A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

This profession is pathetic - so sad

Posted: Jun 23, 2013

Cannot believe it, I am 60 years old, been doing this almost 40 years and I sat down last night and really checked things over and now with NJA all the time, my monthly bills are not covered by my 2 pay checks a month. I do not have a high mortgage ($240 a month, can't rent a room for that), I have basic cable that is bundled with the internet (which we all need to do this job), the very minimum of phone bill ($40), and have to pay for my own health insurance (as my company doesn't do that anymore $275, going up when I am 60 next month), and I drive my parents 20 year old car (so no car payments and low insurance rate), but I can't put ANYTHING away each month (which I was about to do with my extra money after paying for bills). What a mind blower!!! I cannot believe this!!!! I don't know what others do that have higher mortages, etc. It is truly time to get the H*LL out of here.

So anyone looking to get into this career because you can stay home and work, PLEASE, PLEASE heed the warnings on this forum. My 92 year old mother in the nursing home now makes more money than I do.

Also, I make JUST ABOVE what I can make in order to get my husband's social security since he died 10 years ago. And I bet he figured I would be WELL taken care of after he was gone. Right!!

Well, back to what little work I do have. Just made about $20 on this lovely ASR crap, too, making corrections on every flippin' line.

Thanks for letting me vent. When I do have time today with the NJA I will be job hunting yet again, or still, but just more intently, but in a town of 2000 there are none.

Completely sympathize! (sm) - Rose

[ In Reply To ..]
I share your age, experience, and reduction in wages to that of a sweat shop. My electric is scheduled to be shut off tomorrow because I can't afford to even pay my all my utilities on the measly $300 to $400 a month I make editing. So, I may not even be able to work tomorrow without electric. Drive a 12 year old car with over 100K miles. Live on Top Ramen or nothing. Can't even afford my medications so I go without. I cannot believe that there seems top be nothing that can be done legally for being paid under minimum wage for editing! I called my labor board but you can't get through to a human, you have to leave a message. They never return calls, so where do we go?

Just quit and move on - At Last

[ In Reply To ..]
I hear you, we all seem to be in the same situation. No more for me. I'm out.

These companies are so large now their sarcastic attitude is - "Go ahead and contact Wage and Hour, what are they going to do fine us?" They don't care, and neither does Wage & Hour. The best thing is to find something else to do, and at this point any job is better.

That's the beauty of being on the very bottom - you don't have to go very far for it to be an improvement. I am done with transcription, but on my way out of this nasty profession. There just comes a day when you say to yourself, "Why am I working so hard just to pay the utilities so I can keep on working? There must be something better. There is, but you have to go looking to find it and stop wishing and wanting this industry to change, because it's not changing until they cannot hire anyone else in the US to do the work.

I feel ya - Age 59, town population 700

[ In Reply To ..]
Been doing this 30 years. No other jobs in this town unless you are related to the mayor.

same boat here - me2

[ In Reply To ..]
Thirty-five years, last five have lost at least 50-75% of my income, no health insurance, can barely pay bills, do not even leave the house anymore. Will be 62 next year but cannot live on social security either so have to keep working. I figure I will be paying these companies to work for them before long!

Something to check out - Alice

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm not sure what you meant when you wrote that you make just above what you can make in order to get your husband's social security, but consider this:

I qualified for widow's social security benefits at age 60, which I think is the same age for everyone if you were married to the person for the required number of years (I don't remember whether it was 10 or 15). I'm "allowed" to make about $15,000 per year before I "lose" ANY of the widow's social security benefits. After I reach the limit in income, I do not lose ALL of the widow's benefits. I would "lose" $1.00 in benefits for every $2.00 that I earn in excess of the yearly limit of $15,000 or so. As far as I can tell, the earning limit at which I would lose ALL of the widow's social security benefits would be something like $35,000. So, it may be worth it for you to look at this option again and discuss with the social security people as you are turning 60.

Pathetic Profession - Lissybell

[ In Reply To ..]
I feel your pain. I am 56-1/2 and the major health insurer I worked for decided to outsource. I have been looking for an MT job and can find nothing that pays anywhere near what I was making, and unfortunately, the wages are at poverty level. I don't know how anyone can live this way unless this is a second income for them. It is an insult that I would make less than my daughter working at a door manufacturing company. I hope things work out for you.

same boat - me2

[ In Reply To ..]
It is pathetic in this business, like the poster making less than her daughter, I too now make less than my daughter who is working as a teller just out of school.

less money - me too

[ In Reply To ..]
As I mentioned in my original post, my 92yo mother in the nursing home, paralyzed on one side, unable to much at all makes more than me from my dad's pension and SS but she does not make enough in one year to pay for 4 months in the nursing home at $6700 a month. This is just pathetic. And now probably will need a different vehicle which will add more to my bills. Will definite check on my deceased husband's SS again.

This Profession - kitty lady

[ In Reply To ..]
This is exactly why I am taking early retirement. Taking half of my husbands SS minus $200 which is approximately what I make at this company. I can still earn $1260 a month and I am working at my part time job where I have been for the last 5 years to make ends meet. I have to work until july 26th and then done. No more working 65 hours a week to make enough money to pay bills. Tried to find another MTE job but they pay less or equal to what I make now. Oh well VIRTUAL RETIREMENT PARTY ON THE 226th YEA1111

Physicians and nursers have professions. Transcriptionists - have a job. That is a big part of the WHY. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

Then why are we called MEDICAL - proud MT

[ In Reply To ..]
Transcriptionists if we just have a "job." All you have to do is look at the Book of Style for Medical Transcriptionists to realize the knowledge we must attain. Otherwise, if it were just a "job," we would not have the opportunity to become certified with CMT after our name. We all do our part in the medical profession, from MDs, RNs, CNAs, CMTs, ward clerks, etc.

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