From Olympics to Parkinson’s: How One Man Overcame

His running earned him the title of the 1982 NCAA Track and Field All-American, a spot in the 1984 Olympic Trials, and the record for the Men’s Outdoor 800-Meter at Ohio State University, which he still holds to this day. Scott Rider was active and healthy, achieving more athletic accomplishments in his early years than most people do in an entire lifetime.

That’s why it came as such a surprise that, at just 47 years old, Scott was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

That diagnosis was Scott’s moment.

After years of being misdiagnosed, he had an answer to what was wrong. A problem that started out so small and subtle turned out to be much bigger than he could have imagined. Scott’s life did change – drastically – but it didn’t come to a halt. Fortunately, he and his family were able to maintain their lifestyle, thanks to the fact that Scott had taken out a disability insurance policy years earlier. Today, that policy helps cover his medical bills and provides enough income for his wife, Kelly, to stay at home and work as his caregiver.

“Without it, I don’t know where I’d be. I feel fortunate that I understood early on that my income was my most valuable asset, and that I needed to insure it.” – Scott

Scott’s story shows us that no matter how healthy we are, none of us knows what the future may hold. Your ability to earn an income is your most valuable asset, and it’s one that needs to be protected. Make sure that you are taken care of, no matter what you moment may be.

What does Dave recommend?

Dave Ramsey recommends Zander for long-term disability insurance. A good policy will cover 60-70% of your income for a minimum period of five years (or to age 65 if that’s within your budget). A 90-day elimination period (time until your benefits kick in) is standard, but your price will go down substantially if you select a 180-day period instead. Pro tip: prepare for a longer elimination period by beefing up your emergency fund.