financial planning for a life with multiple · pdf filefinancial planning for a life with ......
TRANSCRIPT
Financial Planning for a Life with Multiple Sclerosis
1 2017 National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Jan, 2017
Financial Planning for a Life with
Multiple Sclerosis
Financial Planning for a Life with Multiple Sclerosis
2 2017 National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Jan, 2017
Table of Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Chapter 1: Where I Am Today ................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Getting Organized ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
My MS Journal ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Taking a Financial Inventory ................................................................................................................................................................................ 6
Locating Important Papers and Contacts ........................................................................................................................................................ 7
My Professional Advisors ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Using a Health-Expense Spreadsheet ................................................................................................................................................................ 9
My Health-Expense Spreadsheet ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Make the Best Use of Health Insurance .......................................................................................................................................................... 11
Prioritizing Your Bills............................................................................................................................................................................................ 22
Chapter 2: Moving Forward After Initial Diagnosis ....................................................................................................................................... 23
What Makes the Difference? ............................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Continuing to Work................................................................................................................................................................................................ 24
Deciding Whether to Tell an Employer About MS ..................................................................................................................................... 24
Leaving Work Temporarily ................................................................................................................................................................................. 25
Understanding the Americans with Disabilities Act ................................................................................................................................ 27
My Plan for Managing My Job ........................................................................................................................................................................... 31
Employment Issues Changing Jobs ............................................................................................................................................................. 32
Considering Self-Employment ........................................................................................................................................................................... 36
My Plan for Finding a New Job ......................................................................................................................................................................... 38
Chapter 3: Taking Control of Your Finances..................................................................................................................................................... 39
Developing a Spending Plan ............................................................................................................................................................................... 39
Coping with Debt .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 43
Saving and Investing.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 46
My Plan to Take Control of My Finances ...................................................................................................................................................... 53
Chapter 4: If My MS Progresses ............................................................................................................................................................................. 54
Leaving Work ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 54
Applying for Government Programs ............................................................................................................................................................... 56
Financial Planning for a Life with Multiple Sclerosis
3 2017 National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Jan, 2017
Tapping into Other Sources of Income ........................................................................................................................................................... 62
Continuing to care for yourself and your family ............................................................................................................................................. 64
My Plan to Tap into Other Sources of Income ............................................................................................................................................ 65
Long Term Care ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 66
Help at Home: Needs Assessment * ................................................................................................................................................................ 68
Housing ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 71
My Plan for Home Help and Home Adaptations ........................................................................................................................................ 74
Chapter 5: Handling Legal Issues .......................................................................................................................................................................... 75
Estate Planning Paperwork ................................................................................................................................................................................ 75
My Plan for Handling Legal Issues .................................................................................................................................................................. 80
Additional Resources ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 81
Publications .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 81
Online .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 82
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 85
Introduction
Multiple sclerosis is a complex and unpredictable disease that affects 2.3 million people worldwide. If you or a loved one has MS, you know there are good and bad days, because MS is not a one-size-fits-all condition. You will find your own way of adapting, through the right medications, diet and exercise, and coping ski