Should I, or should't I?

[Pooter]

Everyone,

As luck would have it, I'm looking around for a new job.  I haven't lost the one I have (yet) but things don't look great.  We've gone from 250 employees and on top of the world to 120 employees and rumors are rampant.  Insurance aside (and we just had renewal meeting today, switches providers and the new one STINKS to high heaven), do I tell any potential new employee about my AN experience?  I mean, it's hard to miss my bad a$$ scar on my head and it's hard to miss my periodic slur due to still having some facial weakness.  Do I tell them like "I'm fine now, BUT you should know.." or what?  It affects their rates for medical to some degree (although I'm not sure how much they'll know that).  I got a call from someone in HR at a big company that's looking and I returned a msg (making sure that I "sound" as normal as possible), but haven't actually talked to that person yet.  I'm stuck in deciding if I offer up any (and what) information when we speak.  I don't think it directly affects my job or my ability to perform it, but there's gonna come a time that it will affect my job in that I'll still have follow-up appointments, MRI's, etc..

Hopefully, this is the right place to put this..  What have you done?  Or, what are your thoughts on it?  I knew the day would come that this would affect my life in such a way that is confusing, but I didn't expect it so soon after surgery!  I'm so confused.. HELP!

Brian

[satman]

tough times,being that you have a pre existing medical condition chances are you wont be covered by a new insurance company for a year,or so i have heard.
being that the company you are with now allowed you to come back with a pre existing medical condition you might be overlooked for a lay-off,not sure though,but they did allow you to come back knowing your situation,might be a good time to get sick,has your dr. fully released you to return to work at full capacity ?
you might want to contact somebody and find out your options,being you had brain surgery headaches tend to come to mind.
if you tell the new company your situation you might not get the job as you might be looked at as a risk,as in costing the company money.
really tough decision pooter.

[LisaP]

Hi,

I'm a newbie, and my employer had me go to my regular doctor and have a physical saying that I was "still able to perform my duties" when they found out I was dx with an AN.  I work in health care (nursing home) and the physical could have been done at my facility but was asked to go to my own doctor.

I worried about my current job but I took out an FMLA intermittent and plan to keep rolling it over because I know that I am projected.  I'm on the watch and wait, I go to Boston on Wed for another MRI.

Do you tell you employee new or old?  I say it is a tough call, but if you are now fine with a few set backs from the past, then I say no.

good luck,

LisaP.

The company I work for is also a "catholic facility", go figure!!!

[tenai98]

Wowser, tough decision...If only everyone had an employer like mine...he is great and very supportive...and we are open for new members, but ya gotta be living in ontario....

[Tamara]

Hey Pooter,
  Provided you would be able to function completely at the new job, I would say nothing.  Your surgery is behind you, and you do not have a tumor in your head.  Your slight slur (if indeed it is noticed) might be attributable to a lot of conditions.  I have been in the position of interviewing candidates and really, would consider that to be extraneous information so long as the job can be performed.  Concentrate on selling yourself and proving that you are the best candidate, and leave the AN business for another day, if ever (hopefully not, eh?)

Best wishes!
Tammy

[ppearl214]

OH, my Pooter!  Oy!  To me... focus in any interviews regarding the skills and experience you bring forth... that, to me, is the key.  Focus on strengths as you would in any job interviews... and once you are hired, you are buying the drinks.

To me, no one is to judge you on physical (as we know, in the States, its against the law, anyway)... and regardless if there is a slight slur or whatever.... you are to be looked at for what you can bring to the table....  personally, I would hold off noting anything, as you are into "wellness" now and the surgery is a done-deal.


BTW, LisaP, I'll be in Boston on Monday for my CK follow up... sorry I'll miss you in town.. we coulda done lunch!

Phyl

[Debbi]

Brian-

Boy, when it rains, it pours, huh?

Well, my vote would be NOT to tell a prospective employer - they don't need to know.  Also, this is not the kind of medical condition that requires extensive periods away from work for treatments - at the worst, you are talking about occasional trips to the doctor. 

My understanding with group health insurance is that if you go directly from one group plan to another, without a break in coverage, you are okay.  However, I would check with your state's insurance commissioner to verify that. 

Really sorry that you are having to deal with this now, on top of everything else this year!

Debbi

[HeadCase2]

Hi Pooter,
  There was another thread on this topic a while back, with mixed opinoions, you should be able to find it with SEARCH.
  I have to agree with the other posts above, I wouldn't mention it.  In the resume and interview process sometimes people are looking for a reason to exclude people to narrow down a list of applicants.  This is normally a competitive process, and I wouldn't give them any reason to exclude me if I can do the job.  Think of it from the perspective of other situations.  If you where a single mother, would you mention that you have three kids.  If your where older than the average person in this tyoe of position, would you mention your age?  Bringing these things up, which really don't have anything with whether you can do the job well, could potentially be used to exclude a person for further consideration by a less than enlightened interviewer.
  If you qualify for the job, and do not need special accomodations to do the job, then there would be no reason to bring up your medical history.  If there was some special accomodation that you needed, that would be a surprise to the employer after hiring you, then perhaps that should come out earlier.
  Good luck in your interview.  Go in there with piratude!
Regards,
  Rob

[leapyrtwins]

Pooter -

Phyl mentions you'll buy the drinks, so I say go for the new job!   

Seriously, as others said, it's a tough call.  IMO if your "new normal" has no impact on your ability to do the job, don't mention it.  However, at some point I'd ask about insurance benefits (maybe at the 2nd interview) since you want to make sure you have them.  I think the insurance laws allow for portability these days, but there is probably a waiting period on pre-existing conditions and you don't want to leave yourself without coverage.  So, as Debbi suggested, I'd check into the insurance laws.

Other than that, all I can say is good luck; knock 'em dead. 

Jan

[Kaybo]

Pooter~
What a tough call??  I agree with all the advice you have already received so I will just sit back & say a few prayers for you...OK?

K

[sgerrard]

Brian,

I have no intention of mentioning my AN to a future employer, should I go job hunting one day. It is history now, just like the time you feel and skinned your knee as a kid. It is still relevant on a medical history form at a doctor's office, but that is it.

Any larger employer will have group insurance, and not be affected by your need for additional follow up MRIs, etc. That just gets averaged in to the overall cost of group insurance anyway. Statistically they are already paying for "1 AN patient per 100,000 per year"; no reason you can't be the one. For a small business of 10, it might be a different situation; they don't always have access to true group insurance programs.

I would just make sure that you maintain insurance coverage every single day, even if you have to pay for it yourself in the gap. That seems to be the most important thing in avoiding "pre-existing condition" issues.

Meanwhile, good luck on the job hunting!

Steve

[Jim Scott]

Brian:

Fortunately, because I'm inherently lazy and quite busy today, all the good responses have been given so all I need to do is agree.  I liked Steve's assessment of the situation. Checking for continuous medical insurance coverage on the prospective new job is certainly a must.  Telling an interviewer about your AN is not.

I also think that following up a lead on a new job is very prudent.  Your company sounds as if it's circling the drain and you don't want to get sucked down with it.  Besides, it's a lot better to job-hunt from the position of being employed than being another guy with no job looking for work.  Been there, done that, hated it and often took sub-standard jobs just to make a salary and pay the bills.  Receiving a job offer while working in a position I thought might be eliminated soon was downright exhilarating and placed me a much better position to negotiate for a better deal.  I heartily advise following up on this job feeler and not mentioning your AN.

Jim

[Pooter]

Wow.. I didn't expect so many responses so soon.  So, the general consensus is that I shouldn't offer up any mention of the AN experience and should look to be sure that I'm covered insurance with the AN follow-up (currently scheduled for November) and any MRI's, etc.. that might come up in the next year.  I also need to be certain that I have some kind of coverage if I leave for another position.    There tends to be a "waiting period" when one starts with a new company.  Perhaps a negotiating point to have coverage from the start?  I'm not gonna NOT look for another position just because of insurance, but it certainly helps that it's there in case something weird (what else "weird" can go wrong, eh?) comes up..

Thanks for your opinion on it!  I will almost definitely need it soon.

And, Debbi, you are right.. when it rains, it pours.
And, Jan, I'll "buy" drinks but only on the private ANA Leer new job or not.  :*P

Brian

[MAlegant]

Hey Brian,
I would not say anything. It doesn't affect the way you do your job, nor who you are.  If anyone asks about the scar I would just say that I got into a fight and the other guy lost.   
Marci

[calimama]

Brain,

Sorry i can't add to this as things work differently than in Canada, but i really hope that you get a great job that you love and that the company takes good care of you!

Glad to hear your are recovering well!

Best wishes,

Trish