Sometimes life throws you a curve ball that there’s no way to be fully prepared to handle. When you’re faced with an injury or a sudden illness, having to take unexpected time off from work can be a stressful burden. Luckily, short-term disability insurance may be able to provide a safety net, so you can spend less time worrying about finances and more time focused on recovering.
Being Prepared When the Unexpected Happens
Darren Henderson was working as a film editor and had just celebrated his daughter’s first birthday when an injury left him in need of back surgery. “I got to a point where I was in so much pain that I needed to have surgery immediately to correct herniated discs,” said Henderson.
The most stressful part of taking time off from work was ensuring that he could make ends meet for his family, especially since he was the only one working. “I was also worried about making sure everything was taken care of properly, while I was away from work and that my job was still secured for my return,” he said.
Taking the Time Off Needed
One of the most challenging parts of a sudden injury or illness is being unsure of just how long it will take to recover. For Henderson, the procedure was a success – but the pain and healing were more than he’d expected. Henderson was able to file for short-term disability through the state of California. Unfortunately, most states do not have a public short-term disability insurance program.
Henderson was initially told by his doctor that he would need about four weeks of recovery time. As the weeks passed, however, he grew worried about being able to recover completely in that short span of time. After consulting with his doctor, he ended up extending his short-term disability by two more weeks. “Luckily, it wasn’t an issue to take additional time off and there was no problem with continuing my disability benefits,” he said.
Recovering Without Stress
No one likes to think about the possibility of facing a sudden medical emergency, but short-term disability insurance may be able to offer you peace of mind, if the unthinkable happens. “I’m glad that I had this safety net to fall back on and didn’t have to rely on my savings or anything else to come up with the income my family needed,” Henderson said.
To protect yourself and your family, look into short-term disability insurance. This can give you financial protection if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury. It can also give you peace of mind knowing that you would be covered, should something happen.
