You owe it to yourself and your family to know your rights and responsibilities.

Serious injuries and illnesses are often devastating -- physically and financially. You need to know what insurance coverage or other resources might be available to you. Some possibilities are:

• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): If you have worked, then you probably have purchased this type of insurance for yourself. The money that comes out of your paycheck for "FICA" goes to Social Security to purchase two things for you: (1) a retirement fund and (2) a disability insurance policy.
  
• Long Term Disability Insurance (LTD): Some employers provide access to long term disability insurance. This often supplements the amount you get from SSDI, and may require you to apply for SSDI at the same time.
  
• Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI): Some states, like Rhode Island, provide Temporary Disability Insurance, otherwise known as Short-Term Disability Insurance. Some employers also provide this type of coverage for their employees.
  
• Third Party Liability Insurance (Auto, Home, or Business): Sometimes your injury or illness is caused by the careless or reckless activity of another person or company. In those cases, you may be able to recover your losses (lost wages, medical expenses, and pain & suffering) by making a claim on their insurance.
  
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: If you do not have this coverage, then you should buy it today. It pays you if the person who injures you does not have insurance or does not have enough coverage to fully compensate you.