Critical illness – will you survive financially?

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Life is meant to be lived to the full, every moment is a gift and we want you to enjoy it without worrying about the future. Unfortunately we cannot always keep the doctor at bay and our bodies cannot always fight everything that comes our way. We’d like to all think that it will never happen, but we also have to be realistic and accept the fact that you may get a serious illness. You may even know of a friend, colleague or family member who has fallen ill to cancer or stroke, or heart disease or some other serious illness.

The chances of acquiring a serious illness is unfortunately increasing – you are 4 times more likely to suffer a critical illness before you turn 65 than you are to die. These are the latest South African critical illness statistics:

• 1 in every 4 people will suffer a heart attack
• There are 8 heart attacks every hour in South Africa
• 8 out of a 100 people will suffer a stroke
• 60% of those 8 people are women, and 25% of those will be under 45
• 10% of stroke patients recover completely, 53% will be completely dependent on others
• 1 in every 3 people will be diagnosed with cancer
• 1 in every 11 females will be diagnosed with breast cancer
• The average age of a person submitting a dread disease claim in South Africa is 41

“I realised that illnesses also had financial side effects because everybody we operated on did not just get up and start going again.  A lot of people had to change their lifestyles, and some of them even had to stop working.  As a medical doctor, I can repair a man physically, but I can’t repair his finances.” (Dr Marius Barnard, cardiac surgeon, anti-apartheid activist and the inventor of critical illness insurance)

Modern Advancement
Nanotechnology, stem cells and other innovations, such as computer guided surgery, are accelerating medical advancement with improved detection and treatment of disease.

Staying Alive
In the past century, modern medicine has increased our life expectancy by more than 30 years!   This is in spite of the fact that our modern diet of processed, fatty, sugary foods and too little exercise has increased the incidence of diabetes, heart disease and cancer.  And now those surviving illness, disease and accident and living into old age suffer from longevity diseases, like osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s.

Life After
Nobody likes to think about getting sick, but take a minute to consider how a major illness might change your life.  Surviving is not just about the health of your body, but also about your financial health.  So it’s not dying that should scare us, what will happen if we survive.

Fixed and Unforeseen expenses
On top of the regular monthly bills, adapting your home or car, hiring a private nurse and medical expenses will place an added strain on finances.  Many people believe that wellness requires a positive mental and emotional outlook, but this is often difficult when financial worries lead to stress and depression.

Change in Occupation and Income
Sometimes a dread disease can mean a change in career and drop in income.  Your doctors may want you to reduce stress or even work fewer hours.

Dreams and Aspirations
Getting sick doesn’t make us want less from life, it makes us want more.  But what if a lack of money prevents you from pursuing your dreams?

Critical illness cover allows you to have the freedom to live your life free from worry about life’s unpredictable events. Get in touch to find out about comprehensive critical illness protection to meet your specific needs.