Naturally, you never want to think about a loved one getting severely sick, but the truth is that sometimes bad things happen to good people. Sometimes, a child can catch a nasty illness and become seriously unwell, your partner could get knocked down by a car and suffer life-changing injuries, or you could slip over at work and damage your leg in a serious way. The fact is that when it comes to our health, we aren’t in control. We can take steps to reduce our risk of being injured or becoming unwell, but the fact is we can’t take that risk away altogether.
One of the worst things about a family member becoming unwell is knowing how to cope with the situation. It’s not just about the worries that go through your mind, but also about the financial side of things. Sometimes, coping with the economic impact of having a seriously unwell family member can be more difficult than coping with the emotional side of things. The good news is that if you’re smart about it, you can make the process of coping both financially and mentally an easier one for everyone.
Utilise your savings
One of the best things that you can do if a family member gets sick, meaning that they have high medical bills to pay or loss of earnings to cover, is to utilise your savings. If you have a savings account that you’ve been steadily putting money into over the years, you might want to save it for your retirement or your children’s university fees, but what it’s important to realise is that right now, you need that money. If you’re struggling financially, it’s important to use whatever funds you have available to you. Just make sure that you use them wisely and budget effectively.
Consider if you might have a claim
What’s the cause of the injury or illness? Was it something that couldn’t be helped or is someone else at fault? For instance, say your partner was involved in a car accident where a drunk driver was to blame and has developed a serious brain injury that requires rehabilitation, you might want to see Greene Broillet & Wheeler or another attorney, to discuss your options for making a claim. Or, say your child got salmonella from their school lunch, and it has led to serious gastrointestinal problems, you may potentially be able to claim compensation against the school or the catering company that deals with the school’s cooking.
Contact your insurance company
Do you have health insurance in place? If you do, then now is the time to contact them. If you’ve taken out a policy that not only covers medical treatment but also any loss of earnings, then you should find it much easier to cope financially, as well as mentally. If you’re not sure what your insurance policy covers, contact your insurers and find out. You might be surprised by what you and your family are entitled to.
Coping when a family member gets sick is never going to be an easy task. However, if you are mindful of the steps that you should take, you may be able to make coping both financially and emotionally, a little easier.
