So, first, some background. I'm currently employed by Walmart. I was a DSD associate, was working full time making 11/hr. I'd been living relatively comfortably (well, I was never late or worried about my bills, which is the best you can hope for while working for Walmart). Then I got diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma back in August. Doctor said that it would take about 6 months of chemo to cure it. I hadn't enrolled in the long term disability, nor the improved short term disability, nor the cataclysmic insurance. I just had the basic health insurance with a $6,800 out of pocket maximum. The basic short term disability is $200/week maximum.
Ok, now into the meat of things. My short term disability ran out at the start of May. I just finished up my last treatment on May 21st. I managed to scrape enough money together to make my car payment. I canceled my Hulu, netflix, Amazon prime, etc. I haven't been able to make any payments on my medical bills, and they're basically all in collections. I lost my apartment back in March and am currently living with my mother, who really can't afford to support me on a waitresses pay. I still have 3 or 4 weeks of radiation therapy to go through before I'm completely done. So, against the wishes of both of my oncologists, I'm going to work through the radiation treatments. However, I don't have my old position anymore, as my fmla leave ran out in January. And I have several complications from the chemo that are going to make returning to work less than pleasant. But I don't have any real choice in the matter. I have to pay for my car, insurance, cell phone, and the gas to drive to the treatments (which at about 42 miles round trip, 5 days a week won't be insignificant). On top of all of that, I have about $5,500 in credit card debt, as I had to live off of credit cards, since the short term disability payments were just barely enough to pay my basic bills.
TL;DR: I have $13,000 in medical debt, $5,500 in credit card debt, and like $18,000 in student loans. Won't be able to work full time for about 2 or 3 months.
I need some suggestions. I have no idea what to do. I'm not against filing bankruptcy, but I don't have the money to file for it right now.
Submitted May 28, 2018 at 12:53AM by vouksh https://ift.tt/2se2Qq3
