If you are taking your health for granted, you are risking your finances. If you fall ill or are injured in an accident that leaves you temporarily unable to work, it is the payout from your income protection insurance claim that can save you and your family. Such an insurance policy is designed to provide a payout if a sudden illness or injury leaves you unable to work. These plans are available for both the short term and long term. So, you can choose the duration of your protection.
Benefits of An Income Protection Insurance
Such a policy replaces your income. Moreover, you can claim a payout more than once. So, whenever you are laid down by disease or get injured and are unable to work, this policy takes care of your finances.
Other Options
However, there are some mother options too. So, let us first look at the options that you have in case you suffer from a major illness or injury. You may bank on the following for unexpected illnesses and injuries.
• Workers compensation
Companies provide workers compensation to their employees. You can process your claim through your state workers’ compensation program. Also, you can get help from TANF, Temporary Assistance For Needy Families, which offers financial relief to families suffering from temporary financial hardship. There are other fully or partially federally funded schemes to help families laid down by financial hardship when their earning members are injured or laid down with diseases.
• Having robust savings to meet such emergencies
This is possible if you have consciously saved for unforeseen times. However, savings may get exhausted, and you never know if you are going to get injured or laid down with disease for a second time or not.
• Retiring early
Major illnesses tend occur close to retirement age. So, you can reduce the chance of income loss to some extent by retiring early.
• Relying on family support
If your spouse is earning good money, you can rely on his or her income.
Nut Shell
It is a good idea to be in the loop of all employer or government-funded welfare schemes while having an income protection insurance. This is good since you never know if you have to face an insurance claim decline. In such a case you need to fight it out with the insurance company. Other options can come to your help at such times.