When the Orlando theme parks shut for the pandemic, I was laid-off from my position almost immediately afterwards. It made economic sense, as they were my main clients, and they would certainly not be re-filling their wine cellars anytime soon.
Thankfully the Medicaid lifeline was there for us almost right away. They responded faster than the unemployment folks did! (Don’t even get me started on them, we are still owed unemployment from nearly a year ago!)
The coverage, while not great for offices and doctors in the “nicer” areas of town, was perfectly fine for our mostly-healthy family. It helped Erin get through some medical issues of her own, and healed Kai’s broken elbow. It also covered countless medication refills for my hypertension, etc. All at 100%. For the nearly 18 months I was unemployed, it was an absolute life-saver.
When I did return to full-time employment in Aug/Sept of 2021, I notified the state and found private insurance through the ACA website. I later found out that due to the pandemic, the state wasn’t dropping anyone from Medicaid due to the public health emergency. How thoughtful of them! So I canceled my private insurance (right as I was diagnosed with cancer), and happily stayed on Medicaid.
Until the clock struck 2022, which apparently is when the “public health emergency” that is Covid/Omicron/Delta officially ended in the eyes of the state of Florida. With no notice, we were dropped from the Medicaid roles, 5 days before my first radiation treatment was scheduled. I only found out because I went to refill one of my regular hypertension meds and the pharmacist couldn’t get it covered like they usually do. I paid out of pocket just to get the medication, and chalked it up to the busy new year holiday.
As of this writing, I’m six radiation and one chemotherapy treatment deep. I have no idea what this is going to cost me. I have signed up for private insurance through open enrollment on the Obamacare website, but it will not start until February 1st. By then I’ll be halfway through my treatments (and bills).
I am incredibly fortunate to still be employed, and to have raised significant funds on a Facebook fundraiser. I have a fundraiser event coming up on January 27th at Digress Wine Bar, which is already looking quite promising. Details on that to come, hopefully later today.
I’m probably going to be okay. The finances will take a beating, but I’ll make it. As long as I keep everyone in my family healthy until February 1st!
But my heart goes out to those less fortunate, or with less access to resources. I know I’m not the only one in this type of situation. What can we do for those people who just got their rugs yanked out from under them? In this instance, I truly hope I’m the only one.