- Joined
- Oct 20, 2004
- Messages
- 4,704
My wife's mother recently found out she has breast cancer that has spread to her spine, liver, lungs, and lymph nodes. She doesn't have much time and I don't expect anyone to be able to help someone face and deal with that. But it has caused some other problems that I'm hoping someone might have a suggestion as to what we can do.
She had insurance that was abruptly canceled without warning and without an opportunity to purchase COBRA insurance, which to the best of my knowledge, is illegal. The problem is, she needs treatment and surgery now and a lawsuit will likely take too long. I have spent enough time on the phone that I think I have found out a way to get a COBRA like insurance for the short term and found out about it just in time. So we are waiting to hear about that. She also had AFLAC cancer insurance and I found out that while she had a premium deducted from her pay check, the employer hadn't paid the insurance company for the last 10 months. I have spent a lot of time on the phone and because she has pay stubs showing the deductions for the insurance I think they are going to honor her claim although it has been a few weeks and I haven't heard anything. Again, a lawsuit seems acceptable but it will likely take to long to provide any help to her mom, which is needed now.
The biggest problem is the car that she bought 5 months ago. She paid way to much for it and paid sticker price plus all the fees and got absolutely no discount. 5 months later the car is worth about 20K trade in while she owes 27K. The problem is my wife went and co-signed against my wishes on a new car that was so expensive. It would be one thing to keep paying while her mom is here and then let the car company take it back when she is gone and can't pay. However, my wife is now responsible once she is gone.
I was told that in certain circumstances where there is a major life change that happens in a timely manner, that you can get out of a purchase. I guess this isn't actually true based on what the car dealership told me? So basically if we sell it we will have to come up with at least 5k cash to pay off the car. If we wait a year the car will depreciate more and we will have to come up with probably double that in cash to pay it off. I am disabled and get a laughable amount every month. That doesn't bother me much because it is the insurance I also get and need to keep me alive. I had done the right thing and bought a personal policy before my medical problems started but it is just about run out so I rely on the Medicare I now get. My wife just started going back to school and is no longer working full time so we just don't have the money for all of this. We went to get her medicine for this month and it was almost $700. I just emptied my bank account to write a check for the COBRA insurance. $600 a month and you have to pay 2 months at a time.
On top of this her brother has offered to do nothing to help. And he just bought a brand new car for roughly the same price as the car we need to get rid of. Instead of helping out his mom and family he chose to get a little dorky car that was also too expensive when he could have helped everyone out and got his mom's brand new car. No, he doesn't have to do it. But he isn't helping at all when he should and his mom would get better treatment and potentially live longer. I digress, and that is not of importance.
I just really don't know what to do about the car. We want to get rid of it but just don't have the cash to pay off the loan. Does anyone know if there are any legal options when a major life event happens and someone can no longer pay for something? Unfortunately, we can't just let the bank take it without destroying my wife's already tainted credit that has been getting much better since we have been married.
This is much more info than needed, and there is more to it, I just thought I would lay out the basics of what is going on. If anyone has any suggestions or words of wisdom it would be greatly appreciated during this trying time. Thanks.
She had insurance that was abruptly canceled without warning and without an opportunity to purchase COBRA insurance, which to the best of my knowledge, is illegal. The problem is, she needs treatment and surgery now and a lawsuit will likely take too long. I have spent enough time on the phone that I think I have found out a way to get a COBRA like insurance for the short term and found out about it just in time. So we are waiting to hear about that. She also had AFLAC cancer insurance and I found out that while she had a premium deducted from her pay check, the employer hadn't paid the insurance company for the last 10 months. I have spent a lot of time on the phone and because she has pay stubs showing the deductions for the insurance I think they are going to honor her claim although it has been a few weeks and I haven't heard anything. Again, a lawsuit seems acceptable but it will likely take to long to provide any help to her mom, which is needed now.
The biggest problem is the car that she bought 5 months ago. She paid way to much for it and paid sticker price plus all the fees and got absolutely no discount. 5 months later the car is worth about 20K trade in while she owes 27K. The problem is my wife went and co-signed against my wishes on a new car that was so expensive. It would be one thing to keep paying while her mom is here and then let the car company take it back when she is gone and can't pay. However, my wife is now responsible once she is gone.
I was told that in certain circumstances where there is a major life change that happens in a timely manner, that you can get out of a purchase. I guess this isn't actually true based on what the car dealership told me? So basically if we sell it we will have to come up with at least 5k cash to pay off the car. If we wait a year the car will depreciate more and we will have to come up with probably double that in cash to pay it off. I am disabled and get a laughable amount every month. That doesn't bother me much because it is the insurance I also get and need to keep me alive. I had done the right thing and bought a personal policy before my medical problems started but it is just about run out so I rely on the Medicare I now get. My wife just started going back to school and is no longer working full time so we just don't have the money for all of this. We went to get her medicine for this month and it was almost $700. I just emptied my bank account to write a check for the COBRA insurance. $600 a month and you have to pay 2 months at a time.
On top of this her brother has offered to do nothing to help. And he just bought a brand new car for roughly the same price as the car we need to get rid of. Instead of helping out his mom and family he chose to get a little dorky car that was also too expensive when he could have helped everyone out and got his mom's brand new car. No, he doesn't have to do it. But he isn't helping at all when he should and his mom would get better treatment and potentially live longer. I digress, and that is not of importance.
I just really don't know what to do about the car. We want to get rid of it but just don't have the cash to pay off the loan. Does anyone know if there are any legal options when a major life event happens and someone can no longer pay for something? Unfortunately, we can't just let the bank take it without destroying my wife's already tainted credit that has been getting much better since we have been married.
This is much more info than needed, and there is more to it, I just thought I would lay out the basics of what is going on. If anyone has any suggestions or words of wisdom it would be greatly appreciated during this trying time. Thanks.
