Disability/long-term care insurance?

[steph74]

What is everyone's experience with getting (private) disability insurance?

I'm currently un-dx, but with clinical sx that support a dx (so far no lesions on MRI).  I first saw an MS specialist 6.5 years ago.  I'm currently seeing an MS specialist now (in a different city).  I've seen recommendations to get private long-term care/disability insurance if you suspect you have the disease, but are not dx yet.

What is this process like?  I can't in good concience lie, but currently my only (relevant) dx is complicated migraine (I also have celiac disease but am on a GF diet).

Part of me is having a really hard time even thinking about getting long-term care insurance because I can't stand the thought of being disabled (who can?)--put I"m also somewhat of a pragmatist and think it might be the right thing to do.

Any thoughts?

Stephanie

[castoriehandley93]

That is just heavy to the heart to read

[hbananas]

Bump.  Any expert opinions on the likelihood of ending up needing long-term care vs people without MS or TM or whatever.  Anybody been through the screening process past what steph and I have discussed?

[steph74]

I also work for the federal government.  I'm wondering if I'll have to provide a list of all the neuros I've seen over the years.  Even though no one's dx--my guess is the insurance company will treat me as if I am (e.g. very high rates).  I guess I have no way of finding out, though, if I don't apply.

How necessary is it?  I guess the question is how likely are people with MS to need this type of insurance?

[hbananas]

I work for the federal government.  On the application form for our disability insurance, it has a preliminary set of questions where a "yes" answer knocks you out of the running--stop here, don't send it in.  It includes MS, cancer, heart disease, etc.

There's a second set of questions where any "yes" answers have to be explained.  They include diabetes, neurological disorders, etc.  So if I as an undx person were filling it out, I'd have to say yes to neuro disorders and explain my transverse myelitis.  That would probably prompt correspondence with my MS specialist doctor.  Based on that information, they would give me insurance, but I probably couldn't get the kind that has an inflation guarantee.  They would limit my benefits.