A couple of weeks ago, I had an asthma attack while I was at a client's house. I am a CNA with a home health care company. The attack was, I believe, due to the weather, as it was hot and very humid. As a child, I had several asthma attacks, but it's not so bad as an adult.
This time, for whatever reason, my inhaler did not work and an ambulance had to be called to take me to the hospital.
DH and I do not have health insurance and I got the bill for the ambulance--$504.16. I have not received the hospital bill yet.
DH thinks my work should pay for it. I do not want to ask them, because even though it happened while I was on the clock at a client's house, it wasn't really work related, KWIM?
So, my question: Would you ask your work to cover some/all of the cost since it happened while you were on company time?
If it helps, this is a smaller company that does not offer health insurance.
Re: Asthma attack at work question
I would only ask/talk to HR if the cause were something in the client's house (extremely dusty, closed up and stuffy, etc.)
If the cause was weather, as you seem to believe, it could have happened to you at 6pm at home. Not your company's problem, even if you were at work at the time. The company not offering health insurance is irrelevant.
It's your responsibility to cover yourself. Hopefully this will be a lesson in getting coverage even just for major events (ER visits, major illness, etc.). Your individual coverage doesn't have to cover doctor appointments or minor things, so that will keep the premium down.
You took a risk being an uninsured asthmatic and this time it didn't go in your favor. Your DH is wrong for thinking your company should be responsible, even partially.
In your situation, no, I would not ask my company for reimbursement.
No, I wouldn't ask either. If you didn't have a history of asthma, maybe, but because you do, I would not.
You may be able to ask the hospital for a payment plan. Also ask both the ambulance company and the hospital if they will give you a percentage off the bill (10-15%) if you pay it off in full.