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Okay, this is going to sound a bit hostile, but why on earth does every old, and not so old, person that can walk have a handicap parking permit? I am 56 years old with PPMS. I use a cane and have an AFO. When I park in handicap parking, with a valid permit, it never fails that some old person give me the evil eye...until they see me get out of the car. I rarely make a comment to anyone parking in handicap parking, but once I did ask a young mother why she had a handicap permit. Her doctor gave it to her because she had a new baby. It was a mind boggling answer!

Often, I struggle through the grocery store parking lot because handicap parking is full. Yet when I get into the store, all of the electric carts are sitting in their usual spot. I wouldn't wish my disability on anyone, but I would like to pass it out for just one day to those people that abuse handicap parking.

Do doctors pass out handicap permits just so they don't lose business?

I suspect it's pretty tough for a doctor to say "no" to someone who asks for one. Beyond that, though, I'd like to offer a cautionary word to you. Some people who don't look handicapped actually are. This applies to a big population of MSers who are highly susceptible to the effects of heat, and use their handicapped permit only on hot days to shorten the trip to a store.

Prior to my diagnosis, I was looking for a space in a lot on a very warm summer day and saw a woman get out of her car with no evident problem and start walking to the store. I was at such an angle at which I could't see her hang tag. I beeped my horn, rolled down my window and said rather curtly, "That space is for the handicapped, ma'am!"

She replied that she was in fact handicapped, had a hang tag on her mirror and had to get in the store quickly, and asked me if I could please go in and find her once I got a space because she wanted to explain something that would change my point of view.

I did so, and she told me that she had multiple sclerosis and that when it gets hot she has a short time in which to get into a cool place or she'd have problems walking. She actually thanked me for having my heart in the right place, but also said it was a real burden to constantly have to explain herself to people like me.

I profusely apologized, and then of course several years later get diagnosed myself. So let it be a warning about being too quick to judge. Who knows what other conditions that young mother might have had? Finally, here is a web site that might interest you

As I mentioned in my original post, I have done an exhaustive search for high-risk LTC insurance and certainly understand the business of "insurance." No one should depend on Medicare for any "long-term care" help beyond 20 days in a skilled nursing facility. According to THE MEDICARE PLAN which can be accessed at www.medicare.gov, scroll down until you get to Medicare Benefits, go to page 39, you will read the following under "What do YOU pay in 2004?"
YOU pay the following amounts for each benefit period in 2004
(following at least a related three-day covered hospital stay):
Days 1-20 $0 for each day
Days 21-100: up to $109.50 for each day
(Nursing Home care averages $100 per day)
Days beyond 100: You pay 100%.
Plus, you must be admitted to a Medicare-certified Skilled Nursing
Facility. Medicare does not cover Assisted Living which is what most MSers would be interested in.

Medicaid, on the other hand, is a state administered program and each state sets its own guidelines regarding eligibility and services. For general information about the Medicaid program, including eligibility requirements, go to http://cms.hhs.gov/medicaid/eligibility/default.asp. Medicaid Planning is another avenue. There are attorneys that can help with Medicaid Planning.

So, I come full-circle again. Does anyone know of any LTC insurance offered for high-risk individuals with MS?

i had someone leave me a note one time that read " i hope you become handicap for parking in a handicap space" just because sometimes on a good day i would look fine walking in a store but stick around and you won't see that when i come out. now i use a wheelchair if i have to go out and still people just like to stare. i hate this disease!!!!!

i had someone leave me a note one time that read " i hope you become handicap for parking in a handicap space" just because sometimes on a good day i would look fine walking in a store but stick around and you won't see that when i come out. now i use a wheelchair if i have to go out and still people just like to stare. i hate this disease!!!!!

My wife has MS and a disabled parking permit which here in England is very difficult to obtain unless you are genuinely disabled. We usually manage to park in disabled spaces and often note those who are not displaying permits.

A recent survey found that over 80% of those who park illegally in disabled bays have a criminal record - speaks reams!

My Pet Peeve is those folks who are either too stooopid or dare I say lazy to know the difference between a handicapped parking place and somewhere to return your shopping cart....

That pisses me off!!!!

This is my pet peeve. Here in MA they issue 'privacy covers' to cover your picture on the tag. So people tend to 'borrow' their relatives tag, as there is no way of knowing now. Spaces are very hard to get, and if I can't park close, I can't get out.

If you are not elderly, you get nasty looks. They seem to think it is 'elderly parking'. When I emerge from the car, they look away embarrassed, tho.

I need to use a cart to get into the store to get an electric one. Why are the cart corrals so far away from the HP parking in most lots?