Saturday, February 21, 2009
An auspicious day
Owen is a year old today. I didn't really think about this last year, but 15 years ago today, I lost a very good friend and mentor to AIDS. I thought about that yesterday; thought about the grayness of that day, thought about the fact that I'd spent part of the day before (in 1994) in the emergency room because of a minor rollerblading accident. But most of all, I thought about Robert Carman and what he used to say to me. "You're going to make an awesome dad someday," he'd say, a twinkle in his eyes. And I hope that I am.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Blogging the Meltdown: the problem with healthcare, #538 of infinity
Here is my choice: In order to keep my family from going under financially, I can continue to go broke paying the ridiculously expensive COBRA plan we’re on now or I can take all of us (including the baby) off the grid so that none of us have health insurance for 45 to 90 days.
Is there any universe where that makes sense from a public health perspective?
First, a little background: I’m 46, a promotional copywriter for magazines and newspapers with just over 20 years in that field. In February 2008, my wife and I welcomed our first child, Owen, into our family. A month before that, I’d been job eliminated after two years at a media giant where I’d already spent 7 years during the 1990s. This was hard news, coming as it did a few weeks before Owen was born and a few months after my wife, a waitress, had broken her foot.
Of course, because she worked as a server at a three-star restaurant in Manhattan, my wife was not entitled to unemployment, maternity leave, or worker’s compensation (think about that the next time your coq au vin is a touch late getting to the table, please). At the time, I saw her break as a blessing in disguise, given the nature of the job, the hours she would be traveling to and from work and her age.
Even after I was laid off, I figured things would be okay. I tend to be an optimistic person to begin with, and I’d never had too much trouble finding jobs. I began to see the lay off as a chance to spend time with our new baby and help my wife out as she recovered from both childbirth and her broken foot.
In April, I was offered a freelance copywriting gig with a national newspaper that was promising and had a nice day rate. Until the end of May, I was still on company-subsidized health insurance, and so I was able to save the money that we’re living on now.
Unfortunately, the freelance gig did not convert to a full-time job (they had to hire for “my” position from inside the company). Meanwhile, in June, I started paying COBRA. At $1,552.87 cents per month for our family of three, it’s a lot of cash, about the same as our rent. For a while, I took solace in the fact that that money is tax deductible.
Suffice to say that, when I saw the flyer for Family Health Plus, I allowed myself a brief glimmer of hope that at least a part of my worries could be reduced. A New York State Medicaid-style program, Health Plus promises all the features our family needs—wellness visits, inoculations, emergency care, etc.—and is based on a needs test. I reasoned that, even with stringent standards, our family, which is living on our savings plus $405 per week, would qualify. We might not get off with free health insurance, but we could at least save some.
So I called the number on the flyer. After a few days, I was finally able to connect with Yariy Colon, the Health Plus representative for Brooklyn. She listened patiently as I explained my situation, but stopped me abruptly when I mentioned COBRA.
That’s when I found out that, in order to qualify for safety-net health insurance coverage, I had to go without any kind of health insurance for anywhere between 45 and 90 days. Not just me, but my wife and baby as well. I could, she assured me, get emergency Medicaid for the baby if he were injured or got sick enough to take to the emergency room.
As for my wife and me, we would be on our own while New York State (the political entity that administers my Unemployment Compensation, it bears pointing out) investigated whether my (lack of) means justified my being placed on the roles of its health insurance backstop program.
To me, Ms. Colon’s suggestions seemed to constitute the very definition of insanity, and the choice she presented me with seemed the ultimate catch 22: take your middle-aged self and your wife and child off health insurance completely for as many as three months or go broke continuing to pay for health insurance you cannot afford.
In high school, our crusty old business teacher explained life insurance in the driest possible terms: you’re betting, he explained, that you’re going to die; the insurance company is betting that you’re not. Conversely, stopping the odious COBRA payments and taking me and my family off health insurance would be betting that we’re not going to get sick or injured.
Clearly, that’s not a bet I’m willing to take, so that leaves only the choice of continuing to go broke paying for health insurance while hoping for either enough regular freelance to pay COBRA payments (while they’re still offered—that ends, too) or hoping that my efforts to land a new job with benefits finally pays off.
Is there any universe where that makes sense from a public health perspective?
First, a little background: I’m 46, a promotional copywriter for magazines and newspapers with just over 20 years in that field. In February 2008, my wife and I welcomed our first child, Owen, into our family. A month before that, I’d been job eliminated after two years at a media giant where I’d already spent 7 years during the 1990s. This was hard news, coming as it did a few weeks before Owen was born and a few months after my wife, a waitress, had broken her foot.
Of course, because she worked as a server at a three-star restaurant in Manhattan, my wife was not entitled to unemployment, maternity leave, or worker’s compensation (think about that the next time your coq au vin is a touch late getting to the table, please). At the time, I saw her break as a blessing in disguise, given the nature of the job, the hours she would be traveling to and from work and her age.
Even after I was laid off, I figured things would be okay. I tend to be an optimistic person to begin with, and I’d never had too much trouble finding jobs. I began to see the lay off as a chance to spend time with our new baby and help my wife out as she recovered from both childbirth and her broken foot.
In April, I was offered a freelance copywriting gig with a national newspaper that was promising and had a nice day rate. Until the end of May, I was still on company-subsidized health insurance, and so I was able to save the money that we’re living on now.
Unfortunately, the freelance gig did not convert to a full-time job (they had to hire for “my” position from inside the company). Meanwhile, in June, I started paying COBRA. At $1,552.87 cents per month for our family of three, it’s a lot of cash, about the same as our rent. For a while, I took solace in the fact that that money is tax deductible.
Suffice to say that, when I saw the flyer for Family Health Plus, I allowed myself a brief glimmer of hope that at least a part of my worries could be reduced. A New York State Medicaid-style program, Health Plus promises all the features our family needs—wellness visits, inoculations, emergency care, etc.—and is based on a needs test. I reasoned that, even with stringent standards, our family, which is living on our savings plus $405 per week, would qualify. We might not get off with free health insurance, but we could at least save some.
So I called the number on the flyer. After a few days, I was finally able to connect with Yariy Colon, the Health Plus representative for Brooklyn. She listened patiently as I explained my situation, but stopped me abruptly when I mentioned COBRA.
That’s when I found out that, in order to qualify for safety-net health insurance coverage, I had to go without any kind of health insurance for anywhere between 45 and 90 days. Not just me, but my wife and baby as well. I could, she assured me, get emergency Medicaid for the baby if he were injured or got sick enough to take to the emergency room.
As for my wife and me, we would be on our own while New York State (the political entity that administers my Unemployment Compensation, it bears pointing out) investigated whether my (lack of) means justified my being placed on the roles of its health insurance backstop program.
To me, Ms. Colon’s suggestions seemed to constitute the very definition of insanity, and the choice she presented me with seemed the ultimate catch 22: take your middle-aged self and your wife and child off health insurance completely for as many as three months or go broke continuing to pay for health insurance you cannot afford.
In high school, our crusty old business teacher explained life insurance in the driest possible terms: you’re betting, he explained, that you’re going to die; the insurance company is betting that you’re not. Conversely, stopping the odious COBRA payments and taking me and my family off health insurance would be betting that we’re not going to get sick or injured.
Clearly, that’s not a bet I’m willing to take, so that leaves only the choice of continuing to go broke paying for health insurance while hoping for either enough regular freelance to pay COBRA payments (while they’re still offered—that ends, too) or hoping that my efforts to land a new job with benefits finally pays off.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Our own laughing baby video
The little guy getting giggly with it as his mom dances to keep him entertained.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Some great musicians I get to play alongside in the next 30 days
Every-other-Tuesday Bluegrass at Abilene (442 Court St. at Third Place, Brooklyn)—On Tuesday, 9/9, I'll join Brad Einhorn (Kings County Strings) on mando and vocals, Jonathon Cedar (banjo all star), Joel Turoff (guitar), Joe Choina on bass and special guest Rob Hecht (and, always, possibly others) at a very cool, low key bar with cheap bar food, good drinks and lots of outdoor space. We play from 9:30 - 11:30.
Bluegrass Brunch at Nolita House (47 East Houston, NYC), 12:30 - 3:30—Then on 9/14, Joe and I will welcome Jonah Bruno on banjo and Michael Pasternak on mandolin to brunch and jam with us at the 'House. Be sure and save room for the Bourbon French toast, the perfect dessert for two to compliment your 'grass and eggs.
Bluegrass Brunch at Nolita House (47 East Houston, NYC), 12:30 - 3:30—If you only go to one bluegrass brunch, September 21 is the one. Jen Larson (Straight Drive, Prairie Home Companion, Blue Birds of Happiness) joins me, Joe and Diane Stockwell for a rollicking brunch. Be sure and pencil this one in and come on out.
Every-other-Tuesday Bluegrass at Abilene (442 Court St. at Third Place, Brooklyn) — Doug, Brad, Cedar, Joel, Joe at a very cool joint in the heart of Carroll Gardens.
Bluegrass Brunch at Nolita House (47 East Houston, NYC), 12:30 - 3:30—On September 28, Charles returns and we welcome a special guest for brunch. Try the Cobb salad. It's new and pretty good.
And then, On October 3, a rare appearance of Fresh Baked at Night at a great music venue:
Jalopy Music Theater, 315 Columbia St., Red Hook, Brooklyn—The gang's (almost) all here as we hit the late show at our favorite venue, the Jalopy Music Theater. We'll miss Joe, but we'll be joined by Dave Mignano on bass. The lineup is Doug, Charles, Diane, Ari Dolegowski on mandolin and Ken Ficara on harmonica.
I hope you can make it out to our shows. Have a great September.
Bluegrass Brunch at Nolita House (47 East Houston, NYC), 12:30 - 3:30—Then on 9/14, Joe and I will welcome Jonah Bruno on banjo and Michael Pasternak on mandolin to brunch and jam with us at the 'House. Be sure and save room for the Bourbon French toast, the perfect dessert for two to compliment your 'grass and eggs.
Bluegrass Brunch at Nolita House (47 East Houston, NYC), 12:30 - 3:30—If you only go to one bluegrass brunch, September 21 is the one. Jen Larson (Straight Drive, Prairie Home Companion, Blue Birds of Happiness) joins me, Joe and Diane Stockwell for a rollicking brunch. Be sure and pencil this one in and come on out.
Every-other-Tuesday Bluegrass at Abilene (442 Court St. at Third Place, Brooklyn) — Doug, Brad, Cedar, Joel, Joe at a very cool joint in the heart of Carroll Gardens.
Bluegrass Brunch at Nolita House (47 East Houston, NYC), 12:30 - 3:30—On September 28, Charles returns and we welcome a special guest for brunch. Try the Cobb salad. It's new and pretty good.
And then, On October 3, a rare appearance of Fresh Baked at Night at a great music venue:
Jalopy Music Theater, 315 Columbia St., Red Hook, Brooklyn—The gang's (almost) all here as we hit the late show at our favorite venue, the Jalopy Music Theater. We'll miss Joe, but we'll be joined by Dave Mignano on bass. The lineup is Doug, Charles, Diane, Ari Dolegowski on mandolin and Ken Ficara on harmonica.
I hope you can make it out to our shows. Have a great September.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
