401k, Insurance, MS Fund

What a great idea!  I think you are very wise to prepare for the future like this, as you said anything can happen to change your way of living, and with MS the probability of having to leave work or having major uncovered expenses, either medical or equipment,is higher than for many others.  And if you do have to go out on disability, as I did in 1998, you have a waiting period before going on Social Security, if you are approved right away that is, and that can be a long time without any income.  I was not as wise as you and always thought I would work forever, even as my body became more and more disabled and I began to have frequent seizures in my office, and I never thought about what I would do if I had to leave work.  In fact, when I finally did I asked the financial vice president at the college I worked at to see what happened next.  I was surprised to learn that the college actually had disability insurance on me, which I might add is the only way I am able to remain financially independent now; social security would never cover my living expenses in Manhattan. I now encourage my daughter and her husband, and all young people to see if their employer carries a disability policy on them and to check out getting a policy for themselves while they are young, they may be less expensive now, whether or not they are covered at work.  You never know when you may change jobs and it is good to have a policy in place for any possible future circumstance.  Thanks for bringing this important topic to everyone's attention. Denise