Depends on what you mean by "Major Medical" Some companies call a policy with a huge deductible,(several thousand) Major medical because it picks up and pays a certain percent after you have paid that deductable. Others will have a lot of restrictions. Some will pay only if you are in a hospital. At your age, you could get a regular policy with any on the main line companies like AARP, Blue Cross, New York Life. I think that would be your best bet and forget about any other type of policy. Decide what you need and don't need. Dental coverage is nice if you have terrible teeth, but isn't worth the cost if your teeth are in good shape. The same thing is true of things like organ transplants, and ambulance fees. Nice if you need them, but most likely you would not. Therefore, not worth the additional premium. When you reach 65, Medicare will pay 80% of the APPROVED amount and your insurance will pick up only the remaining 20%.

I am probably going to get a boo or hiss but I am not sure why a sane ex-wife couldn't attend her ex-husbands funeral. Remember at one time there was enough love to marry and create a family. I think there may be much more to the Kasem story then we are privy to. I am sure I am not the only one who is on both sides of the wife thing. Now that my children are adults and my ex's SK's are adults finances are really getting diverted. At least with child support my kids were getting some thing. My ex is the main bread winner in his home. She stopped working as soon as she could. My children raised by me are very independent and financially secure. Her children are not. They are now "helping" hers out. I know if my ex dies before her my children will not see a Penny. Do not get me wrong, I expect her to live off their accumulated funds but I suspect my kids will be out of the will and all the money go to her children. I fortunately, do not have any of those issues with my SK. It was not so years ago though. The issue was not with SK but mom not having enough money and backing out of things all the time. I for one love that my SK is an adult and I love the time we spend together. Once a parent though always a parent and there will always be reasons for interaction.

I do have advice. Since your condition is on the CAL list, it should be easier for you to get SSD benefits than other people. Let me share with you some of the things which may be a bump in the road. think of your condition as disabling, a disability, and not a retirement. Sure there are tasks of your job that you perhaps can continue to do, such as sitting at a desk and checking the computer or making phone calls, but, I believe, you are unable to do the field work which may entail visiting other places, local travel, lots of walking and making decisions without a medicine clogged mind. The executive decision making and fact gathering, I'm guessing here, are the tasks affected. Sitting for short periods are ok bu not long? Dependent legs a problem? Anxiety about doing the job likely won't enter into the picture bc, as that is, it may be seen as a temporary condition but maybe not. Job anxiety may be seen as a contributing element if you are worried about your job. The fact that you are a long time employee counts.Of course, if you have debilitating anxiety in general, then that's a different thing. Moderate major depression can be disabling. SSA pays for total disability, not partial. Even tho, your first post, says that hr offered you a "very part time" position, perhaps, that may not be seen as a substitute for your challenging job, where you make decisions on facts and gather those facts. Neetsie did I describe the more executive aspects of your job? That matters. think about the tasks that you cannot or have difficulty doing. Mental disability and pain caused disability count but be honest. Think about why you were able to do your job for these many years but cannot now. What and how. What changed? A new boss does not count. A constellation of symptoms counts. The difficulty of clothing can be circumvented and shouldn't count. All that said, being on the cal list counts the most. That's the most persuasive element. does your doctor say you are totally disabled? Might you need to tell him why you cannot do your job, if he doesn't think so? the closer one gets to age 62, the ssa requirements loosen, especially for those in early 60's or late 50's. Since I canno easily talk to you I can only guess about certain things. I am a retired claim analyst/manager, having spent 25 years as a claim professional. The last nine years I was a claim litigation supervisor and paralegal for a multinational corporation working in the legal department. I retired in 94 but most disability issues have not substantively changed. Now there is a cal list but those conditions were previously quickly granted benefits, too. Just not formally listed. Hth

No one has recommended "going nuclear or getting belligerent". By asking for information on a denial you might become aware that the insurance company had incomplete or incorrect information which can be corrected. You also have the right to appeal a decision. Last spring I was in need of physical therapy and called my health insurer for clarification on both my responsibility and theirs via billing charges. At the time I was told that they would fully cover 20 visits. I made a note of the date, time and persons name. This call was recorded. When the first bill was sent in to the insurance company, they only applied the cost to my deductable and did not pay a thing. One phone call, with the information of the original call resulted in the company paying for 20 visit (I only needed about 10). In the fall I called for verification that they would pay in full for some elective surgery as I had met all deductibles by then. Again, I kept notes of the call and all bills were paid by them. Your friend that worked for an airline is correct, insurers do keep notes on calls. It protects both parties. BUT by not giving a person the rights they have paid for, the insurers know that they open themselves to investigations by the state insurance commissions and potential lawsuits. They want neither to happen. How do I know this? I spent 20 years working for a top 10 insurance company. Even cranks deserve respect.