Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, in what state do you live? In your situation, I would be most worried about preserving assets for my family in case of the worst. So, assuming you don’t live in a community property state, make sure that your spouse does not sign for any of your medical debt. Like when you fill out hospital forms or doctor’s office forms, don’t list your spouse as a guarantor or financially responsible party. There are only a few community property states in the US - none are in the DMV. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/debt-marriage-owe-spouse-debts-29572.html

Also, make sure that you have properly designated beneficiaries for your retirement funds and insurance. You want those assets to go straight to your beneficiaries (i.e. your spouse and/or child) in the event you pass and not your estate, where it will be used first to pay off your debts.

I know many posters have already said this, but your spouse needs to look for a job, not just for income but for health insurance in case you become too sick to work and lose your job.

I’m so sorry to hear about your situation and will be wishing you the best.

You can’t fure a terminally ill worker. He would go on disability and the family would still have health insurance as well.
OP - maybe consult a professional that knows something instead of anonymous internet people.

Anonymous wrote:Your spouse should have been working since your child went to school. What is the plan for employment?

Anonymous wrote:I just want to mention that if you did (and I hope you don’t) there will be social security benefits for your spouse and child. That won’t pay all of the bills but it could take a big bite out of them.

Your spouse is absolutely going to have to get an income. Do the best you can not to borrow money.

Something to consider. We bought a six year home protector policy for about $2500. It covers so much that in the first year and a half we’ve made up the cost. You might want to look at that.

I’m so sorry and wish you and your family well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, in what state do you live? In your situation, I would be most worried about preserving assets for my family in case of the worst. So, assuming you don’t live in a community property state, make sure that your spouse does not sign for any of your medical debt. Like when you fill out hospital forms or doctor’s office forms, don’t list your spouse as a guarantor or financially responsible party. There are only a few community property states in the US - none are in the DMV. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/debt-marriage-owe-spouse-debts-29572.html

Also, make sure that you have properly designated beneficiaries for your retirement funds and insurance. You want those assets to go straight to your beneficiaries (i.e. your spouse and/or child) in the event you pass and not your estate, where it will be used first to pay off your debts.

I know many posters have already said this, but your spouse needs to look for a job, not just for income but for health insurance in case you become too sick to work and lose your job.

I’m so sorry to hear about your situation and will be wishing you the best.

You can’t fure a terminally ill worker. He would go on disability and the family would still have health insurance as well.
OP - maybe consult a professional that knows something instead of anonymous internet people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm so sorry OP.

Good advice here. Also, see if your health insurance has an EAP or health advocate program - most do and they can be extremely helpful.

And this is unsolicited advice, but one of the great things about being in our region is that we are near some major research universities. I am in a field that works with a lot of them and I have family members who are only alive because they sought out treatment at one of those places.

Research the cancer you have (I'm sure you've done this, I'm sorry if this sounds condescending) and find out who the leading researchers are in the field. Call their offices,even if they're not local, and ask them who would be the best person to see in this region. Find someone at Hopkins, NIH, Univ. of Maryland, etc... and go talk to them. All the cancer researchers I know say that everyone should be getting the cutting edge treatments, no one should be accepting the 5 or 10 year old protocols.

All the best to you. I hope you can find a way to deal w/ the nightmare stress. You and your family will figure it out.

This is so true. I was diagnosed with cancer almost 8 years ago and at the time 5 year survival was <50%. After talking to a couple of local oncologists and getting a very pessimistic outlook from both, I went to Hopkins. The first thing the doctor there told me was "You're not a number, I have several patients who are 10, 15 years out and still disease-free. Can you start chemo on Thursday?" Some doctors and hospitals are better than the rest so I think it's worth it to go to the best.

Also, the recommendation to make sure all your accounts (especially retirement and life insurance) have beneficiaries is very important. My dad's large 401k did not have a beneficiary and had to go to probate, which took a year and ate up lots of money in fees.

Hugs and good thoughts to you OP - keep us posted when you can, lots of us will be thinking about you.

You were lucky - that is ALL that happened to you. I guarantee you that they said the same damned thing to 10 other people that same day with similar prognoses and they all died in short order.
Hell - my friend is a top researcher and clinical researcher and coordinator for clinical trials at a top research institution and her beloved sister died extremely quickly of cancer at a Young age.

Count your lucky stars as most people are not this lucky.

Anonymous wrote:You all are the best, thank you so much for all this stuff.

My annual income is $130,000.

Only debt besides house is credit card - $16,000. We have one car which is paid off, no student loans.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, in what state do you live? In your situation, I would be most worried about preserving assets for my family in case of the worst. So, assuming you don’t live in a community property state, make sure that your spouse does not sign for any of your medical debt. Like when you fill out hospital forms or doctor’s office forms, don’t list your spouse as a guarantor or financially responsible party. There are only a few community property states in the US - none are in the DMV. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/debt-marriage-owe-spouse-debts-29572.html

Also, make sure that you have properly designated beneficiaries for your retirement funds and insurance. You want those assets to go straight to your beneficiaries (i.e. your spouse and/or child) in the event you pass and not your estate, where it will be used first to pay off your debts.

I know many posters have already said this, but your spouse needs to look for a job, not just for income but for health insurance in case you become too sick to work and lose your job.

I’m so sorry to hear about your situation and will be wishing you the best.

Also, have as many of your assets in both of your names (joint tenants) and not just yours.
If you die with few assets (a small estate) your spouse will not have to pay off the debts that are in your name only - credit cards , loans, health care bills.

They take your assets, subtract something like 10k and funeral expenses and if your estate isn’t more than a certain amount (14k? ) it’s a small estate.
It’s one way for your family to hold onto assets. Your family doesn’t have to pay off your bills unless there is a significant amount of money in your name only.

https://registers.maryland.gov/main/publications/infoguide.html

Anonymous wrote:OP, in what state do you live? In your situation, I would be most worried about preserving assets for my family in case of the worst. So, assuming you don’t live in a community property state, make sure that your spouse does not sign for any of your medical debt. Like when you fill out hospital forms or doctor’s office forms, don’t list your spouse as a guarantor or financially responsible party. There are only a few community property states in the US - none are in the DMV. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/debt-marriage-owe-spouse-debts-29572.html

Also, make sure that you have properly designated beneficiaries for your retirement funds and insurance. You want those assets to go straight to your beneficiaries (i.e. your spouse and/or child) in the event you pass and not your estate, where it will be used first to pay off your debts.

I know many posters have already said this, but your spouse needs to look for a job, not just for income but for health insurance in case you become too sick to work and lose your job.

I’m so sorry to hear about your situation and will be wishing you the best.

Anonymous wrote:OP, in what state do you live? In your situation, I would be most worried about preserving assets for my family in case of the worst. So, assuming you don’t live in a community property state, make sure that your spouse does not sign for any of your medical debt. Like when you fill out hospital forms or doctor’s office forms, don’t list your spouse as a guarantor or financially responsible party. There are only a few community property states in the US - none are in the DMV. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/debt-marriage-owe-spouse-debts-29572.html

Also, make sure that you have properly designated beneficiaries for your retirement funds and insurance. You want those assets to go straight to your beneficiaries (i.e. your spouse and/or child) in the event you pass and not your estate, where it will be used first to pay off your debts.

I know many posters have already said this, but your spouse needs to look for a job, not just for income but for health insurance in case you become too sick to work and lose your job.

I’m so sorry to hear about your situation and will be wishing you the best.

Anonymous wrote:And--that life insurance setup and the amounts make me think that your existing life insurance is probably through your work. If so, be aware that you will lose this insurance if you are not able to keep working, unless your employer offers an extension option and you take proactive steps to keep it.

Do you know whether you have disability insurance?