Impending retirement due to CAD (etc.)

For those who have followed the short soap opera of my CAD issues, I'll give ya a little update.

I had a meeting with some folks at my employer's office today (I work for a large health care company as a computer programmer...or did, anyway) and it resulted in an agreement that I should retire immediately.

This is good news...but with maybe some rough edges. I've been trying to get disability retirement for about 8 months, and I've been denied once. Ohh..my employer (I'm actually still an employee...for the moment), while having its own health insurance division (seems weird for a company to run a bunch of hospitals, employ the doctors and also provide the insurance coverage), has Long Term Disability coverage thru the Hartford.

There's supposed to be a 6 month waiting period until the disability takes over...and I've been working part-time during that period. But since I was extremely poorly advised at the outset about what was allowed and what wasn't, I was denied on a technicality (I actually did what I was asked to do instead of saying, "no...I can't help you"..and as a result, the Hartord said that I must not be disabled if I can help someone out of a computer problem....picky SOBs.)

Today I found that my employer's "employee health coordinator" (who actually was in charge of the meeting we had today) has "a good working relationship" with the Hartford (her own words) and will be trying to negotiate something so that I don't have to wait the entire 6 months all over again. That's the uncertainty part. The insurance company needs to be convinced of the same things they my employer has now come to believe. I suppose it helps that I had a note from my doctor stating in part, "due to cardiac and other issues, Mr. Buck should retire immediately."

So now it's a waiting game. I have about a week of Paid Time Off and then I'll be without a source of income until the disability income starts. But my wife works and can buy groceries. I also have a little bit of savings left (I've had to dip into it pretty deep to pay for non-covered medical costs, etc.) so we're not gonna starve and we're not gonna lose our home...at least at the moment. We're fortunate in that we have relatively few bills (mortgage, 1 car payment and 1 credit card) and everything's paid current. It could be a whole lot worse.

I have another appointment with my cardiologist Friday and we'll see what he has to say. I'm gonna ask him to increase the dosage of Imdur (I'm on 30mg, once a day) since that's the very minimum dosage and it's effects are only lasting a couple of hours...according to everything I've read, it should last up to 8-12 hours. There's no problem with getting my blood pressure too low, because with all the stress I've had lately, it's back up to the 150/90 range. Oops, I take that back. I just took it now and it's 167/104. But then it's been an extremely stressful couple of days...and the angina has been severe enough to be troubling, but not debilitating.

So like I said, I guess this is good news with some rough edges.

More to come as it happens...film at 11.

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Ray

ChevyAsylum.com

Gosh, Ray, they're really putting you through the mill and grinding slowly!  I can't believe they'd make you wait another 6 months~I will hope that this gets settled very soon, as this added stress as we all know, isn't good for you!!~that's why the Dr. wrote the note, duh?!

Please take care of yourself and let us know how this "soap opera" goes.  I'm really sorry that this is happening to you.

Hugs from Texas, Teri

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"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

Hey Ray, I wish I could retire! Too bad it's under such circumstances. I am still working 2 jobs at present 54 1/2 hours a week. I am waiting for the city to decide if they want me full time or not. If not think I will start looking for a job with cheaper insurance where I can afford to quit the night job. It's not good for my health anyway. Hang in there though things have a way of working themselves out. Well back to work for now. Barb

Wow, Barb! That work situation really bites. I've been in the same job for about 13 years. I'm very grateful for the income and benefits it's provided me.

Things have changed greatly since the time that I went to work there. But then a lot of things have changed. Me, them, the economy, the world, etc. They tell me that the only thing that remains constant is change. Seems about right to me.

Speaking of insurance, my insurance costs have steadily increased and the benefits decreased every year since I started working there. DGMS (Don't Get Me Started.) :)

You're right. Things have a way of working themselves out. I'm not about to start panicking yet. Actually, I'm ok with the way things are.

I went to my cardiologist this morning and everything seems to be ok except for the blood pressure and he increased the Imdur from 30 to 60mg. I took that when I got home and the BP dropped from 160/100 to 105/70. The stuff seems to work pretty well. I have another cholesterol test in 6 weeks and a followup visit a week after that. So no big deal there.

But it's been an awful busy day for an old retired guy. :) (I had to do a buncha stuff on my own computer system...and on and on.) I think I'll play some blues (not sing the blues) to unwind.

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Ray

ChevyAsylum.com

Hey Ray!

The DGMS had me laughing!-I was just thinking the same thing the other day.  It does seem looking back a few years ago, that we didn't have quite so many deductibles as we do now!

Hugs, Teri :)

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"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

Hi Ray, I like your words of wisdom and I agree with you. I've been at my night job for 11 years and the day job almost 5 years. They will lose a valuable employee if they don't get their heads out of the sand and realize it. If it doesn't work out I look at it as one door closeing and another one opening to better things. DGMS on the insurance that will get anyones bp up. Try not to think about that and relax more and enjoy life. You earned the right too do that. Well I better get to bed now. Catch you later. Barb

they retired me early for my heart condition i wasn't pleased and still wish i was working instead of being home all day i got ssi pretty quick 90days in all most people i talked to said i would have to get a lawyer but i didn't my cardio wrote one hellva letter to them i have ins with my wife job so i lucked out there good luck in what evr you do

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Wow BC that was quick for SSI. It took my hubby about a year. You'll have to find something to do with your extra time. My hubby keeps very busy with the house, yard and garden. He also scrapbooks with me. Lately we have been going to the dog park alot. The dogs love it and so do we and that way I get my walk in for the day. Maybe you need a pet. My husband says he doesn't know what he would do with out our little dog. He takes care of her too while I work. We take our daughters dog with us when we go to the park. He is still a pup and needs the exercise. Another idea would be to get involved with the VFW or something like that since you are a Marine. Well back to work for me. Barb

Hi Ray,

Good luck to you on your retirement. Maybe not the way you had it planned but it sounds like the company that you work for is trying to help you with all the paperwork and such. You may have a little more time to spend on your cars now.

Since I own the company I work for I have a real jerk for a boss. He won't even let me take weekends off let alone retire. I am trying to cut back some though and let the people that work for me pick up the slack. I think I am getting close to having that ability. I got my first job mowing lawns and shoveling snow when I was 9 and have had a steady job ever since. Like you, I'm sure, retiring probably won't come that easy but I think I am getting used to the idea alittle now.

Anyway, good luck again.

Steve

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It's sure good to hear from you, Steve!! When you have some time, please let me know how you're doing?! Big Hugs, your friend, Teri :)

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"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

Nice to see you around here again Steve. I may be looking for a new job soon if my day job doesn't hire me full time. I can't keep working all these hours and paying so much for insurance. I find out next Tuesday or Wednesday what they decide. Barb

Ray, the last time we spoke you mentioned having a cold~I hope you are doing okay and it didn't turn into anything worse?!  Have you written your appeal?  Just wanted to let you know that I was thinking of you & hope that we hear from you soon!...Hugs, Teri

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"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

Well, I'm here...and back at square one. Yesterday my appeal for LTD was denied...rather gleefully...by the ###. I'm getting rather tired of those alleged people.

I've sent a note to my lawyer, spent the afternoon on the phone with the HR people at my ex-employer and still have no idea where I stand. I haven't worked full-time for almost 9 months and haven't worked at all for 2. And still, no idea at all about any income.

If it sounds like I'm angry, it's only because I am. If anyone has any choice in the matter, and is offered a policy from the ###, I'd run away from it as fast as possible. They will go to any lengths to avoid paying a claim.

Post Edited By Moderator (Teri16) : 5/24/2005 12:32:33 PM (GMT-6)