Make Me a Bird So I can Fly Far, Far Away

So I know I said that my next posting would be more positive. I don't know if I can fulfill that request today. For the most part, it has been a pretty rough day starting with the fact that I got little to no sleep last night. That never begins my day well. Now, it just seems like it's one thing after the other. I'm worried about a friend that seems to be in trouble, but she won't tell me what's wrong. I have been having to cover for a co-worker that is out sick today, which is difficult because I don't know where to find half the stuff they are wanting. And now, at 3 pm on a Friday, our firm administrator has dropped the bomb that they will no longer be covering our insurance. I want to be a bird so I can fly far, far away. It would be so much easier!

So here's the insurance story: When I first started here two years ago, medical insurance was part of the "benefits" that I received in addition to my salary. We also get paid time off, 401k after 1 year, life insurance, optional dental insurance, free parking, etc. The relatively average benefits associated with a law firm, and most jobs these days. The insurance was pretty good, not that I had to use it often, but seemed to work and cover most things. Then December 2002, they told us that the insurance had increased and that they were going to lower the coverage of the basic plan and offer an optional buy-up for I think like 50 bucks a month or something like that. So not only were we going to get less coverage, but we would also have to pay extra to get less coverage. I opted to go with the basic plan because luckily my dad's a doctor so I don't have to actually go see a doctor very often and he can often get me samples and things of prescriptions so that helps.

And now to today, without telling any of us except in a MEASLY e-mail, they inform us that to even have the BASIC plan which is crappy coverage to begin with but at least it was free before, we will have to pay $40 bucks per month. And to get the upgrade we would now have to pay $66 per month. I know that doesn't seem like a huge deal because I know other places make you pay for insurance, but it really irritates me because when I signed on here, I was told that insurance was one of my benefits, and I don't see how they can justify taking that away now after two years. They should have to increase my salary to cover that amount if they are going to require that of all employees or base that off when you became an employee here or whatever. It is especially makes me bitter that they didn't bother to tell us this or have a meeting to let us know the changes, instead just threw it out there on an E-MAIL and said too bad so sad. I would rather they pay for my insurance than have the stupid Christmas party we did that cost five billion dollars......I knew I would have a reason to be bitter about that some day! ;)

I'm going to have Austin check to see how much it would be to add me to his insurance since they get better coverage than us to begin with and if we are going to be paying we might as well get good coverage. I have to decide by next week what I want to do. What a pain! Oh well, guess there is nothing I can do about it now.....except hope and pray for a new job soon! :)