Lawyer Takes Pay Cut to Save His Marriage and Help His Epileptic Son
A Fort Worth, Texas, lawyer expects his salary will nearly double after the new federal health insurance law takes effect.
Andrew Griffin took a pay cut at the law firm he joined two years ago so he could qualify for health insurance coverage for his epileptic son under a Texas state program, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. The pay cap for coverage was $48,000 a year for a family of four.
Before taking the pay cut, Griffin had considered divorcing his wife so she and their children could qualify for federal coverage, the story says. He had been rejected by more than 60 insurers and was desperate to help his son, Alec.
Griffin’s boss, J. Steven King, didn’t want to see that happen, so he lowered Griffin’s salary. “I felt horrible, like I was taking advantage of him,” King told the Star-Telegram.
Under the new health law that takes effect in three months, Griffin will be eligible for coverage under a high-risk insurance pool. Starting in 2014, insurance companies won’t be able to deny coverage to those with pre-existing conditions.
