Trauma Insurance Claims for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Sufferers

Trauma insurance offers vital protection to Australians for a range of different medical conditions. One such illness that is covered is multiple sclerosis (MS).

It is estimated that there are 16,000 MS sufferers in Australia, affecting people predominantly between the ages of 20 and 50.

MS affects a person’s central nervous system and can cause damage and interfere with nerve impulses in the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.

Symptoms can include; fatigue, pins and needles, numbness or blurred vision. Symptoms can also progress and cause serious motor, sensory and cognitive impairment.

With these facts in mind, it’s important to consider the implication of a 30 year old being diagnosed with this condition.  At 30, most of us are well on the way to starting a career, a family and purchasing property.  Imagine then, that you are suddenly diagnosed with a degenerative autoimmune condition, which may mean you need treatment and a lot of time off work, with the possibility that you may ultimately end up in a wheelchair and be unable to take care of yourself any longer.  Trauma insurance provides a lump sum benefit upon diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

The benefit you receive in a trauma payment can be used for a range of things, these may include making the house wheelchair friendly, or small things to make life a little easier.

It is easy to see how this disease can impact a person’s life, and in the case of an aggressive for of the multiple sclerosis this impact may happen quickly.

Whilst definitions of multiple sclerosis vary from company to company, and policy to policy, many companies will pay a partial benefit upon diagnosis and the remainder of the benefit at a later date as the disease progresses.

The definition of multiple sclerosis for most companies is the unequivocal diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis confirmed by a consultant neurologist, evidenced by more than one episode of well defined neurological deficit with persisting neurological abnormalities.

Some companies advise that the length of each episode of MS last at least six months, other companies do not specify a time frame.