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How Financial Worries Delayed My Dad’s Retirement

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Just a few months ago we celebrated two big milestones for my dad. He retired and turned 70 less than a week a part so of course we celebrated with a party! I wasn’t sure when he’d be able to retire and for a while, I was starting to wonder if he’d be able to retire.
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He worked hard all his life, never complaining and I knew he deserved to have some time to enjoy life while his health allowed. My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s last year and I didn’t want him to have the extra stress on his body. He worked as a supervisor for the highway department which meant he was always on call for every snowstorm, every downed tree that needed to be removed. But retiring was…complicated.

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My parents are 13 years apart. When you get to retirement age that gap feels even bigger. My mom still has many years to go on private health insurance and they knew that would become very expensive once he retired. They wanted to be prepared for that financially. My mom works hard as a PCA with special needs children but that does not come with health benefits. She has also had her fair share of health issues. She had breast cancer in her early 40’s (now cancer free) and glaucoma which has taken a portion of her eyesight and limits her ability to read for long.  Now she has knee surgery looming in a few weeks. With bone scraping upon bone and plenty of bone spurs to cause her pain, her mobility has been greatly reduced. She faces 4 to 6 weeks after surgery without work in a job that only pays her for the hours worked.

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When I look at these health issues my parents have faced and are facing, I wish they had supplemental insurance to help them through. When my mom had her cancer diagnosis, I wish she had cancer insurance for her road to recovery after surgery. With her knee surgery, I wish she had short-term disability so she could receive an income while her body heals. Having supplemental insurance is great at any stage of life.  Whether new to the workforce, mid-career or approaching retirement, it can help to maintain your lifestyle and ease your worries.

 

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What is supplemental insurance, and how can it help me and my family?

Aflac is not major medical insurance. Aflac offers supplemental insurance, which is designed to complement your major medical insurance to help fill the holes in your health care coverage. Aflac knows that major medical insurance may not cover every expense related to a serious health event, so Aflac is there to help cover those expenses that major medical may not cover. Supplemental insurance from Aflac pays cash when you’re sick or hurt so you can focus on recovery, not financial stress.

Accident, disability, critical illness, cancer, hospital and life insurance are examples of supplemental insurance policies that can complement your major medical insurance based on your individual needs. Let’s look at how one of these plans might work:

Short-term disability insurance

How is it useful? Let’s say you get hurt and can’t work. Having an Aflac short-term disability policy in place can help cover what your paychecks would have. This means you can maintain the ability to focus on recovery and the lifestyle you love.

What life stage(s) does it make sense for?

Everyone: Because disabling injuries or illnesses often lead to significant medical bills, anyone who works – whether they are single, married, with children or without – should consider supplemental disability coverage.

How can I learn more about supplemental insurance?

For more information, visit Aflac or ask your human resources manager which Aflac supplemental insurance policies are available to you. Check out Aflac’s Benefits Estimator to calculate the amount Aflac can provide to help with out-of-pocket costs not covered by your major medical insurance.

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

 

Policies may not be available in all states. Limitations and exclusions may apply. Benefits are determined by state and plan level selected.
Coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.
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8 Comments

  1. My husband delayed his retirement as well. We’ve had so many medical bills to pay our retirement income wasn’t enough.

  2. My Dad had to work longer also. He worked until 75 years old. He needed the extra money saved up before he retired.

  3. I feel like all of us are going to have to work longer than we want to. Healthcare being the primary reason. Hospitals are turning into corporations, about the bottom line, instead of being institutions for the good of the community.

  4. Happy retirement to your Dad. It is so sad how hard they make it for people to retire and still be able to survive. Retirement years are supposed to be time to enjoy life and not be so stressful after working hard your whole life.

  5. Insurance is so important, I’m seeing my mom approaching the retirement years and I’m wondering how she will manage myself. Thanks for the read.

  6. There are many seniors in harsh circumstances that have no easy answer. I hope things go good for your dad going forward as much as possible.

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