Re: Famiy Medical Leave Act/ Insurance Questions

[Guest guest]

Holly,

I'm not completely sure about all of this, but I believe you are allowed

coverage by Cobra

for 12 months if you should leave your position and lose the insurance provided

by the

school system. You would have to pay for the coverage, but the price is greatly

reduced

from standard insurance plans. If you aren't working, your husband would need

to enroll

you in his plan as a dependent, and I don't believe that they can disqualify you

as having a

pre-existing condition IF you don't have a confirmed diagnosis yet. I'm not

positive on

this, but that's what I think I've heard. You would need to verify this with

the insurer. I

would keep the diagnosis holding until you were sure you were in the clear with

your

husband's insurance company. What company is his insurance with? You should

have

your husband go in and talk to his administrators right away, and find out what

the

requirements are, and whether there is a waiting period before your coverage

would begin,

or not.

I'm covered by my husband's insurance, which this year is BC/BS of SC, also.

Since his

company seems to change insurer's about every two-three years, I'm not sure how

long

we'll still be with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, but I have been pleased with their

cooperation so

far. They even assigned me a Case Worker last year because of my multiple

diseases/

tests/hospitalizations, which is nice because whenever I have a problem of any

kind with

any of my insurance questions or needs, or permission for new pharmaceuticals or

procedures, my case worker handles it and makes sure that I have the approvals I

need.

I've never had anyone personally assigned to help make things easier for me

before, so

this has been a time-saver and stress reducer for me.

You're smart to be concerned about this now, as it's so important that you keep

your

insurance current, in the event that you may have multiple claims in the future.

I hope you

can get the answers you need to get this straightened out soon.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or opinion,

and should not be substituted for consultation with a medical professional.

[Guest guest]

Holly; I dont know much about the insurance. Heidi covered that

well and explained cobra wonderfully. I really didn't know all

that.

However, the SC state FMLA laws I do know well. I have 30 days left

for 2004 and I am saving them. You can have a total of 180 days of

leave without risks of loosing your job. The first 120 days is

given then and additional 30 days may be requested for up to a total

of 180. My request was granted, I have an additional 30 leave I can

request if need be and I have returned to work only 2 days a week.

Your employers does not have to give you back your specific job; ie:

they could have placed me anywhere in MUSC if they wanted. However,

my job is protected within that 180 days length of time away from

the job.

Hope that helps,

Chrissy

[Guest guest]

,

I know here in IA you have to be employed for 1 year before you can get FMLA.

and in NY I worked for the City and I was on short term disablilty but again

I worked for the city and I dont know if there is FMLA in NY or jsut Short and

Long term disability.

Hope this helped a bit.

IA