New and screwed.

[Gil Denis]

Hi Mark

I have not posted for a long time, but I lurk the site quite a bit you story struck me and you are not alone I live in pain every day and try to be strong and do the best

One day you will find a solution I have had three surgeries in my spine and looking at more !!

Do your research and we are here to help

Gil

[markmsf3]

Wow. My problems, all of a sudden, seem very minor now. I guess what I mostly concerned about is surviving financially. Luckily, I've been with the same agency my entire career and had years of holidays, sick time, and vacation time built up and have continued to get a paycheck every two weeks even though I haven't worked in 6 months. If I'm forced to retire, I'll lose my insurance or have to start paying it which is around 800 a month. I'm already out 25-30k with no end in sight. I would have never thought I would end up like this.

[Maria]

I didn't listen to my PCP when she told me I should retire (on disability) while I was still working full time. I thought she was just "part of the system" re my employer and did not have my best interests in mind. I worked part time for the last few years which meant less money when I finally did file for permanent disability and SSD.

If you're thinking about retiring on permanent disability Medicare health care benefits take up to 24 months waiting period and I've forgotten now if that was from point of filing for permanent disability or point of permanent disability being awarded.

I'm not sure how your employer benefits go but sometimes employers keep paying benefits up until you file for Permanent disability and then you start to Cobra after that. So maybe you'd catch a break there with the wait period from when you retire on disability and when you are eligible for Medicare.

Once you have Medicare you will need a supplemental insurance as well however at that point there are plans that are relatively inexpensive even if they are HMOs which I really dislike .. at least it's something.

Good luck and yes you are far from alone in any of this and what you might be thinking now or at any point.. many of us have been there too