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Occupation-based Disablement Cover from 1Life pays out your benefit amount if you are ever permanently disabled due to illness or injury and cannot work. We like to think of it as a way of insuring your income, the income your family relies on. Find out more about how Occupation-based Disablement Cover from 1Life helped Ms I Botha and her family.
Case Study: Guillain Barre Syndrome
Client: Ms I Botha*
Policy Inception: 01 May 2007
Condition: Guillain Barre Syndrome
Benefit Paid: 100% of Disablement Cover benefit
Benefits:
- Pure Life Cover: R300 000
- Occupation-based Disablement: R300 000
- Dread Disease Cover: R300 000
Ms Botha is a 26 year old Project Manager who contracted Guillain Barre Syndrome. Guillain Barre Syndrome is an acute (sudden onset) disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system (the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord). It causes weakness that starts in the feet and hands and works its way towards the trunk (body). It can cause life-threatening complications, especially if the respiratory muscles are affected. The disease is usually triggered by an infection.
Recovery usually starts four weeks after the onset of the disorder and approximately 80% of patients will recover completely within a few months to a year. About 5-10% recover with a severe disability, with most such cases involving severe proximal motor and sensory axonal damage with inability of axonal regeneration (basically losing function of the arms and / or legs).
8 months after contracting Guillain Barre Syndrome Ms Botha still received physiotherapy twice a day and was dependent on others for mobility in bed and in a wheelchair. Her hand functions were very limited and she needed full time assistance from care-givers and family with daily activities such as eating, washing, dressing and going to the bathroom.
Statistically, Ms Botha’s prognosis was poor and chances of recovery were very slim. In consultation with our Chief Medical Officer, it was agreed that the client’s condition could be considered as permanent, and we paid 100% of her Occupation-based Disablement Cover benefit. Ms Botha did not qualify for Dread Disease as Guillain Barre Syndrome is not one of the specified Dread Diseases covered in terms of the 1Life Policy Book. We did however waive her policy premiums for the next 5 years as she qualified for 100% Disability Benefit.
Find out more about Occupation-based Disablement Cover from 1Life or contact us now for a quote on 0860 10 53 40.
*Client names have been changed
