[BrandoElFollito]

Could these software engineers be bankrupt if they are hit by a serious illness? Say progressive MS or a cancer, which will require extensive sick days? It is there protection?

(this is an actual question, not an ironic one)

[jochem9]

The exact outcome depends on the country's specific laws, but generally speaking, there is protection.

In the Netherlands you get up two years paid sick leave, before your employer can fire you. If you are sick enough to not be able to work again, you'll get 75% of your last earned wage from the government.

The tricky situation is when you are considered partially unable to work. You'll get time to find a suitable job, but your benefits drop over time. Finding a job in that situation is sometimes very difficult. It's possible to fall between the cracks.

In any case, the intent is to make sure people do not get unfairly hurt by life events outside their control.

[BrandoElFollito]

Sorry for not haveing been clear (and thanks for the replay) -- I was asking about the US, I am French and have a reasonable idea about the general European systems.

My main point was to undersatnd when (and if) the "in the US we get enough money to pay the insurance" breaks.

[ciupicri]

She's not a software engineer, just married to one and worked for software companies, and maybe I don't remember correctly, but she described a bit of her experience with the American system [1]:

> I should have taken medical leave at the first surgery, but my manager was confused about our status – the acquisition was so recent that I didn’t have six months as an Oracle employee, and she said, “You’re not eligible to take paid leave.”

> I couldn’t afford to take unpaid leave, and I was afraid I would lose my job and my health insurance, so I had to power on and pretend I was okay while I was really sick and taking an antibiotic that had horrible side effects.

> ...

[1] https://techiesproject.com/deirdre-straughan/