Just a vent, feel free to ignore

[mouseketeer_mom]

So, about 6 weeks ago DH was laid off, it only lasted about 3.5 weeks, but it pinched just a bit.

Then COBRA visited the savings account and sucked out $936.

Next, it was time to renew my car registration. $125 but hey, it was planned for. However, fourteen months ago DH got a "speed/photo ticket" in my car. I promptly logged on and paid the $60 and printed off the receipt. But, appearently the juristiction failed to notify the MVA. 14 months later, I have since tossed the receipt and documention showing the charge to my debit card is woefully inadequate. Fine is now ANOTHER $85 plus the flag fee from the MVA $30.

We buy an organically raised steer once a year and split it with another family. So, hubby dropped the steer off at the butcher and the other family backed out. Financial struggles of their own and I understand but geeeesh! So, my bill was double what it should have been. (BTW, organic burgers for sale J/K)

Lastly, DHs truck broke down last week. I really didn't think it was going to that bad........ $2,163 later, yeah, that's pretty bad.

 

[mrsklamc]

Maybe you could take out an ad on Craigslist for the other half of the steer?

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Hope things start improving for you!

 

[Justsyd2]

I'm sorry! I know it's not the same, but we just bought a new flat screen TV for the bedroom, and a week later the computer monitor went out, on top of having 6 family birthdays within two weeks. Just didn't want you to feel all alone!

 

[nelson84]

It seems to always happen that way, and then next year nothin will go wrong. For me this stuff happens when I come into a little money such as a stock pays off and then my home or something else has to suck the money out of my pocket. Don't worry everything works out in the end.

 

[quentina]

I am thinking he is back to work, is that correct? Did medical kick back in?

In PA, you have 60 days to elect cobra. If you "use" it, you then can back date it. Not sure if that is an option for you.

 

[cmrules]

I wish we were near you I would love some organic beef.

 

[KELLY]

I hear you.
Let see this month has just been really expensive. DD needs a t-shirt for dance rehersal night 12.00 pictures 25.00 that is this week. Just found out Saturday she needs these things. We needed oil this month another 400.00. We need to pay taxes by the end of April 2400.00. The last 2 things are things we knew were coming so not such a big deal.

Our new house 3 years old has a leak somewhere. Issurance will do the interor for 1200.00 but not the outside where the problem is coming from. So who knows how much that is going to cost. There suppose to come look at it this week but it hasn't stopped raining so it will probably be next week.

 

[bumbershoot]

Didn't they continue the COBRA subsidy? Shouldn't you guys only be paying the subsidized amount instead of the full amount? (if that amount is your subsidized amount I'm going to faint) Can you contact them about it?

 

[englishteacha]

So sorry! I feel your pain! We had a yard sale a couple years ago. DH went to shut his truck window and it broke. The cost of the new window? The exact amount we made in the yard sale. I was sooo peeved.

In regards to the speeding ticket, can you appeal to a higher power? They can't double charge you! (And we feel your pain there, too. Got pulled over for failure to register DH's truck. Registered it immediately, but DH forgot to put the new registration in the truck-foolish, I know. A random cop on a country road ran our plates for kicks a month later, saw it come up as not registered, and issued us a summons. Turns out, our town hadn't sent in the paperwork to the state. Luckily Dh brought the registration into the DA and they dropped the charges.)

 

[poohscrew]

Sorry to hear about so many things going wrong!!

I am sure things will get better! Just think happy thoughts!!

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

Thanks so much for the support. It's just nice to know you are not alone sometimes.

For those that asked about the COBRA; yes (thank the good Lord), DH is back to work but if we don't pay the COBRA for the 3.5 weeks he was off then we are considered to be those who have "declined" coverage and therefore are not eligible for coverage until the next open enrollment in July. And, yes, we would be eligible for the COBRA subsidy but unfortunately my employer offers an employed paid HSA. Technically, that's "health insurance offered elsewhere", making us ineligible for the COBRA subsidy.

I know it makes no sense, but THANK YOU! It's nice to know that I'm not alone. I know it's just life.

Some friends of ours lost their beautiful 4 year old son in a tragic accident about a week and half ago. It reminds me that I have many blessings in my life and that my concerns or struggles are really inconsequential in comparison.

and, to make you happy when you are sad and sad when you are happy, I am reminded "this too shall pass".

 

[tinker&belle]

If it happens again, know that COBRA is retroactive, so you have 60 days to inact it. So for example

May 1st DH is laid off
June 22 Major medical incident

You can elect COBRA at that point in time (after the major medical incident) and it will cover you retroactivly to the date of the lay-off. Or you can wait until 60 days after the layoff and still get coverage and you had a two month break of paying the premium. I know it might suck to find this out now, but it will be helpful if another lay-off hits.

ETA: Just read about the enrollment date...so this may be a little bit different situation until he has been at the company awhile, but could come up if he leaves at another point in time.

 

[Pixie Princess]

Didn't they continue the COBRA subsidy? Shouldn't you guys only be paying the subsidized amount instead of the full amount? (if that amount is your subsidized amount I'm going to faint) Can you contact them about it?

COBRA subsidy was not extended. Congress decided they couldn't be bothered to stay in town and work out their differences to extend the subsidy.

 

[pixiewings71]

Oh man, sounds like my house. LOL It's always something isn't it? I had a thought about the ticket, contact your bank, let them know what's going on and ask them for help.....they should be able to help you find that transaction so you can prove that you paid it.

 

[bumbershoot]

...but unfortunately my employer offers an employed paid HSA. Technically, that's "health insurance offered elsewhere", making us ineligible for the COBRA subsidy.

That's pretty weird...an employee paid HSA, meaning that a spouse isn't eligible?

COBRA subsidy was not extended. Congress decided they couldn't be bothered to stay in town and work out their differences to extend the subsidy.

Well I do see that it was extended to March 31, which is longer than it was back last April when DH found out about an impending layoff...

Who knows what might happen in the future?


Sure am sorry it didn't work for the OP!

 

[3happydancers]

Thanks so much for the support. It's just nice to know you are not alone sometimes.

For those that asked about the COBRA; yes (thank the good Lord), DH is back to work but if we don't pay the COBRA for the 3.5 weeks he was off then we are considered to be those who have "declined" coverage and therefore are not eligible for coverage until the next open enrollment in July. And, yes, we would be eligible for the COBRA subsidy but unfortunately my employer offers an employed paid HSA. Technically, that's "health insurance offered elsewhere", making us ineligible for the COBRA subsidy.

I know it makes no sense, but THANK YOU! It's nice to know that I'm not alone. I know it's just life.

Some friends of ours lost their beautiful 4 year old son in a tragic accident about a week and half ago. It reminds me that I have many blessings in my life and that my concerns or struggles are really inconsequential in comparison.
and, to make you happy when you are sad and sad when you are happy, I am reminded "this too shall pass".

Just needed to express my sympathy for your friends

 

[annsteere]

It might be worth the effort to appeal the extra ticket.

We sent a check to renew our car registration. A few weeks later took a weekend trip. Got back to the airport parking lot and found two tickets on our windshield. Turns out our registration expired on Friday midnight. They dinged us $75 and then 24 hours later wrote us up again for another $75.

This happened last September. I filed an appeal stating that I had written the check on time and it was slow service that kept us from displaying the new sticker.

DH laughed and promised me that the city was never going to let me off the hook since the sticker was not displayed and they would want their money.

YESTERDAY I got the notice that my appeal was approved. Yep, from September 2009 to March (almost April) 2010 for them to process my appeal. Sortof supports my claim that they weren't very speedy in processing my renewal.

That $150 I can spend on medical insurance. . . . or the water on the laundry room floor. . . or . . .