Life doesn’t always work out properly, this is an unfortunate reality. If we are ever to fall sick or injured it is mostly up to us to figure out how we are going to go about our lives in as gainful way as possible.
Those who are self-employed can also find themselves in a pickle because these types of people don’t have access to company-sponsored health plans or similar benefits offered through more traditional workplaces. So for those who are self-employed or sick/injured in a way that isn’t fully covered by insurance, there are a few concerns that need to be figured out while you are incapacitated.
Life with an injury doesn’t have to be difficult, here are some things to keep in mind:
Transportation
Depending on what kind of insurance you have, there’s a chance that things like buses and taxis will be covered by your insurance company to enable you to lead a normal life. This coverage can help you get to doctor’s appointments and even to other job interviews if you end up needing to permanently switch to a new line of work due to your injury. Not only that, some of these insurance companies will also help you modify your car to make it better suited for your mobility post-injury so you can still retain your independence.
Compensation
The last point works great if you planned ahead and got a comprehensive insurance plan, but hindsight is often 20:20 in these types of situations. Depending on the nature of your injury or sickness, you might be entitled to compensation from the offending party. If it is a workplace injury, consider if you were asked to do unsafe work or that your employer didn’t follow the letter of the law when asking you to complete a certain task. Even if you’re injured off the clock like a slip and fall, Dairn Shane from Preszler Law explains that landlords are required by Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act to assume the responsibility for clearing snow and ice from apartment buildings and rental properties, so your landlord might have to help make your life a bit easier if they are found at least partly responsible for your injury.
Medical Costs
For those who aren’t adequately covered by their medical insurance, there are a few options available. If you don’t have access to a family doctor, a walk-in clinic will be able to help you with any minor concerns as well as keep you on the road to recovery. They won’t have the benefit of a relationship with you like a family doctor, but if you need antibiotics or painkillers to help manage your condition they’ll be a godsend. When it comes to getting medication filled, look for government incentives that cover medication for the sick, injured, or uninsured to see if there are any federal programs available to you. Also, many drug manufacturers offer coupons or payment assistance to those who qualify for their programs, so you don’t only have to rely on the government when it comes to medication.
Spending Money
If your injury is sufficiently disabling that it impairs you from going to work, you should look at what kind of disability payments are available to you and whether or not you’ll be covered based on your injury. Disability payments will last for the duration of your injury and can help to make sure that you keep up with your rent/mortgage payments as well as keep food in the pantry. If your injury isn’t covered/has improved to the point where you can seek work again, there is a possibility you can apply for unemployment insurance and have enough money to support yourself in the period after recovery but before returning to work. Consult your local government’s websites or call a local unemployment office to see what options are available to you.
Getting hurt doesn’t have to be the end of the world, there are many options out there when it comes to helping you get yourself back on your feet after a traumatic event that has left you worse for wear. It might seem like a big setback now, but if you do everything in your power to have as normal of a life as possible while recovering, you’ll notice that the minute you’re better you’ll be able to hit the ground running and get right back to where you were. If you’re currently sick or injured while reading this, my heart goes out to you, but know that there are options and you aren’t alone in all of this.