Illness or injury and farm life

[Boondox]

The lovely Mrs Boondox just came out of surgery for a ruptured appendix. She's doing okay, in a lot of pain but out of danger.

But we're looking at 5 days in the hospital, and 30 days of very limited lifting. No carrying hay for the sheep. No carrying water buckets for the sheep or chickens. I'm lucky enough to have a job that affords us great health care and the flexibility to be able to come in late and leave early in order to do the morning and afternoon farmlet chores.

But what if the farm was our livelihood? What if our health "insurance" was nothing more than the hope that nothing bad would happen? It's a sobering reminder that so many rural citizens are living right on the edge! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Pete

 

[genelp]

I hope your wife recovers quickly!

I don't farm and for years took my employer provided health insurance for granted. Recently our company was sold, immediately after my concern of "do I have a job", was my health insurance benefits. Like many things we take for granted we don't realize the importance until that service or item is theatened. I imagine that many of our farmers and self-employed face this every day.

genelp

 

[riptides]

I hope your wife recovers quickly.

Your "what if" question is one of the number of reasons people go bankrupt. Even with medical coverage, a catastropic accident or incident will put many people over the edge when it comes to covering hospital bills.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Egon]

Give Mrs. Boondox a big grin and wish her well.

Egon

 

[RedRocker]

I'm glad she's on the mend. I work for a very large medical company and our benefits and medical are dwindling every year. We were famous for job security, layoffs were unheard of, but not anymore. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[alan40]

Hi Pete, wish her well for us. Went through the same thing last year right during sugaring. Boy talk about getting grumpy!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif The really bad side of this is when she see's you doing all the chores by yourself she may want more sheep etc. I'd be careful if I were you. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Your right about the farmers. They live a fine line sometimes. Guess that's why up here in Franklen most farmers have big famlies.
Take care,

 

[Farmwithjunk]

First and foremost, I hope your wife is doing better now. Sure is rough watching someone you love going through that sort of thing. Prayers go out to her and you also.

I grew up on a farm. As a young man, there was nothing I wanted more than to own a farm of my own. I had a wife and two kids to worry about. I needed good insurance and a dependable income. But I wasn't going to be denied the chance to farm myself.

I made a choice. I went to work for someone else. (construction/carpenter/estimator) That affords me a good income and REAL GOOD insurance. The farm was second. I bought a small place, and STAYED small. I've just recently purchased more ground. By modern standards, I'm in it on a miniscule level. Suits me just fine. I still get to play farmer, and the wife and kids were "protected".

Unfortunately, MOST farmers aren't so well protected. There are a few "groups" that have group medical plans for farmers, but they still don't make it affordable for those with "marginal incomes", which is more than half of America's farmers.

It all boils down to "You gotta do what you gotta do".

 

[rozett]

Pete,

We trust that the wife will make a speedy and full recovery. My only concern is..... which dog is she gonna have to kick out of the bed in order to recuperate? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

As for the full-time farmer question... that is exactly why I work at a nearby middle school. They have good insurance coverage and pick up a lot of the tab. Otherwise, I would never be off the farm. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[dmccarty]

Pete,

Its not just farming either. The family that painted our house had no insurance or little insurance. The husband has/had a bad heart and had had at least one heart attack. Early this year he had another one which put him on disability. They where barely getting buy before not sure how they are going to get by now. Hopefully the disability will help.

It can be a matter of inches between keeping your head out of water.... It does not take much.

I pay a lot for insurance but it better than what many people can get. Of course its going up next year. And we use it. The wife and/or the kids average a trip a week. Even with insurance the out of pocket and copays hurt.

But I'm thankfull for the good coverage. Its better than most...

Hope the wifey feels better soon.

Later,
Dan

 

[Bird]

We certainly wish the best for Mrs. Boondox; I know that's got to be painful.

As for farmers and insurance, in cases I've know of, family and neighbors had to take up the slack, but it can be tough. And, as has been mentioned, farmers aren't the only ones. When my brother had the Matco Tool distributorship, it was a one man business (with his wife helping with the book work) and he bought something called "key man" insurance because if something happened to him, the business would be shut down. I don't know whether farmers can buy something similar or not.