Hi guys - thanks again for good wishes - just waiting to hear anything...

Melody - social security disability pays a small amount monthly and gives you the right to get medicare (or in your case a Medicare HMO before the age where you would actually become eligible), which is really the most important element of it... otherwise one would be to buy high risk insurance.....

A long tern disablity company is a private or group policy that you buy - sometimes thru your employer and sometimes if you are self-employed or other situation - on your own... they pay a percentage of your former monthly income, less anything you receive from social security disabilty - and are supposed to help you survive.... (the chances of becoming disabled during your working years are much higher then dying - thus LTD is critical insurance to have)... of couse you have to have been working to qualify for it..... and lots of other stipulations....

They however may it very difficult to collect on....

Hope that helps...

Take care....