Good questions that I didn't completely understand when this gauntlet started ... for that matter even the ALPA Benefits ladies didn't understand why my Medicare start date wasn't 2 years from starting LTD?

I initially applied for SSDI as a joke. I suspect that I couldn't be eligible. What did I have to lose? It was difficult to schedule an appointment at my local Social Security office to fill out an application, they wanted me to apply online. Finally the 5th Social Security office that I called made an appointment. I showed up well prepared with all of my doctors names and addresses and my employment history. A Social Security clerk entered all of my information into her computer. I asked her how long it might be before I heard something?

Her reply, "It could take as long as 3 months but you're probably eligible." That was fine with me as I still had 9 more months of sick leave. When I hadn't heard anything in 6 months I called the Social Security Administration and asked if they could advise the status of my claim? The guy actually said to me, "Buddy, we're a Government organization. If you want it quicker call your Congressman!" I did! The next day I received an email from SS stating that my application had been designated as a "Congressional Inquiry." The day after that I received an email saying my application had been approved!

In my case, I had almost 15 months of SIC, VAC & DSA leave (I was technically a full time employee, on leave, for that period). I went on FedEx LTD immediately after those balances were exhausted.

It turns out that SSDI has a 6 month waiting period (from onset of illness). In my case my onset date was unknown, I could have had it for many years. I had no symptoms. SSDI decided to use my "date of diagnosis" as their waiting period start. That seemed as reasonable as an answer as I could hope for. I'd already been out on sick leave for 6 months at that point.

In the end Medicare started 2 years after my SSDI started. I was preparing for additional major surgery and, for a short period it looked like I might not have any medical insurance!*?

It turns out that we have pretty good LTD benefits. It's nice to be able to say that.