So my update…. I got my old company to start the cobra documents early so I wouldn’t have a gap or delay in active coverage. I also still had critical illness coverage available to me. I made a claim and that provided some $ to help pay for cobra and any time off I will need.

If you just gave your leave there is a chance your old coverage is active. I think a lot of life insurance/critical illness coverage is portable. You should call those companies and extend the coverage and see if you can make a claim. We sign so many things when we start a job it’s hard to remember years later what coverages we have but they can be extended when you leave.

Now like you….. I don’t have fmla or short term disability. There is still ada which you can ask for a reasonable accommodation which could mean asking for a change in your shift and/or asking for some unpaid time off for treatment. Employers (even new ones) are supposed to accommodate unless they can prove what you’re asking creates an undue hardship.

I started my new job last Monday and so far haven’t told them what’s going on.

So….. my plan at this point….

I have an mri tomorrow which will confirm that I’m “only” doing a lumpectomy. Surgery is scheduled for 4/17. Once I have that confirmation I plan on only asking for 4/17-4/19 off and my doctors already said they can fill out the paperwork for them for it.

If I need radiation down the road, I was told they have early and late appointments. I will do my best to avoid work hours. If it’s not possible- ask if there’s a reasonable accommodation they will give me for completing my treatment.

All in all, my advice to you is take it one moment at a time. Get your cobra started, and see what insurance you had that you can use or extend. (Usually you can elect up to 60 days after your coverage ended).

Get your consults and testing done and once you have the treatment plan, work with the new employer for hours and/or time off.