A Stroke Survivor's Story

Ron, age 34, was a fit, healthy, hardworking man who worked in the IT industry. Ron and his wife, Sarah, recently gave birth to their son, Peter. On the weekends, Ron and Sarah enjoyed being outdoors – going on long walks, taking Peter to the park, and traveling on occasional camping trips. They were a happy young family, with so much to look forward to.

Then one day, Ron suddenly suffered a stroke and in an instant their lives abruptly changed.

After the stroke, Ron spent two weeks in a coma and the next three months in rehabilitation. As Peter was learning and developing, so too was Ron. He had to learn to walk, to talk and to feed himself all over again. Major Medical only covered a certain amount of time in rehabilitation, so after three months, it was time for Ron to return home. Sarah was overwhelmed trying to raise and teach her young child, while at the same time trying to care for her husband.

While the couple discussed how they would proceed, Ron remembered that a few years back his financial professional recommended he purchase long-term care insurance. He explained to Ron that not only does it cover nursing home care when you are older, but will provide protection if he ever needed any type of care throughout life. Ron and Sarah reviewed the policy he owned and realized that it would cover the expenses of in-home care. They contacted the insurance company and were connected with a care coordinator. The care coordinator clarified the options available to them. Ron and Sarah were able to hire a nurse to come and help Ron with his daily activities. Their nurse was a huge help; during the day while Sarah was taking care of Peter, the nurse was there to assist with Ron’s needs. This relieved Sarah of the overwhelming burden of caring for both of her family members. Ron and Sarah established a great relationship with the nurse, so much so that they eventually considered her part of the family.

Today, Ron has made tremendous progress, and is even back to doing the outdoor activities he has always loved, joyously with a second child on the way. While Ron and Sarah never expected this untimely event, they managed to make it through and continue on with their lives as a happy family – all thanks to the long-term care policy that provided the assistance they needed without depleting their savings. If it wasn’t for that coverage, Ron may not have been able to receive the care he truly needed.