Chronic Illness
Most people know life insurance can provide financial security and continuity during one of life’s most difficult times: the death of a loved one. What few people know is that life insurance can also help during another one of life’s most difficult times: a chronic, critical or terminal illness. This help comes in the form of optional riders called Accelerated Death Benefit t Riders, also generically known as Living Benefit ts, which can be added at no additional cost.
The following story illustrates just what Living Benefits can do.
Sylvia was only 50 years old when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. With medication, she was able to eff effectively manage her symptoms for a few years. Then, her disease progressed, first cutting her daily walks with her golden retriever short, then eliminating them altogether and bringing her to a point where she spent her days in her wheelchair. Most days, Sylvia’s daughter Maryann would stop by to check on her and help with the basics like laundry, cleaning, etc. But as time went by, Maryann was spending more and more time with her mom, often arriving right after her job as a teacher at the local high school and not getting home to take care of her own young family until after dinner. This situation left Sylvia feeling guilty and Maryann frustrated and tired.
One day, Sylvia ran into her life insurance agent. It had been a few years since he last saw Sylvia and he suggested they get together to review her coverage. Once that happened, he reminded Sylvia she had a Chronic Accelerated Death Benefit t rider on her universal life policy. Sylvia gave this some thought and after speaking with Maryann, she decided to accelerate a portion of her death benefit t. This enabled Maryann to cut back on her hours at school and work part-time and allowed Sylvia to make gifts to her daughter to off set her lost wages. It also resulted in Maryann being able to better manage taking care of her mother, her kids, and herself.
Says Sylvia, “This money was a Godsend. I didn’t want Maryann to feel obligated to take care of me, so it helps her still pay her bills. Plus we get to spend time together without guilt and that’s worth more than I can tell you.”
Did you know an optional Accelerated Benefit Rider can provide income during a chronic illness?
What would it be worth to you?
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