My husband called on Friday around 3, as I was online trying to unearth some new freelance work. I'm a writer. I work from home so I can tend to our four small children. Daycare is cost-prohibitive when you have four kids in four years.
"What's up, stalker?" I asked. He'd called twice in a row when I didn't answer right away.
"I love you," he said, his inflection rising in a clear comma, the barest hint of what was to come. "I got fired."
*****
The U.S. unemployment rate rose again last month, hitting 5.7 percent by the end of July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By July 31, 8.8 million people in the U.S. were unemployed – a 1 percent increase since July 2007. Rapidly rising unemployment, food and fuel prices combine with the mortgage foreclosure crisis to create an economic avalanche.
Were it not for our health insurance situation, I would feel okay about this. Calm. Zen. We got a quote on COBRA coverage and it will cost more than my husband's monthly unemployment benefit. We are lucky; we have coverage through the end of August, so I can scramble to figure out the state Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) for the kids and hope their coverage is seamless. My husband and I will have to do without. This makes my mother nervous. "Try to make it work, honey," she urges. "It would just take one car accident to wipe you out financially."
But a car accident – fingers crossed – might not happen. The cost of COBRA is a certainty, there in bold red numerals. COBRA, the mortgage, or groceries? How to spend that last paycheck?
*****
Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured projects that a 1 percent rise in the unemployment rate, like the one we've seen in the last 12 months, increases the number of uninsured by one million. Because of eligibility limitations and the high cost, only 7 percent of unemployed adults elect to purchase COBRA coverage, according to Medscape from WebMD. A larger percentage of these people are those with incomes above 300 percent of the poverty level; people closer to poverty level cannot manage the cost, even with state subsidies and tax credits.
The poverty level for a family of six is an annual gross income of $28,400. That is an eye-opener. We hover well above that, but solidly in the demographic that cannot afford COBRA. We have $125 in our savings account, so government subsidies and tax credits would not help us, even if they were available. We'd need that money up front.
Further muddying the waters is my freelance work. Some months I make $2,000. Other months, this one for example, I don't make anything. I worry that my fatter months in the beginning of the year will affect the benefits we can collect, even as my leaner months gnaw at our stomachs. The kids have to qualify for SCHIP. We have to qualify for WIC and free school lunches. Otherwise groceries are the only thing the unemployment checks will buy.
*****
"Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose," sang Janis Joplin. That song has been stuck in my head since Friday. I am lucky – I have a lot left to lose. But there is an uncertain exhilaration in living a suspense story. I can't imagine what will come next. If I don't let myself think about the details, the risks of foregoing insurance and the possibility that the next job may not pay enough to cover the bills, it is exciting. Maybe we will relocate! Maybe things will work out just fine! Maybe they won't. But we aren't going through this alone – families all over the country are trying to figure this out along with us – and I take a shameful comfort in that.
Comments
I always complain about my husband's teaching salary b/c it doesn't pay enough for me to stay home full-time with our three young children, but hopefully this country will always need teachers and the chance of him getting laid off will be low! It makes me count my blessings.
Thanks for sharing your story!
Sounds good to me, you did a good job describing the situation. Good luck
Reading your story makes life seem not so bad. My husband and I also been going through the hardest year of our lives. I too have been on the search for employment. My husband is a full time student and the list goes on. You are right, your priorities are straight, although it has been a crazy year we too still have a lot to lose! Thanks for your article.
wow, great story, but I'm sorry to hear about the turn your husbands employment has taken. a big company here just shut their doors leaving many families, some on chemo, scheduled for surgery, etc without any ins. even without cobra. if you have a car accident, your car insurance will cover, but hopefully he will find a full time position soon, with insurance.
I have to say I am very impressed by the way you have logically planned out your next moves. Especially when this seems like a relatively new development -- less than a week ago?
Your story is a good reminder of how to turn a situation around and to make the best of what you've got.
Good luck.
This is an insightful summary of what families all over the country are experiencing. I remember. I've been there several times and keenly recall the ache in my core of losing the certainty of a light at the end of the tunnel. Family helped get me through my ordeal and it turned out there was a light at the end of our tunnel. I will pray that you see your light very soon. I am a dad. I suggest you call your dad, and tell him how much Cobra covereage would be. Maybe he can help cross one worry off your list.
There are few days when I don't worry about being in the same position. I am also a stay-at-home mom of 1 with another on the way. The constant instability of the economy and rising prices of everyday necessities has brought on insecurities in our financial situation that I never before worried about. A crisis, a job loss, a very sick child, any of these things could change the path of our lives so drastically. I'll pray that your family finds relief in continued freelance work and that your husband finds a job soon.
This is very insightful, and I'm sorry to hear that your family is going through this. I think articles like yours need to be sent to the widespread media. It IS true that the way the economy going, the middle class is slowly disappearing, and I hope that this will continue to be addressed in the upcoming election. Don't be shy about taking public assistance- it is intended for people to use while they get back on their feet.
I hope there is a follow up to this article. As pointed out in it's close - there are many, many families experiencing the same challenges. I don't think it is shameful to draw comfort from that knowledge. I believe people draw strength and the courage to move forward when they don't feel alone with their problems.
There are likely families out there that aren't familiar with SCHIP or WIC. I particularly liked how this article raised awareness on the government programs that are in place to help families.
I'm so sorry to read about your family's considerable challenges, but I have to commend you for the truth, reason and integrity you bring to the table. It's hard for me to imagine that your story won't have a happy ending... which somehow gives me hope for so many other families facing the same fears and obstacles. Thank you...
I don't know how you're keeping yourself so calm and collected. It takes an optimism not many of us have to look at this as an adventure and that optimism is what is going to get you and your family through this trying time. Good luck and I hope you and your husband find work soon.
Its wonderful how you've been able to take a tough situation and turn it into a learning experience for others. There are so many in the same boat and it is a very sad state of affairs for all.
You are living the nightmare so many of us fear on a daily basis. I doubt I would be so calm and sane about it - I commend you for sharing your story and, in doing so, helping many others.
Most of us are but a mere twist of fate away from the path you are currently traveling.
"It would just take one car accident to wipe you out financially."
Amen. Been there. My husband had a car accident in October and we're still feeling the financial struggle from that. Car totalled and we only owed less than $900 for it. He was out of work from the beginning of October until Easter (he's an EMT) It's tough with two kids and a husband out of work and my job is barely covering the bills. We pulled the kids out of pre-school in February (with my mom's help, we were able to keep them there for that long).
Now my husband is back at work, but only part-time since they gave away his full-time status (the company is really screwy, but we don't complain since technically he's back at work and now that he's on part-time we shouldn't be getting insurance, but we still are. Thank sweet Jesus). His paycheck covers his new car payment and car insurance. We balance kids between his days off, my moms days off and on those couple of days we don't have anyone, they come to work with me.
Jen, I hold your hand in spirit.
What a great article! It is amazing that what appears to be a small percentage increase (1%) of unemployment is 1MM people being unemployed.
The personalization of the article mixed with the sense of humor and statistics makes it a great read and eye opener. It also helps the 9MM readers out there to have someone to relate to in his uncertain economy.
It is easy for this reader to feel the emotions of the writer which is mixed with fear, hope and a future relieve of a job for her husband. I'm pulling for her and her family with our prayers.
She is a very talented writer!
Leila
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