Page 11 - Hobe Sound Reflections - May '24

Hobe Sound, Page 11
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Convenient, Specialized Care in the early stages of valve
For A Common Heart Valve disease. However, many Term Vs. Perm: Which Is
patients eventually need to
Condition have the leaky valve repaired Right For You?
or replaced.
The valves in your heart keep the blood flowing in Diagnosis and treatment By Sally Sima Stahl
only one direction. When a heart valve isn’t working, the are based on conversations If you’ve been thinking
blood flows in the wrong direction, making your heart with the patient, a physical about life insurance,
work harder and reducing blood flow to your body. e xa m i na t i o n a nd a n especially if you have
Mitral and aortic valve disorders are the most echocardiogram. Mitral valve family, loved ones, or
common valve diseases in the United States. Some can repair treats: anyone who depends
be congenital, such as bicuspid aortic valve and mitral • Mitral valve on you financially, you
valve prolapse, while others are degenerative and develop regurgitation – commonly might be curious about the
with age. Other causes include aortic aneurysms, bacterial known as a “leaky valve” Michael Howard, M.D. different kinds of policies
infection, rheumatic fever, chronic inflammatory diseases • Mitral valve stenosis available. Which type is
such as lupus and connective tissue diseases like Marfan – the narrowing of a valve opening right for you?
syndrome. Some cancer treatments (radiation) can also • Mitral valve prolapse – the valve flaps are too floppy Essentially, you can
damage the aortic and mitral valves, as well. or stretchy look at two main categories of life insurance: term and
At first, there may be no symptoms, but as the disease Most patients are able to resume their previous activities permanent.
progresses, symptoms that may begin to appear are: within a month after surgery with few complications. Term insurance is a pay-as-you-go option that covers
• Shortness of breath Most of these procedures can be done using a minimally a specific amount of time, usually 20 years or fewer. Term
• Fatigue invasive approach, with smaller incisions and less blood insurance benefits are paid to your beneficiaries free of
• Swelling loss allowing patients to get back to their routines even federal income taxes if you pass away during the coverage
• Vague chest discomfort more quickly. period, but there’s no opportunity to build cash value.
• Decreased energy To schedule an appointment with Michael Howard, Permanent insurance, such as whole life or universal life,
If you have severe mitral leakage even without symptoms, M.D., or another cardiovascular specialist at Cleveland offers coverage for as long as you pay the premiums and, in
it’s important to see a physician who can diagnose the Clinic in Florida, call (877) 463-2010 or visit addition to providing a tax-free death benefit, also offers a
problem and help determine if the valve should be watched or ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/Heart to learn more. chance to build equity, or cash value, on a tax-deferred basis.
repaired. Medications are often enough to protect your heart When determining which type of insurance is appropriate
for your needs, you’ll want to consider these factors:
• Cost – Term insurance is generally affordable for
most people, which is why it may be particularly suitable
for parents and young adults who may be at the beginning
of their careers. Permanent insurance is typically more
expensive, largely because it is meant to last for one’s lifetime
and some of the premiums go toward building cash value
in the policy and paying for other features. Generally, the
younger and healthier you are when you purchase permanent
insurance, the lower your rates will be.
• Length of time insurance is needed – If you think
you will only need life insurance for a certain period
— perhaps until your children are grown — you might
lean toward term insurance. If you feel the need for life
insurance for other goals throughout your lifetime, for
whatever reason — you might have a special needs child,
or perhaps you want to use your policy to help pay for
retirement, or you wish to include the policy as part of
your legacy and estate plans — you may want to consider
some type of permanent insurance.
• Investment preferences – You may have heard the
phrase “buy term and invest the difference.” Essentially, this
just means that an investor could purchase low-cost term
insurance, and then invest the money that was saved by not
getting permanent insurance. This can be a valuable strategy
in some situations, but people often don’t actually invest
the difference. A permanent insurance policy, through the
payment of premiums, may result in a steady buildup of cash
value or continued contributions to the policy’s investment
components. For many people, this discipline is helpful.
• Future insurability – If you have health issues, it could
become difficult to get permanent insurance after you’ve
reached the end of a term insurance policy. (Some term
insurance policies do offer the opportunity to convert to
permanent coverage, usually without the need for a medical
exam.) You could avoid this potential problem by purchasing
permanent insurance when you are still young and healthy.
Ultimately, you will need to weigh the various factors
involved in the permanent-versus-term decision. You also
might benefit from consulting a financial professional,
who can evaluate which type of insurance is most
appropriate for your situation. But whether it’s term or
permanent, make sure you have the coverage you need
to protect yourself and your loved ones.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by
your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Edward
Jones, Member SIPC.
Edward Jones is a licensed insurance producer in all states
and Washington, D.C., through Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P.,
and in California, New Mexico and Massachusetts through
Edward Jones Insurance Agency of California, L.L.C.;
Edward Jones Insurance Agency of New Mexico, L.L.C.; and
Edward Jones Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, L.L.C.
Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors
cannot provide tax advice. You should consult your
qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.
Contact us at (561) 748-7600, Sally Sima Stahl, AAMS,
1851 W. Indiantown Road, Ste. 106, Jupiter, FL 33458.