BBS1951 is correct. Pre-diagnosis is time to get life insurance and Long term Disability. After diagnosis is TOOOOO late. SSDI is not much if you're used to more. I was DXed within 5 years of my last job, My SSDI a nice addition to DH's income, but Iwould find it hard to live on just it. My diagnosis made us think hard how bad things just happen in this world, it costs and life is very costly, we got STD and Life Insurance ASAP for DH as he is the real wage earner in our house and we have 2 kids about to start college In 5 years when we can cancel LTM, that extra money monthly will be nice, as it is "found" (not used to having it), should save it if we don't keep policy. DX can be a long process. Best of luck.

agreed! get long term disability insurance, and life insurance and whatever other insurances you can get and qualify for. The very moment you step through the doors of an MS clinic its too late. They will consider that a pre existing condition. I have insurance, and after dx we called to update our policies and maybe bump them to a higher level, and was locked out. I was assured that the policies I have in place still stand, but NO changes can be made unless I wish to cancel them. I have paid these policies for 25 years! they have gotten more money from me than I will ever get from them, but they consider ME the risk?

I love the advice to RUN AWAY from MDs that insist its stress. It truly does mean they dont have the knowledge, or desire to dig deeper to find out what the real issue is. They simply want to move on to the next sore throat, or diaper rash and not rock their own world with work, research, tests, and explanations to insurance companies about why they are digging.

Hang in there.