Dear Leaningin,
I too was the soul income with my husband and I and I had to go on disability due to MG because I was an ICU nurse and could no longer do my job. Fortunately, I had short term disability insurance which helped plus lots of built up vacation time and sick time because I never used it. I applied on-line for social security disability in Jan. 2007 and got my first check in April 2007. I then got medicare even though I'm not 65 exactly 2 years later. I Cobra'd my insurance from work until then. I know I was lucky compared to a lot of people and I am extremely grateful for it because there is no way I could work at all. Good Luck.