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One of the challenges in today’s American lifestyle is the need for healthcare benefits. Today, those benefits are tied to your job. Lose that job, guess what? Lose your benefits.
Yes, there is the ACA Marketplace (Thanks Democrats!) where I can buy health insurance when I’m in between jobs. And if I don’t make much money, I can get a subsidy where the government helps me bring down the $800 a month price tag of even catestrophic insurance with an $8,000 deductible. In a few days my cashier insurance will kick in. I’ve been in my position since May. And my insurance will include dental and vision, and my deductible comes down to make my healthcare more helpful.
Getting and staying in a day-job for a creative artist is a struggle. As a writing or music project begins to pick up steam it becomes harder to “go to work.” But, “hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work we go.” Because the options of expensive healthcare or the potentially catastrophic gamble of not having healthcare. Not an option when you’re a parent.
I’m lucky. I’ve been an athlete since I was a kid. I am a competitive tennis player here in my later years. And this physical discipline has kept my physical body fairly healthy. While I do take a small amount of an SSRI, a supplement that I may need during low points for the rest of my life, my overall health is good. I have no major health issues. I am grateful and committed to my continued health focus both for myself, my kids, and perhaps my future romantic partner.
The benefits of having a job, any job, for me was transformational each time I found myself in a lull. Showing up for work is a form of exercise that hits both your body, your mind, and your spirit. While I struggled at the beginning of my return to “the grocery life” I was ashamed.
Somehow, I must have failed as an executive marketer. But that’s not what happened. I was kicking ass at my last high-visibility role. To the point where I threatened my manager in some way that he could not abide. So after I delivered the 18 month project, he fired me. He repurposed my salary to hire to 30-year-old-ish women. Women who provided only “YES” feedback to him. I was the only person on the 20-person team willing to challenge and contradict our leader. But that’s how great work gets done.
I got my day in court, received an acceptable settlement. But, I had to start paying for my own insurance from the Obamacare Marketplace.
This is not a political blog, but we do need to address our lack of universal healthcare in America. Then, artists, writers, musicians, and all people can detach from a bad job and not lose their healthcare. Healthcare is broken in America. I am blessed that my new job will provide supplemented healthcare with an actually-usable deductible.
Bless the gods of work. And thanks to my mom and dad for the genes and athletic encouragement to keep in shape.
[Listen to the Deep Dive explore the concepts of The Happy Cashier.]
The hope I see in others
becomes the hope I have for myself,
my life, and my own journey.
– The Happy Cashier
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