Joan,
Attached is an outline of some of the topics that will be covered in the
financial planning workshops
Thank you for agreeing to take on the job of giving the workshop(s) for
Parkinson Toronto. I envision the following topics, among others, being
covered:
the possibility/probability of having to go on long-term disability
(LTD)
implications of LTD usually 60% of salary, integrated with CPP Disability
benefit
Example salary $50,000 LTD $30,000 made up of
CPP $10,500
Company Plan $29,500
CPP is taxable income
LTD is tax free if you pay the premium; but taxable if your employer
pays the premium.
in the example if you pay the premium, your LTD will be $XX,XXX
if your employer pays it will be $YY,YYY
which is a difference of $ZZ,ZZZ a year or$zzz a month
therefore if you have the option of paying the premium, do
medication cost can be crippling if you don't have a drug plan
find out the details of your company plan
is there a cap on benefits
is there a copayment & is it capped
you might be able to top up' the company plan with the Ont. Govt's
Trillium Drug Plan
Does your spouse/partner work? Can you use his/her plan
What about your mortgage?
What about your RRSP?
What about your children's education? RESPs?
What about uninsured (by OHIP) medical expenses?
What about making your house barrier-free? Is financial help available?
Is it better to
maximize my RRSP?
pay off my mortgage?
maximize non-registered savings/investments?
should I claim the disabled income tax credit?
what benefits are available through the income tax system?
What about Homecare? Are benefits taxable?
What about the Assistive Devices Program?
What about participating in clinical trials as a cost reduction measure?
John, you can see that the above list of topics, which is by no means
exhaustive, would probably easily fill two sessions. If I may be so bold to
make a suggestion, Arthur I. Fish, Counsel to the law firm of Borden &
Elliot is a leading expert on the law regarding health and disability. You
might find it useful to consult him on the government programs. His phone
number is (416) 367-6178, Fax (416) 361-2719 and E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Timing is as yet uncertain, but I would think mid-September to late October
would be appropriate.
John, when you have had an opportunity to review this memo, please get in
touch with me.
Thank you for agreeing to elp.
-----Original Message-----
From: joan carol urquhart <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, September 06, 1999 11:33 AM
Subject: Re: REPOST: Re: cyber PD and serendipity
>Your work and words are inspirational.
>
>Can you tell us more about the financial planning workshops inToronto run
by
>the Toronto Chapter...or more about the 800 number?
>-----Original Message-----
>From: William Harshaw <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Monday, September 06, 1999 10:55 AM
>Subject: Re: REPOST: Re: cyber PD and serendipity
>
>
>>Dear Hilary,
>>
>> At the Toronto Chapter of the Parkinson Foundation of Canada, of which
>I
>>am the Chair, we try to address these issues:
>>
>> 1) This fall we are holding workshops "Financial Planning for
>>Parkinsonians" which will cover, among other things, planning for LTD,
>>optimizing use of the health care system and government aid programs.
>>
>> 2) In 1994-5, we were instrumental in securing the adoption of the
>>Trillium Drug Plan by the Ontario government - see my article in the
>current
>>issue of the National Parkinson Foundation "Report" - which provides,
after
>>a graduated modest co-payment, a drug plan for those that don't have one.
>>
>> 3) We are holding workshops on "Creative Expression for PWPs"
>which
>>explores art and writing as a medium of expressing feelngs about PD, under
>>the overall direction of a psychiatrist.
>>
>> 4) We have a full time psychiatric nurse on staff who answers our
>>"800" line as well as local calls and visits local support groups
>>
>> Its not enough, but its a start.
>>
>> Bill
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Hilary Blue <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>>Date: Monday, September 06, 1999 9:14 AM
>>Subject: REPOST: Re: cyber PD and serendipity
>>
>>
>>>REPOST:
>>>
>>>I am reposting this series of exchanges because I think that some of the
>>>issues raised are very important and , I fear, may have been lost in the
>>>hub-bub over the SPARKLE issue. Particularly my last letter - which is
>>listed
>>>first. (reverse chronology)
>>>>
>>>> Once again, I agree with you totally. The health care provided for the
>>>> so-called 'indigent' is woefully inadequate. Not only PWPs but right
>>across
>>>> the board. THere are many diseases going undiagnosed and untreated.
And
>>I
>>>> believe this will be a political issue - should be, MUST be -
>>>> on a local, state and federal level. But this is not specific to PD.
>I'm
>>not
>>>> suggesting we abandon these people. I'm just suggesting - hoping -
that
>>others
>>>> will adddress their needs.
>>>>
>>>> Meanwhile there are those among us, members of our own communities -
>>members
>>>> of this list - who are facing hardship. Individuals who are known to
us
>>>> personally through the net, or support groups, or maybe we've met them
>>at a
>>>> conference. Or just heard their stories on the list. BUt they are
>people
>>with
>>>> names (and sometimes faces) that we recognise. Who are having hard
>>times.
>>>> Maybe a marriage is breaking up because the strains of dealing with PD
>>have
>>>> baecome too great. Maybe someone is facing foreclosure because the
cost
>>of the
>>>> disease has overtaken his financial resources - maybe someone does not
>>have
>>>> medical insurance. or cannot afford the medication or has lost his job
>>becuse
>>>> of PD but doesnt qualify for SSI - whatever.
>>>>
>>>> What i am trying to say is that there are people close to home that
>need
>>help.
>>>> We don't have to go out and look for them. I dont know how we would
put
>>this
>>>> into practice, but wouldnt it be nice if there ws some kind of fund
that
>>people
>>>> on the list could tap into in their time of need - maybe get low
>>interest
>>>> loans, or outright gifts. Or even some sort of pension fund. TO
>>supplement
>>>> the woefully inadequate Social Security payments - but without
>>prejudicing the
>>>> rights to those payments. It is all very complex. Sometimes the
>>assistance
>>>> needed is not simple money.
>>>> The cost of adequate care is very high to those who do not have it.
Not
>>all of
>>>> us are blessed with spouses or adult children capable of caring for us
>>>> Maybe one of the large home health agencies would sponsor home care
to
>>some
>>>> needy individuals. THe field is ripe for investigation - into supply
and
>>>> demand. We dont even know what people need, let alone how to fill those
>>needs.
>>>>
>>>> I suggest that this area is as important a one for investigation and
>>funding
>>>> as finding the cure. Because we have to stay alive to get the cure. And
>>for
>>>> some of us, just a little extra financial support may make that
>>difference.
>>>>
>>>> Hilary Blue
>>>>
>>>> > William Harshaw wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > >
>>>> > > Hilary & Michel,
>>>> > >
>>>> > > My concern is with the people in our society who are undiagnosed
>>through no
>>>> > > fault of their own, except perhaps that they live in the inner
>cities
>>of our
>>>> > > large metropolitan areas. Some years ago I challenged the
Parkinson
>>>> > > Foundation of Canada to conduct an inner city census to get an idea
>>of who
>>>> > > had what and was undiagnosed. we do so little for the inner city
>>residents
>>>> > > except to belittle them and libel them by stereotyping them as lazy
>>n'er do
>>>> > > wells. To my shame nothing was done.
>>>> > >
>>>> > > -----Original Message-----
>>>> > > From: Hilary Blue <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> > > To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> > > Date: Saturday, August 28, 1999 5:19 PM
>>>> > > Subject: Re: cyber PD and serendipity
>>>> > >
>>>> > > >Yes, I agree with you 100%. It would be wonderful if every PWP had
>a
>>>> > > computer
>>>> > > >and access to the internet. ANd I regard that as a basic need.
>>For me
>>>> > > >personally, I think I would stifle without the ablility to
>>communicate with
>>>> > > my
>>>> > > >fellow human beings. And as my hand writing shrinks to nothing,
>>and my
>>>> > > voice
>>>> > > >fades to a mumble, the internet assumes more and more importance.
>>>> > > > BUT, and this is a great big but, there are many of the basics
>that
>>some
>>>> > > >people would consider even more important than computers !!!
>>>> > > >I refer to
>>>> > > >housing,
>>>> > > >food,
>>>> > > >clothing,
>>>> > > >medication
>>>> > > >and
>>>> > > >CAREGIVERS.
>>>> > > >>From time to time, we see appeals on the list.
>>>> > > >Or hear stories of people in need.
>>>> > > >My concern is with those people.
>>>> > > >What say you?
>>>> > > >
>>>> > > >Hilary Blue
>>>> > > >
>>>> > > >
>>>> > > >Michel Margosis wrote:
>>>> > > >>
>>>> > > >> > My concern is always with those who don't have
>>>> > > >> > access to a computer or to the net. They are the ones who
>suffer
>>is
>>>> > > >> > isolation. If I could advocate for anything it would be to
>give
>>every
>>>> > > PWP a
>>>> > > >> > computer with free internet access
>>>> > > >> >
>>>> > > >> Thank you, Joan, for your note. With respect to your thought
>>expressed
>>>> > > >> above, our support group (Capital Chapter of NPF) did exactly
>>that. One
>>>> > > >> of our members had a source of usable computers that were
>>surplused by a
>>>> > > >> large company and these PC's were donated to individual PWP. In
>>my
>>>> > > >> mind, that is a worthwhile activity for any support group.
>>>> > > >>
>>>> > > >> Michel
>>>> > > >
>>>
>>
>
