Help - HR People Look Here

[runwad]

Hi All,

I have a situation I need help with. First off we are in Ohio. Second my friend who is the June Cleaver of the 21st Century has a 40 something husband diagnosed with a rare cancer stage 3. Not sure of his life expectancy at this point. Anywho my question. He works at a fortune 500 company. I'm not sure if he has long or short term disability? Neither is she but she will check with him. If he does not have it how long can he keep his job if he is sick and can't work? Just the amount of vacation and sick time he has plus the 12 weeks of family leave? That's what I think but am not sure.

Also I'm sad to hear they have no life insurance outside of work and only 2 times his salary. So if he would lose his job due to being sick she won't be getting any life insurance :-( He doesn't think this will be any big deal because she will get his pension and 401k. Well I know she will get the 401k but my 2nd question will she get his pension from work if he's not at the point of collecting it now? He does have a pension at this job and is 20 years in. If he passes will she have access to it at retirement age? Any help with these two questions will be greatly appreciated. Oh wait I have one more. Say he does pull thru this. Will he ever be able to get any more then 2 times his salary thru his company benefits in life insurance? I know his chance of now getting life insurance outside of work is probably nill. Thanks

Oh and people no one ever expects anything like this to ever happen to them but please, please, please think about these things and plan for the well being of your family.

 

[auralia]

the retirement is all hinged on the companies policies he would have to look into them. I know i would get DH's if he had 20 years in so long as that was what he chose to do (there are different options) I would also keep the health care that goes with it.

I believe there are some small life insurance policies that don't require a physical but with cancer... generally you can find something but the real question is what you will have to pay for that something with a history like that

Now happy thoughts... a family friend who is 70+ had cancer that mastised to his brain.... his prognosis was VERY grim and he was already very weak and in a great deal of pain from a "joint disease" and fused vertibrae along with high blood pressure and other things. He survived the kemo.... and is cancer free! and a great deal of his joint pain is going away... the pain was actually caused by pressure in his brain! the doctors were shocked and he is as fine as a 70 year old who worked very hard his whole life can be. there is always hope.

 

[dhuba]

the retirement is all hinged on the companies policies he would have to look into them. I know i would get DH's if he had 20 years in so long as that was what he chose to do (there are different options). QUOTE]

The law requires the spouse to sign off on any changes to spouses pension plan in my state or that might federal law. He could get more per month if it didn't carry on to me but that can only occur if I agree, and that isn't going to happen. Not all plans have those kind of options though.

 

[ajk912]

I have no advice but tons of P&PTs to your friend and her husband. Forty years old and stage 3 cancer, I am so incredibly sorry.

 

[Arielle22]

The company is only required to hold his position 12 weeks which is unpaid. This assumes the company is big enough for FMLA and that he has worked at the company the required amount of time. Depending on company policy, his paid time off available can be used during the 12 weeks.

He is also responsible for his health and dental premiums during the 12 weeks. If he does not pay the premiums, the company can cancel his insurance and offer Cobra which would require him to pay the entire premium (both his portion and the company's both) along with a 2% administrative charge.

Your friend should ask for a copy of the life insurance policy. It is possible that the policy would cover your friend if he became ill while he was still employed.

All short and long term disability policies I have administered are in effect if the employee became ill while working. If the employee is later termed it does not affect coverage.

Your friend should speak with the HR department of your husband's company. They would be able to get the information she needs and she may need to get the enrollment form for short term disability from them.

 

[runwad]

The company is only required to hold his position 12 weeks which is unpaid. This assumes the company is big enough for FMLA and that he has worked at the company the required amount of time. Depending on company policy, his paid time off available can be used during the 12 weeks.

He is also responsible for his health and dental premiums during the 12 weeks. If he does not pay the premiums, the company can cancel his insurance and offer Cobra which would require him to pay the entire premium (both his portion and the company's both) along with a 2% administrative charge.

Your friend should ask for a copy of the life insurance policy. It is possible that the policy would cover your friend if he became ill while he was still employed.

All short and long term disability policies I have administered are in effect if the employee became ill while working. If the employee is later termed it does not affect coverage.

Your friend should speak with the HR department of your husband's company. They would be able to get the information she needs and she may need to get the enrollment form for short term disability from them.

Thank you and we did find out that he does have long term disability thru work. What a relief. He was so worried that if work found out about his cancer they'd let him go as to not have to pay his medical bills.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Hi All,

I have a situation I need help with. First off we are in Ohio. Second my friend who is the June Cleaver of the 21st Century has a 40 something husband diagnosed with a rare cancer stage 3. Not sure of his life expectancy at this point. Anywho my question. He works at a fortune 500 company. I'm not sure if he has long or short term disability? Neither is she but she will check with him. If he does not have it how long can he keep his job if he is sick and can't work? Just the amount of vacation and sick time he has plus the 12 weeks of family leave? That's what I think but am not sure.

Also I'm sad to hear they have no life insurance outside of work and only 2 times his salary. So if he would lose his job due to being sick she won't be getting any life insurance :-( He doesn't think this will be any big deal because she will get his pension and 401k. Well I know she will get the 401k but my 2nd question will she get his pension from work if he's not at the point of collecting it now? He does have a pension at this job and is 20 years in. If he passes will she have access to it at retirement age? Any help with these two questions will be greatly appreciated. Oh wait I have one more. Say he does pull thru this. Will he ever be able to get any more then 2 times his salary thru his company benefits in life insurance? I know his chance of now getting life insurance outside of work is probably nill. Thanks

Oh and people no one ever expects anything like this to ever happen to them but please, please, please think about these things and plan for the well being of your family.

Just one quick thing: There are companies that DO give insurance without medical exams/doctor checks etc. They are online if you google them and they are reputable and can be checked out thru your BBB.
I am sorry to hear about your friends serious situation. I hope he does pull thru and his family can get thru this!!

 

[starry_solo]

Just one quick thing: There are companies that DO give insurance without medical exams/doctor checks etc. They are online if you google them and they are reputable and can be checked out thru your BBB.
I am sorry to hear about your friends serious situation. I hope he does pull thru and his family can get thru this!!

If you're talking about life insurance, they would have to disclose his cancer and, more likely than not, he wouldn't be able to get covered.