Life can throw a curve ball to you when you least expect it. One fine day everything is fine, and the next day you are faced with a serious injury and the possibility of surgery. Some diseases are hereditary and are expected to appear later in life, but many medical situations can have a big impact on family, friends and, of course, the patient, especially when they occur unexpectedly.
Here are some questions you need to consider and ask questions to ask yourself, your doctor and others that might be involved in your medical situation:
1. Talk with your employer about how much short-term or long-term disability you will receive and what percentage of your salary will be covered.
2. Should you get a second or even a third opinion about your medical situation before deciding on a surgery or other medical procedures?
3. Where will additional income be received in addition to your short-term or long-term disability insurance? Do you have a retirement plan, 401K, IRA or some other account to which you can withdraw money? Do you have to return the money to the account?
4. Can a family help you with your medical expenses? Do they expect money?
5. Can you afford a vacation without paying for your job?
6. How long will your employer allow you to leave work? How long does he or she want to leave her position open?
7. If you do not have extra money to help pay bills, can you get freelance work during recovery?
8. Will your employer allow some or all of your duties from home? This may prevent you from using short-term disabilities, allowing you to receive full salary while you are recovering.
9. Can you be alone while you are recovering? If you are single or living alone and must remain still, which family member can move in with you? Can you move with someone else until full recovery? Will they expect you to pay rent or other expenses?
10. Who will take you to the doctor if you can't get rid of yourself? Will someone be forced to leave work to take you there?
11. What is the flexibility, if any, when paying for medical expenses?
These are all legitimate questions, and sometimes the answers can be intimidating when faced with injury. Experiencing an accident or an unforeseen illness can change the flow of daily activities, your lifestyle and your outlook on life, but one key to maintaining some control over the situation is not to panic and start analyzing everything and determining which options you may have and most importantly , keep a positive outlook on the situation.
If you find that you cannot pay your bills on time because of your illness, tell your lenders, utilities, and others about your situation so that you don't get the impression that you don’t care about paying your bills. They may want to develop a payment plan.
Sometimes it is useful to investigate your options before injury or illness. Discuss a plan of action with family members and close friends. Get ready as much as possible by checking with your employer and your insurance company to find out what your rights and restrictions are.
