"Cancer Awareness Month" - A Good Time to Get Fired Due to Cancer!

Ironic, eh?

I’ve been out of work on a short-term disability leave since mid-May; I’ve been unable to work due to side effects from chemotherapy (new regimes this year) and some pain from my spinal tumor. Unfortunately, my cancer is still progressing, and so far we’ve been unable to find an effective treatment regimen.

On the last Friday in September, out of the blue, I got a call from my company telling me I’ve been “released”—fired—because my FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) had run out. In all the discussions I’d had with HR about the arrangements with FMLA, disability, etc., I was never warned that I could be fired while on short-term disability, so needless to say, I was astounded. No advance warning, no severance pay of any kind—just a few nice words, and I’m on my own.

I still have the private disability insurance ongoing, but I have to do all the administrative stuff on my own, now, which is no picnic, especially while I'm so debilitated.


Supposedly, if I am no better by the end of November, I should be transitioned to long-term coverage, but this is not guaranteed, and my previous dealings with this insurance company were an awful experience.... Anyway, I’ve applied for Social Security disability coverage, but even if/when that comes through, it’s a pittance compared with the 60%-of-salary that I get from the private insurance policy. If that continues, I’ll be able to keep my house, etc., but on SS alone, I’m facing some huge changes—including COBRA or ACA coverage for my health care expenses, which annually total more than my salary has ever been.

It's likely that what my company did was technically legal, but they could have managed to make this somewhat less devastating to me. Details and a discussion were posted at:

http://www.askamanager.org/2015/10/update-how-do-i-tell-my-coworkers-that-i-have-incurable-cancer.html#comments

I understand that business is business, but I feel that this was a heartless way to handle my situation. Meanwhile, I am doing my best to move on from this, and concentrate on trying to stabilize my cancer into something I can live with....