Income protection is the parachute to keep you off the ground – Jennie Gow, Formula 1 broadcaster and stroke survivor

Life insurance and retirement specialists, LV= has today, 5 September 2024, shared the story of how income protection gave Formula 1 broadcaster, Jennie Gow, not only peace of mind while recovering from a stroke, but also allowed her to go back to work at her own pace.

In August 2022, while being young, fit and healthy, Jennie was advised to take out income protection should there ever be a time where she was unexpectedly unable to work, enabling her to continue providing for her husband and young daughter.

Following what she thought was a common cold leaving her with a bad cough, Jennie collapsed in her home on 29 December, just a few months after taking out her LV= policy.

Jennie said: “We didn't know what was about to happen, but when we were in hospital, just knowing we had protection with LV= was a life changer for us because I couldn't speak, let alone work, and we didn't know if I'd ever get back.”

Income protection is so much more than just a payout. While not everyone is likely to see the immediate benefits of having the right protection in place like Jennie did, the peace of mind it offered so she could focus on her recovery, was priceless.

The income protection policy Jennie had included Rehab Support Services, to help members and customers with their recovery.

LV= funded further specialist speech and language therapy sessions to support her return to work, and she was also assigned a dedicated claims assessor to assist her through the process.

Jennie added: “Not only did LV= help me with the financial side of things, but I explained to my claims assessor I was desperate to get back to work and she suggested LV= could support me with some more therapy. LV= has been great in helping me achieve this.”

In 2023, LV= paid individual protection claims totalling £135m, including nearly £17.2m in Income Protection* claims to more than 1,100 individuals and families.

Mike Farrell, LV= Protection Sales and Marketing Director, said: “LV= prides itself on supporting members and customers through the difficult moments in their lives, and we’re pleased we were able to help Jennie get back to work at her own pace, easing the pressure of either being unable to work full time or supporting her family financially.

“We know when people are going through a life-changing event, the relief of knowing their finances are taken care of can make a big difference, and stories like Jennie’s show the importance of having the right protection in place.”

Although they’re often associated with older people, Jennie understands more than most that strokes can happen to anyone at any age.

Since her stroke, Jennie has worked with Different Strokes, a charity that helps younger stroke survivors and their families in the UK reclaim their lives through active peer support.

LV= has also donated £5,000 to the charity while working with it to support this campaign, helping to fund stroke peer support for three months.

Austin Willet, CEO, Different Strokes said: “There's a common misconception that strokes only happen to the elderly, but the truth is that one in four strokes in the UK affect people of working age.

“Raising awareness of this reality is crucial, especially since a stroke is a life-changing event that often comes without warning, and by understanding they can happen to anyone, we can better prepare and protect ourselves.

“Jennie's story highlights the importance of having the right support in place. We are incredibly thankful to LV= for their generous donation, which will allow us to continue providing vital peer support to stroke survivors and their families when they need it the most.”