This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hello,

I am 25, white female and I suspect that I may have MS. I had gone to see a doctor about 2 years ago when I experienced my first episode of non-severe, but hardly dismissable neurological symptoms. He ran some tests and then told me nothing is wrong and not to worry about it.
I forgot about it all until a few weeks ago when the same type of symptoms re-appeared.
At this point, I would like to know what I should be doing in CASE that one day I do get diagnosed with MS, which may be a long time away, or may never happen but I figure I should take care of this before I go see another doctor about my symptoms.
I mean, in terms of insurance. I live in Canada so we do have health care, but no real prescription coverage that I know of, but I am not sure.
I am a student (and mother) right now but I do have a crappy part-time job which offers me life insurance and additional health coverage (for prescriptions and things like that) but I don't plan on staying at this job more than another year or two, until I finish my degree.
What would happen if I do get diagnosed with MS? Can I change jobs and change insurance providers and still be covered?
Are there any other Canadians that can give me advice about what I should look after before going to a doctor?

Thank-you.

alphabet, I hope you don't have MS, but if you do, the Canadian MS Society has a useful document on different provincial drug plans here:

http://www.mssociety.ca/en/research/pdf ... -mar05.pdf

They have a pretty good summary of the approved MS disease-modifying medications too:

http://www.mssociety.ca/en/research/pdf ... nglish.pdf


If you still want to have private insurance, I think you had better get it before diagnosis. I'm in BC and don't have private insurance. Through the provincial drug plan, I pay under $1,000 a year for my $22,000+ worth of rebif. I wouldn't pay for private insurance, but it's nice to have if provided through an employer.

One other thing, if you want life insurance and don't already have it, that would be another thing to take care of before diagnosis. I'm not saying that because MS is a big killer, it's just that it will make it more expensive/difficult to get life insurance. That's another type of insurance I don't have, oh well.

Thanks dignan! I really appreciate your help. The info was really helpful.

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Bob,

If you put $50 in the bank, and get hit by a car tomorrow, your family has $50 to work with. If you put that into a life policy, your family has thousands. Life insurance is the fastest way to create an inheritance. If we could know how long we will live, there might be better ways to create that inheritance, but since we don't know, not having life insurance can be risky. You have to look at it as though tomorrow is your day to go. Would your family be okay with the money you have put away? If not, get to your nearest trusted insurance agent and purchase a policy.

Terry

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Hey Bob-
My family learned about the importance of life insurance this year. My 40 year old brother died from a massive heart attack in September. He never got life insurance, never expected to go...and left his wife and kids with debts. My whole family is pitching in, but his widow will have to keep her job and carry on with all the responsibility of three kids.

Suffice it to say, 2007 has been a rough year for my family...what with 43 yr. old husband' MS diagnosis and loss of my brother...I've learned that we don't all get the luxury of old age. But my pom-poms are still aloft...
best,
AC

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What neurological symptoms are you having? I'm curious to know. Not that I would be so bold as to try and guess at a diagnosis from that since there is literally a laundry list of things that can be someone's first symptom. However, there are a few that have a higher prevelance of being first MS symptoms so that is why I ask. This place is the best place to find the help you are looking for. You can request help on about anything you have going on and this community is here to help and well informed. Welcome!

Hi alphabet,

I wasn't as smart as you and didn't think to apply for life insurance ahead of time. Of course my diagnosis was very quick and was a complete shock. Kudos to you fo being responsible and thinking ahead.

I have the benefit of a father who sold life insurance for 20 years in Canada. But even with his help I am up sh*t creek. I tried having my work policy transferred over as a personal policy to avoid the medical, but for whatever reason they wouldn't allow it.

The only thing I did manage to get is a personal LTD policy spun off of my work policy.

I am leery about the legality of applying for insurance when you're on the cusp of a diagnosed condition. There may be some problems there and I would suggest you talk to someone about it before applying. Also remember that if you are ever turned down for insurance you're legally obligated to inform all subsequent insurers.

It's sticky business! The MS Society documents above are a great resource, and if you give them a call they can probably give you the name of an "MS friendly" broker who can answer your questions.

Thanks! The symptoms I am experiencing right now are: very intense tingling in my feet, pins and needles type of feeling. This is on and off. Numbness in my feet, parts of my legs. Also in my forams and hands, numbness and tingling. Also a recurring electrical shock feeling in my hand on one of my knuckles, very intense. (not often... but a few times over the last month) And random, very localized pains in random parts of my legs and arms.

What do you think?

Hi Punchy!
Thanks for your input.
I am not sure I would say that I am on the cusp of being diagnosed with anything!! Really at this point, it is just a vague suspicion that may or may not turn out to be... and if it does I don't expect it to be for many years yet. You can see the symptoms I am experiencing in my post above. I just don't want anyone to think I've self-diagnosed myself with 100% certainty or anything!!
So I am hoping to get all this stuff over with. I know having a life insurance policy would probably ease my fears. I do have term life insurance from my work, but I don't plan on staying there more than another year or two, and I figure I should probably set up an individual one right now if I can.