SENSE & SENSITIVITY: LOSS OF MEDICAL COVERAGE CAUSES ANXIETY

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am about to turn 26. I am excited and nervous. I work for a small company that does not provide health insurance. I have been on my mom's insurance for my whole life, but that ends now because that's the law. I don't think I will be successful in asking my boss to provide insurance for me. We took a hit last year when we lost a couple of clients, and I know that the company is struggling. What should I do? I don't make a lot of money, but I do need to have insurance. While I am generally healthy, I have had a couple of medical procedures in the past few years. Plus, I need to be able to go to the dentist and my OB-GYN -- you know, basic stuff. I realize how much I have been taking my mother for granted. Now I have to work this out on my own. -- Uninsured

DEAR UNINSURED: The good news is that you can find affordable health care. Depending upon your health concerns, basic coverage can be very low. You can visit the health insurance marketplace and find many of the plans that were developed under the Obama administration through the Affordable Care Act. You have to do your research and be proactive. You should evaluate the status of your health to decide what amount of coverage is right for you.

You should also mention your situation to your boss and ask if there is any chance that the company would provide insurance for you. Research what it would cost for a small business to insure you, and share your findings with your boss. It can't hurt to ask.

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DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend has a sister with a habit of speaking rudely and out of line. Recently, I had the misfortune of being on the receiving end of one of her barbs and felt really hurt by it. I have a short temper, but I handled the situation the best I could out of respect for my friend. My friend didn't step in or stand up for me, which makes it worse. I need help on how to address this with both my friend and her sister. What would you suggest I do? -- Hurt and Angry

DEAR HURT AND ANGRY: Since nobody addressed this situation in the moment, you most certainly should follow up. Start with your friend. Tell her how inappropriate you found her sister's behavior to be and that you found it unacceptable. Tell her you were also terribly disappointed that she didn't step in to stop her sister or acknowledge how out of line her comments were. Tell your friend that you intend to address this incident with her sister. Ask her to do the same. Be specific with what you hope the outcome will be. At the very least, you should request an apology and a commitment not to speak to you in that way again.