Happy New Year, Everyone!

I'm baaaaaack!!!!!!!!!!

Well, what an experience I've gone through in the last 7 months in the
attempt to find a life insurance policy to cover me (and my husband &
mortgage) during my unemployment!

My first thought was SBLI (Massachusetts) - rather inexpensive, a
simple term policy, piece of cake, right?  NOT.  It took them almost 8
weeks (partially due to an inefficient medical records clerk) to
"defer" providing me insurance until I have a 'clean bill of health' 3
years post-surgery (which happens to be 1 year from TODAY!).  They were
quite adamant that they were not denying me coverage; they just wanted
to wait another year (until I don't die?).

I turned to the internet, and found a site which would bring me quotes.
Well, I got a lot of quotes, and telephone calls - for medical
insurance!  I did not need medical insurance, as my former employer had
agreed to cover me through the remainder of 2005.

I ended up with a company called AXA Advisors.  They do all sorts of
financial stuff... from finding/providing life insurance policies to
money management.  They took my application and a check for $444 (based
on 'preferred actuarial tables') and proceeded to get quotes from
several insurance companies.

It took another 8 weeks to get back many denials, and a final quote of
$944 annual premium for $150k of term life insurance.  I wrote out the
check.

And one week later, I got a new job with $150k of life insurance for
$23/month - no medical questions asked.  I called AXA to cancel my
'application' for the $944 policy.  I quickly received a letter
regarding the withdraw my application, but it took until yesterday
(January 5) to finally get my money back.  PHEW!

During all this last stressful waiting period I received various offers
in the mail for term insurance from some local banks and AARP.    The
policies were all for amounts under $20k, but I figured if I got a
policy from 2-3 places, I'd have somewhat of a safety net.  Had I not
gotten the new job, I would have investigated these other offers in
more detail.

I could have chronicled this period on this site during the period, and
I apologize for not getting back to you all as to what was going on.
But as usual in life, "things" almost always turns out for the
best.

As I mentioned above, to day is the 2nd anniversary of my RRP.  I had
my semi-annual follow-up in October and I am healthy, and very happy
(mostly due to having gotten married last April!).  I still have some
minor residual leakage during heavy lifting (and snow shoveling), but
99.99% of the time I don't bother wearing a pad.  Erections are still
attainable, but require some serious 'coaxing'.  And I'm still
getting used to 'dry orgasms'!

Life is good.

Rus
Massachusetts