’m so happy for you guys that you now have affordable insurance. (And congrats, Mike!) But it really would be nice if someday people could have the flexibility to choose to be self-employed without having to sacrifice their health insurance along the way.
Lora says:
So glad that Mike has a job he enjoys and that you have cheaper insurance! Good news.
Michele says:
Congrats to Mike on the new job! I understand your frustration, though, on the need to rely on employer-provided insurance–especially when you were both enjoying working from home. Glad he found something he likes!
The blog is looking great, btw!
Melissa says:
I’m glad that Mike has found something with health insurance!
I agree with you that health insurance in this country is completely out of control. My husband would like to quit his job and do what he wants to do, but we both have pre-existing conditions…
Deb Hauer says:
Congrats to Mike on the new job! I am happy that your family will have one less burden of the health insurance costs. I am sure it was hard going to Blogher without Mike this year but there is always next year or some other year. His hard work will pay off in the end.
Ms. Moon says:
I’m so happy for Mike and I know that a huge burden has been lifted from your shoulders with the new insurance.
One of the arguments for universal health care which I never see anyone talk about is that it is almost impossible for Americans now to make use of that entrepreneurial spirit which we are so famous for because if you work for yourself, it’s not even feasible to pay for private insurance.
Jen says:
HUGE congrats to Mike. That’s wonderful!
We’ve been told that we will lose our insurance thanks to the measly little part time job I’ve picked up. Two steps forward, three back.
Ugh.
Skye says:
Congratulations to Mike for getting a new job- and one he likes! Good jobs are hard to find and he definitely deserves one.
I was so worried after I read your last blog post about insurance. I am really glad you are getting back on a more affordable plan that can’t deny you coverage.
Melissa says:
Go Mike! And I echo everyone on insurance, we need these changes faster!
Trisha Vargas says:
Congrats to Mike on the new job. That is awesome!!
Kate says:
Insurance is a horrible thing, my sister needs surgery on her stomach from a c section inscion that has not closed since having her daughter 18 months ago, she no longer has insurance and has been given the run around or expected to pay out of pocket for the surgery which she can’t do either. She has tried working to get insurance but didn’t work enough hours to get it and having to get childcare just made everything crazy.
Kate says:
oh and Congrats to Mike!
Tracey says:
Congratulations on the new job Mike (and insurance).
We do have our own problems with health care but one thing that is great about Canada is that I never have to worry about money….just finding a doctor (is that a problem in the US as well?)
Sarah says:
Nope- finding a doctor is easy here. That’s one benefit of a multi-payer system. I am not thrilled with what I have heard about Canada’s single-payer system, but I also agree that the U.S. health care approach is completely broken. Perhaps when some of the newly passed reforms go into effect we will see an improvement.
Cate says:
Yes the U.S. healthcare system needs to undergo some changes, but this is exactly why everything shouldn’t be “free” (paid for with higher taxes) and run by the government. If we go to that, you WON”T be able to find a doctor here either. Oh, and try sitting on a waiting list for MONTHS and months for a simple gallbladder surgery (like a friend of mine did in Ireland). We need reform, but it can’t be extreme or the quality of our healthcare will suffer!
Lisa_in_WI says:
Congrats to Mike on the new job!
Kim G. says:
Congrats to Mike! I totally agree on the insurance….I am married to the corporation as well (thanks to those pesky seizures!). I am SO glad to hear you guys are well taken care of now. Love you guys!
Alison says:
Congrats to Mike! I’m happy Mike has found a job he enjoys, but it is awful that a company health care plan is the only way to go.
Elizabeth says:
Congrats Mike!! Grr don’t even get me started on insurance companies!
Nicole says:
YAY congrats on the job, you guys deserve it. I agree with you on the whole insurance thing, it just sucks.
J+1 says:
Congrats, Mike! Glad to hear he’s happily employed AND insured.
Kelly says:
What great news! It’s wonderful that Mike was able to find a job that he likes, and with benefits!
mp says:
Congrats on the new job! Even if turns out not to be a dream job, it could lead to something better. And handling taxes when self-employed is no fun either.
Hooray to less worrying!
Kate says:
Yay for Mike! Though I have to say, ugh, I am so with you on insurance. I am going back to school (next week!) and had to quit my job. COBRA for me — no pre-existing conditions, no family, just me — is $300 a month. $300! I am going to be on student loans and don’t know how often I’ll get to eat and I’m expected to shell out $300 if I want to keep my coverage? The school’s insurance is $400 a SEMESTER (thank god) but since it doesn’t kick in until the first day of school, I had to look at starving for the summer or going uninsured.
I’m lucky I’m pretty healthy and don’t, like, do dangerous things in my spare time or anything. I was really worried when I first entered my “time without the big-I”.
Ugh, America. We need to get our act together, people.
Kathy says:
That is awesome to hear! I’ve been uninsured for about 10 months (turned 25 last October) and I’ve been praying everyday not to get injured and have to go to the ER.
I have a pre-existing condition, too – and I haven’t even looking into how much it would cost for me because I know it won’t be pretty.
Great news!
Donna says:
I can so relate to the needing a job for insurance. We don’t need my salary for our finances, but since my husband started his own firm, the rates for insurance was insane. I guess it’s a good thing that I don’t mind my job and I work part-time but get full time benefits (defense contractor), but yet, I’m not living my dream of spending my days volunteering to what’s near and dear to my heart. I don’t agree with insurance being tied to employment, it prevents people from going out into the business world on their own! Plus, I carry my husband and toddler on my plan-so I AM STUCK.
I feel for you Heather. Hopefully, one day Washington will wake up and open it’s eyes to changes — but until then, there are limited choices. Only one of the reasons I’m a liberal
Mandy says:
Move to Canada! We’ll take you. And a good part of that stuff is free.
Andrea says:
I really feel for you guys. We are in a very similiar situation. Neither my husband nor my job offers insurance so we pay out of pocket for everything. Been doing this for quite some time now because in the long run it is cheaper than the really expensive insurance premiums. Well in April I found out I was pregnant. At the time my husband was on unemployment. We made too much money to qualify for our state’s medicaid program but not enough money to pay out of pocket for the baby doc visits (they were wanting anywhere from $600 – $1000 per visit!) SO it took me going to part time at my job for us to qualify for state insurance and then it took forever to find a doctor that would take the insurance. They were either full of Soonercare patients OR I was TOO FAR ALONG!!!! Are you kidding me?! So ya I didn’t have my first prenatal visit until I was 19 weeks. The clinic in town wouldn’t even take me without me paying $600.00 up front.
I am so glad you guys have insurance now!!! Yay!!!
Ashley says:
We live up in good ol’ Canada, and I hate to admit it but there are times we sit and complain about our healthcare system. I waited over a year for a serious surgery and am now only 2 months with a specialists appointment I needed 4 years ago (some of the delay would be the fact that I had two babies in the process). But while we pay a monthly premium, it’s based on income so the less your income the less your payment, in the opposite direction it never exceeded $108 monthly. Reading about your struggles with medical care I’m SO GRATEFUL for what we have!
Congratulations to you and Mike on a new job and good health coverage. Until you have kids or get sick you can’t ever really know how great it is
Amy says:
A fellow Canadian nodding head in agreement. We hear horror stories of families in the US going bankrupt while having to deal with cancer and other serious disease. Unheard of here.
My husbands employers (he is a firefighter) pay for our health insurance, 100% of our dental needs (only 60% for orthodontics though) and 80% of our optical needs. Pays up to $2,000 a year in prescriptions for each of us. Other families are not so fortunate but as the previous commenter mentioned the cost of health insurance is based on family income . I remember being a student and paying 25 dollars a year!
Unreal a family would have to pay $1,400 a month. That exceeds our mortgage payment by $500. Unreal.
Congrats on the new job Mike!
Molly says:
Congrats to Mike! It must be hard not having him around but I hope having somewhat affordable insurance helps put some of your fears to rest. After living for a year in England, I can’t understand why the US doesn’t get its act together.
Stephanie says:
It must be such a relief to have group coverage. I just don’t understand why small businesses/free lancers didn’t yell about this during the health care reform debate. Can you imagine the creativity released, the new inventions invented, if people didn’t have to rely on having a job at a big corporation just to get health insurance? We could actually have more artists, people could open their own businesses without fear that medical bills would bankrupt them.
My 13 month old daughter had a severe allergic reaction to what we later discovered was sesame seeds. We had to call 911, we went to the nearest ER, where they monitored her and administered Benadryl and steroids. Total cost so far? About $3000. Our out-of-pocket cost? $100. It seems insane that it would cost that much to literally do nothing but have us hang out in the ER while the meds took effect. We didn’t even have a doctor examine her, but instead a physician assistant, who is supposed to cost less. But can you imagine if we didn’t have (good) health insurance? Ridiculous.
We are broken. How do people not understand? Makes me sick.
I’m so happy to hear that you at least have some piece of mind now.
daisybv2 says:
So Happy to hear! I am so glad you got insurance that is more reasonable for you guys that is just horrible what they were making you pay.
Glad you had a good time in NY too..
Kim says:
Congrats Mike!! Yea for decent affordable health insurance!!! Wish he could be there with you still during the day though.
Legally Fabulous says:
Ugh, I hear ya. I turned 25 in May and graduated from law school the same month, therefore got kicked off of my parent’s health insurance. I’m unemployed, so I had to purchase individual insurance. My prescriptions are over $500 a month, insurance won’t cover them, and my insurance will basically cover nothing except maybe a night or two in the hospital if I get hit by a bus. Oh and did I mention that I’m UNEMPLOYED? SO yeah, that insurance and prescriptions? SUPER affordable!
But congrats to Mike! I hope to join the land of the working soon. With benefits! yay!
Jennifer Pletcher says:
Congratulations to Mike! Yay! I agree with you about the healthcare. I have two children with pre-existing conditions, and we move a lot, so it has always been a pain!
Marti from Michigan says:
Congratulations Mike, you deserve this wonderful new job! We’re all proud of you…….in this economy to find a job, is a fantastical thing!
Kirsten says:
Why do you have to pay for vaccines? Don’t they offer them free?
Still, really glad you guys are getting sorted with regards to medical aid. Hopefully things will start looking up. *HUGS*
Ania says:
Congrats Mike! I’m so glad you have better coverage – that must have been a huge stress for you guys.
It sounds like you had a great time in NYC – I love visiting there – the energy is intoxicating!
Skatesandscars says:
Congrat’s to Mike!!
Heather- do you freelance elsewhere writing -is it all in the blog-o-sphere, here on TSAM or ??? Just curious!!
Glenda says:
Happy for Mike and even happier that now your family has an insurance plan… that must be a huge relief for you!
Jessica V says:
Congrats on the new job Mike! And I’m so glad to hear that your insurance situation is better – what a relief that is!
Dawn @ What's Around the Next Bend? says:
Congrats to Mike on the Job!!
I’m glad there is one less stressor in your life!
Colleen says:
Congratulations!
I wish the state of health care in this country was not so complicated. No one should have to worry about how to afford to be healthy, both mentally and physically.
Melissa says:
wow! what great news! congrats.
Joy says:
I SO agree with you here. My insurance just sent me notice that it is going up another $100 a month and I simply don’t have that in the budget. So I too am facing going back to work full time simply for the insurance. I had such high hopes that some reasonable type of healthcare plan would be available soon. Such heartbreak when the republicans stripped it down to nothing worthwhile at all. Thank you so much special interests.
Congratulations to Mike. I wish you all the best in your new job.
Angela says:
Yay for Mike!
Issa says:
I’m glad for Mike. And for you guys on the money. But yeah, that has to be a hard transition. Sorry honey. I’m considering it myself. Corporate. Just basically for the insurance. $1200 a month is what I pay now. Before co-pays. Yeah, it sucks.
Am sorry I didn’t see you more than once, but am glad I got to hug you and see Annabel once.
Bethany says:
That’s awesome! Congratulations to Mike & your whole family. I hope it’s a job that works out well for him
Laney says:
So excited for Mike! From what I can tell from his writing on the blog, he must be quite the copywriter.
Also, I’m freelance (TV) and I lived without health insurance for five loooong, “please don’t let me get sick, please don’t let me get sick” years. Even with a generous salary, I couldn’t afford the astronomical cost. It wasn’t until I got married that I was covered and now I have to remind myself that it’s okay to go to the doctor if I don’t feel good.
Amanda M. says:
Congratulations on the new job and insurance!
My husband’s job doesn’t offer insurance until he’s worked there for A YEAR. *gag*
Jenn says:
Hey there,
Congrat Mike!!! Wishing you all the success in the WORLD!!!!
Tamara Tobler says:
The U.S. healthcare system is horrible! I am half Australian and they have it going on! I had my son for free there! I even got $5000 from the government for having a baby as a congratulations! Every Australian born citizen gets what is called a baby bonus! I am pregnant now and am having to stay in The States for this birth and the cost is killing me and we have decent insurance. It is sad that people here are forced to make family and medical descions based on finances. My parents who are both US citizens are being forced to live in Australia due to the fact that they have pre existing medical conditions and would not be able to be insured in The U.S. It makes me sad that eventhough my parents worked hard and paid taxes in The U.S. most of their lives, they will not get to watch their grandchildren grow up. Hopefully this will soon improve. Congrats to Mike though.
Bethy C says:
I found your blog recently and want to congratulate you on good insurance. Unfortunately everyone isn’t as fortunate (as you well know). My husband works for a local government in a director’s position and to put it bluntly, our insurance SUCKS. We have a son with numerous health issues. Our insurance recently changed again and it forced us to have a surgery for him moved up, causing our family to miss my sister’s wedding. Also our co-pays have increased drastically. He is on 6 different medications and (I’ve only had one filled since the increase) one of them has gone up in price from $40/25 day supply to $92/25 day supply. I’m terrified of how much just his meds will cost us each month. SOMETHING must be done to help those of us with major medical problems. We just can’t afford this much longer.
Pamala says:
Congrats on the job! I know it’s a relief when you have insurance. Right now my hubby is unemployed and I tried to get us a private plan and mentioned that my daughter has a disorder, you know one she didn’t chose, one she was born with, and they said she wouldn’t be covered. Oh thanks! So you’re telling me that my daughter isn’t deserving of health care because she got bad genes? It’s annoying. So now I’ve had to go and get myself a job so we can afford to at least continue to pay for Cobra (which is insanely expensive as well) so that my daughter can get her medication and go to her doctors. I can’t wait until my hubby has a job with a group plan so that I don’t have to worry about this stuff anymore.
Mrs. Wilson says:
Congrats on the job, Mike!
Jill says:
Yay, Mike! Congratulations on the new job
Lori says:
Congrats on the job. It must be a relief. We’re in the same boat. My husband would love to start consulting. He’s qualified, the pay is great and the hours are more flexible. Unfortunately, his various health conditions make working for a big corporation with a good health insurance plan our only option. It’s one thing to have your health get in the way when you’re sick, but it’s another to have it hold you back when you’re well.
Amanda says:
Such great news!! I’m so glad that Mike was able to get a good job with healthcare benefits.
I work at a health center, and we mainly see selfpay patients, luckily we have a sliding scale so it’s such a wonderful feeling to help people find affordable health care. The hospitals are a bit scary, but the doctors are top notch.
Patricia Bullock says:
Hi Heather, I have been following your blog for a very long time. First, please accept my condolences on the loss of your beautiful Maddie last year. Second, congratulations on the birth of your second beautiful child, Annabel. Third, congratulations on your husband finding work that includes some health insurance. I sure hope this is the start of wonderful things for your family. I am appalled that one has to pay for any care for babies in the U.S., especially something as important as vaccinations! The cost of your health care AND insurance is awful.
Your posts about your sweet babies almost make me want another baby!
Michelle W says:
That is just jaw dropping, and for myself here in Canada those numbers are just unfathomable, we’d be literally poor if we had to pay those kind of premiums. I wish you didn’t have to be forced to make certain decisions but greatly admire how you support and love each other through it all.
evonne says:
Seriously you could cut and copy this post right on to my blog. This is what I live every day. I go to work, because we have to have insurance…not because we need the money. I like my job, but I would much rather be home with my babies. My husband is self employed, and is extremely busy with what he does. I wish that it was different. Hoping it can be before I am done having babies. =(
gorillabuns says:
yea, we pay almost $1000/mo for nothing. full RX’s and nothing is covered. Needless to say, me dying would be cheaper than going to an actual doctor.
CoffeeJitters (Judy Haley) says:
So awesome that you’re able to get reasonable insurance. It is so important.
We have made a little progress, but we still have so much work to do to make health care coverage accessible.
Pamela says:
Is America so stubborn that we cannot mirror other countries with health insurance? I get worked up just thinking about it.
Nadine says:
Congrats on the new job! That’s awesome! And no comment on the health insurance – as an “international” in the US on a student visa, I was only eligible for “emergency” insurance through the school. This past year, on a temporary post-grad work permit, I was ineligible for any insurance.
I moved to Vancouver, BC two days ago. Can’t wait to go to the dentist for the first time in 7 years (horrific)
Lisa says:
I wish Mike didn’t have to get a job just for the insurance. Something definitely needs to change here in the US so that people don’t have to rely on their jobs for affordable insurance. I’m glad at least it is a job he likes and that it means you guys are covered.
Wendy Black says:
Congrats Mike!!!
Ray says:
Congrats to Mike on the new job. Very glad to hear you have affordable insurance now.