Intended for US audience only.
Career Planning
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Most people are asked this question countless times. The question sparks a person’s imagination, and the answer provides insight into a person’s dreams and interests.
The same is true, of course, for people with hemophilia. For them, however, the question gains special significance, because hemophilia — like many chronic illnesses — can greatly influence a person’s career choice.
Fortunately, people with hemophilia have many ways to find and maintain satisfying employment. Adolescents and young adults with hemophilia can take advantage of all of the resources available to help ease their transition into adulthood and adult employment.
An Almost Unlimited Choice Ask About Insurance To Tell or Not to Tell A Focus on the Future
An almost unlimited choice
The list of vocations available to those with hemophilia is virtually limitless, from environmentalist to x-ray technician. Some exceptions are:
- Contact sports
- Construction
- Military
Ask About Insurance
When considering a job, many people naturally focus on the salary, duties, and any perks available. Health insurance often takes a back seat to these more obvious considerations. But for people with hemophilia, good health insurance should be a primary factor in evaluating a new job.
The employer your child eventually chooses to work for should have a great insurance plan. While they should not choose a job they don’t like just for the coverage, it is equally important that their treatment is covered. As they’re assessing the plan, your son should consider an often overlooked aspect of insurance coverage: the lifetime cap. On average, patients with hemophilia exceed their insurer’s lifetime cap within five to ten years.
If your child reaches his lifetime cap or if he wishes to obtain or extend coverage, he will need to know his options. Some plans will work with individuals on a case-by-case basis to waive the lifetime cap or make other arrangements to ensure that coverage is maintained.
In the event your son reaches his lifetime cap, most states provide a public insurance plan for people with "high-risk" conditions, such as hemophilia. Such plans are known by different names (Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan, for example) depending on the state sponsoring it. These plans provide health insurance coverage for people who have a serious medical condition and are unable to acquire or maintain coverage through private insurance, an HMO, or an employer-sponsored group health plan. Most states sponsor such plans and more states are considering them. If one already exists in your state, contact the plan to find out more about eligibility requirements, application procedures, and premiums. You can find the appropriate plan by searching online for listings of agencies in your state, then looking through the list to identify the agency that handles state-sponsored health insurance, health insurance for high-risk patients, or health insurance for uninsurable individuals. You also can call the general telephone number listed in the "State Government" section of your phone book or visit the COBRA Health Plan Advice for Individuals and Small Businesses Web site and click on the link for the high-risk insurance pool. (See Online Resources under the Patient Resources section.)
To Tell or Not To Tell
Another important career-related consideration is when to tell your employer that you have hemophilia. It’s really a matter of personal choice, because every situation and employer is different. However, in many cases, discussing hemophilia early with your boss can have positive results.
During an interview, your child doesn’t need to inform a potential employer about his hemophilia if it will not interfere with his ability to perform the duties of the job. Telling the employer about any special needs he might have may be best handled after he’s settled other details of the job. Telling an employer might help ensure that someone familiar with your child’s condition will be available if a hemophilia-related problem arises. Assuming the employer obeys the law, your son should not fear revealing his condition. Under U.S. law, no employer can deny employment for a condition that will not prevent a candidate from performing their duties.
A Focus on the Future
Careers are one of the most important aspects of adult life. A fulfilling career can provide financial stability, self-esteem, and feelings of independence. Since your child may spend years or decades in a career, planning and researching is well worth the effort.
Note: thereforyou.com does not recommend a particular treatment for specific individuals and recommends that you consult your treatment center or physician before pursuing any course of treatment.
