great question, sue! people have given some helpful advice, but i don't think anyone has really answered your question.
this is something i think about a lot, too. i am single, although do have a long-term boyfriend. right now, it is not adventagous for us to marry (not that we are in a hurry, you see) because my CF expenses are 100% covered by the state of north carolina. down the road, if we were to get married, i could be on his insurance, but as you said, i'm sure there would be fairly significant extra costs of co-pays. (i would also have insurance for other medical expenses besides CF, which would be nice.)
however, i am independent-minded, and i hate the idea of being dependent on someone. right now i still receive some help from my parents each month. if something happens with my bf and my health goes down hill, i guess i would be "stuck" living with a relative. god, that's depressing to think about!
ideally, i might have started working full time out of college to build up some assets (right now i have none.) but i have taken the poor road, living paycheck to paycheck, that has allowed me to preserve a lot of my health i may have lost working full time.
i think, like someone said, you might do better with a job you're not around germy kids all day. perhaps you could be a tutor or teach special ed? i have also worked as a nanny, and it seemed to me that if the kids were below school-age, their risk of getting sick was lower.
in short, the answer to your question is, you do whatever you can -- take advantage of what resources are available to you (state programs, parents, relatives, friends, boyfriends...). i think the key is to not feel like you are a burden; most loved ones understand and are happy to help. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
good luck!
this is something i think about a lot, too. i am single, although do have a long-term boyfriend. right now, it is not adventagous for us to marry (not that we are in a hurry, you see) because my CF expenses are 100% covered by the state of north carolina. down the road, if we were to get married, i could be on his insurance, but as you said, i'm sure there would be fairly significant extra costs of co-pays. (i would also have insurance for other medical expenses besides CF, which would be nice.)
however, i am independent-minded, and i hate the idea of being dependent on someone. right now i still receive some help from my parents each month. if something happens with my bf and my health goes down hill, i guess i would be "stuck" living with a relative. god, that's depressing to think about!
ideally, i might have started working full time out of college to build up some assets (right now i have none.) but i have taken the poor road, living paycheck to paycheck, that has allowed me to preserve a lot of my health i may have lost working full time.
i think, like someone said, you might do better with a job you're not around germy kids all day. perhaps you could be a tutor or teach special ed? i have also worked as a nanny, and it seemed to me that if the kids were below school-age, their risk of getting sick was lower.
in short, the answer to your question is, you do whatever you can -- take advantage of what resources are available to you (state programs, parents, relatives, friends, boyfriends...). i think the key is to not feel like you are a burden; most loved ones understand and are happy to help. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
good luck!