With all the new government healthcare rules coming up it's no wonder my family and I have been kicked to the curb after 27 years of loyal service after my LTD benefits ran out.
I had an life threatening illness in 2005 and became permanently disabled as a result the following year and could no longer do my job as a truck mechanic . Went on LTD in '06 hoping that over time my disability would improve enough for me to return......but it did not and my health insurance ran out this past September. I was told by a manager in Human Resources in 2007 that they would review my situation when the time came and decide if benefits could be continued at a reduced rate even though I was short of the required retirement age by 3 years.
Well, their was no "review" just a "sorry we can't do anything" over the phone. Talk about cold heated. A call to corporate just informed me that this needed to be handled at the local level.
I was certainly not seeking something for nothing and would have most certainly paid for the benefits for my wife and two kids (I have Medicare) As a result my wife had to seek coverage through her employer which is so expensive she is basically working for the insurance. She goes to work everyday and at the end of the week brings home pretty much zip, zilch, nada.
I realize there are many people with no coverage at all and I should be grateful we have something and I am..........but it's unfortunate that one person who handles these kinds of situations tells us one thing and they turn around an do another.......not even a sit down meeting to see what could be done.
I guess I shouldn't have put that much faith in the company that it could somehow help out my family..........even after 27 years.
I had an life threatening illness in 2005 and became permanently disabled as a result the following year and could no longer do my job as a truck mechanic . Went on LTD in '06 hoping that over time my disability would improve enough for me to return......but it did not and my health insurance ran out this past September. I was told by a manager in Human Resources in 2007 that they would review my situation when the time came and decide if benefits could be continued at a reduced rate even though I was short of the required retirement age by 3 years.
Well, their was no "review" just a "sorry we can't do anything" over the phone. Talk about cold heated. A call to corporate just informed me that this needed to be handled at the local level.
I was certainly not seeking something for nothing and would have most certainly paid for the benefits for my wife and two kids (I have Medicare) As a result my wife had to seek coverage through her employer which is so expensive she is basically working for the insurance. She goes to work everyday and at the end of the week brings home pretty much zip, zilch, nada.
I realize there are many people with no coverage at all and I should be grateful we have something and I am..........but it's unfortunate that one person who handles these kinds of situations tells us one thing and they turn around an do another.......not even a sit down meeting to see what could be done.
I guess I shouldn't have put that much faith in the company that it could somehow help out my family..........even after 27 years.
