Having a child with special needs means we can’t take anything for granted. We need to know that we have enough money to help him improve while providing for all of our basic needs. And with me being a stay at home mom we rely completely on my husband’s ability to work and provide for us. Years ago we made the decision to get good life insurance to cover not only my husband, but me, also. It was an easy, and obvious, choice to cover my hubby, seeing that he is currently our sole provider. I would never be able to cover the house payment and take care of the children while making sure Matthew’s recovery protocols were being followed without my husband. But as our family grew we realized that although I don’t contribute financially to the household budget, it would be very hard for my husband to fill in the gaps should I die. He would need to find some sort of extended daycare for the children because his schedule is often erratic. And with the amount of out-of-the-home therapies Matthew participates in, he could possibly need a nanny to make it all work.
Life insurance, and all it’s implications, isn’t something I wish to think about, especially with the amount of stress that comes with raising an autistic child. Knowing that financially our family would be stable and taken care of, in a time of need, helps to alleviate some of my fears. I know many of us have serious issues that we worry about daily, but I would urge all of us in the special needs community to take a serious look at getting life insurance. We need to be sure that our families will be provided for, that our children would have a future, and that our wishes that our children continue to recover would be funded.
I know many of us say it couldn’t happen to me, but really, we need to be more realistic and practical. I have friends that have lost one or both parents at a very young age, and because their parent had good coverage, they were able to attend college and remain in the family home. Go take a look at the different types of Life Insurance offered, and make an informed decision for yourself and your family. You may even want to use the Life Insurance Calculator to determine exactly how much insurance you need. Or if you are really unsure where to start try Life Insurance 101 to get a better handle on what you might need.
Genworth Financial sponsored this post. The story is mine.
My husband’s Aunt is 50 years old and mentally handicapped. Our poor Grandmother does nothing BUT think about this woman day and night. She worries about her she’ll survive without her constant care both financially and actual day to day things (like writing her checks, doing her grocery shoppping, things our Aunt can’t do). So yes, please, I know first hand how important it is for you to take this step.
Lee
Lee recently posted..Dove Men+Care Products, Father’s Day And Special Dad Bloggers!
We made the same decision because if something should happen to me, Charlie would have to work out day care for all 3 kids and he couldn’t afford that on what he makes and take care of everything else.
Paula @ Frosted Fingers recently posted..Road trip from Chicago to Orlando Part 1
This is wonderful and heartfelt advice. Thank you for sharing. It’s such an important reminder. With our busy lives, so often we forget to think about planning for the future.