MassMutual (Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company) has a program called SpecialCare, which offers information, specialists and financial solutions for people with disabilities and other special needs and their families. They produced a documentary, Autism: Coming of Age that was aired on PBS stations to help raise awareness. As pointed out below, they have resources for parents of all special needs kids, not just those with autism. Below is my Q&A with Joanne M. Gruszkos, a financial expert who is the director of the SpecialCare program. Even if you aren't a MassMutual customer, you might be able to find some helpful information!
1) How did you get involved with the SpecialCare program?
MassMutual has always worked with people with disabilities and their families. We realized that there was a need to educate, not only consumers, but our own financial professionals about the unique planning challenges facing families with disabilities. Our program launched in January 2004 to help educate consumers on creating a life-care plan for their loved one.
Getting involved with special needs has been a humbling and continuous learning process for us as a company and we are not resting. Most recently, we became the only company in the industry to offer our financial professionals the ability to earn a professional Chartered Special Needs Consultant - ChSNCTM from the American College. This MassMutual exclusive training program instructs our financial professionals on the most up-to-date advanced tax planning and medical deductions techniques to help families plan successfully now and into the future.
2) Why is it important for families with children who have autism to explore some of the resources available on the website?
We want families to know that they are not alone and that their voices deserve to be heard. Autism poses many far-reaching challenges for families and communities, as noted in our recent PBS documentary, “Autism: Coming of Age.” We believe it is critical to get the message out that, as one mother featured in the film put it, “Autism doesn’t end when a child turns 21.”
By exploring the resources on the site, parents can watch a clip from the documentary and avail themselves of other information that can help them help their family. Parents and caregivers can find comfort on these pages because within them lie stories of other parents, additional research with partners like EasterSeals, and a quick-link connection to financial professionals so that they can get their questions answered.
Please note: Due to the popularity of the documentary that is currently not for sale, MassMutual has arranged to coordinate private showings of the film for groups of 25 or more. To find out more fill out this e-mail form.
3) What are some tips you have for parents who just feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start?
First, understand that planning is a long-term process. We ask parents to create a vision for their child's future so that we can begin to understand the financial needs that will impact it. And we also work with the parent/caregiver to define what resources are currently available and work within those means.
Our Special Care Planners define the planning process into various steps and will take the parent/caregiver through each at the parent's timetable. Here are some suggested questions parents may consider before reaching out to a trusted advisor.
* Do you know who will care for your child with special needs when you are no longer able to handle that care?
* Are you certain that the planning you may have already done won't "unintentionally disqualify" your child with special needs from receiving government benefits?
* Have you determined whether or not a supplemental needs trust will be appropriate for your child with special needs, and if yes, have you determined how it will be funded?
* Are you concerned that the future cost of "special care" for your child with special needs may negatively impact your own lifestyle during your retirement years?
* Do you have a written plan in place that specifies how your child with special needs is ultimately to be cared for?
4) How can this program help parents who feel they have a good plan in place?
A plan should always be reviewed on an annual basis. Having a certified and trained special needs advisor review a plan (similar to a second medical opinion) ensures that no details are overlooked. Life happens and new and different circumstances can affect family life. You want your plan to be flexible and move with your life and that of your child’s needs. Also, parents/caregivers should update their Letter of Intent on an annual basis to ensure any and all changes are documented for the future caregiver.
5) Is this program appropriate for parents of children with special needs besides autism? If so, how can they tailor the resources to fit their situations?
This program is designed to help any person who is not able to think, act, work, or live independently and who might require assistance from others to make critical life-care decisions. The disability or medical condition is not the focus. The focus is ensuring that a child’s quality of life is maintained and not disrupted throughout adulthood.
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