As so many of you know, on August 30, 2019, I suffered an uncommon and unforeseeable hyperextension of my cervical spine during a Grand Prix jumping competition. This fall from a horse, a horse I had ridden for years in high level-competitions, changed my life in an instant. I am paralyzed from the shoulders down, and I now fight and work hard every day to regain feeling and mobility in my body. There are no guarantees, but I intend to one day return to the sport I love.
Athletes Risk Management (ARM) has life insurance for equestrians with living benefits that include Critical Injury, Critical Illness and Chronic Illness protection. If I had been properly insured through ARM, I could have received $1M at the time of the accident that left me paralyzed. $1M would have helped my family beyond measure through this crisis. I am endorsing Athletes Risk Management as a crucial protection for equestrians of every level, and strongly recommend acquiring critical injury protection through ARM to protect yourself, family, and financial future in the event of the unforeseen.
Years ago, after I had children, I asked my financial planner about disability insurance and was told that I was uninsurable in my profession, with the exception of a policy through Lloyds of London, whose premiums were so expensive that it was ridiculously unaffordable. I never looked again. I regret not looking for other options. As a professional athlete I never had time to sit down and look for something else. There was always something more pressing than looking at insurance. I should have made the time.
I cannot change the past or what happened. But, I can tell you that I wish I had known about Athletes Risk Management and its life insurance with living benefits. Suffering the physical and mental consequences of an accident, injury or disease is hard enough. The financial burden on top of that is worse for both you and your family. I sincerely endorse Athletes Risk Management and hope that it will spare others the financial worry I have experienced since I have been unable to ride. It’s too late for me but it’s not too late for you.
Kevin Babington
