How do sick people in this country actually afford to stay home to take care of themselves?  I really don’t know. 

I’ve been doing the responsible person thing by having a full time job at the City since I was a junior in college (got to pay for school!).    During my employment I’ve had a long term disability plan that will pay me 60% of my wage while I am off work because of a disability.  It pays as long as I live too!  I also have disability through my retirement system, PERS, which will pay me a small amount.  Then I’ve also got access to my social security disability which is not tons of money but every bit helps.  Right?  Not so much. 

The down side to all of these possible income sources is that the max I can get is 60% of my wage.  The other two sources are all considered “deductible income”.  Why is this?  Are we setting up sick people for failure?  Do you know what your coverage would be? 

I’ve really been struggling at work lately.  Generally speaking, I lack drive to do anything; I am constantly exhausted.  Cancer has finally worn me out completely.  I’d love to be able to go out on disability but we simply can’t afford it.  I really would like to know who could? 

Other factors.
1. Disability income is taxed the same as other income.  You get no tax break if you are disabled. 
2. It takes being on disability for 24-months before you can qualify for Medicare.  That means paying for insurance on your own for 24-months or in my case getting on SW’s $6,000 annual deductible insurance. 

I need to invest in lottery tickets.

Most of the cancer people I know don’t work.  Most are also all over the age of 50.  I really don’t know how they do it.