Who will provide?
Not because I was going to die, but because I was going to live!
I really hadn’t heard about a critical illness policy until I met Susana. At the time, I was a single mother dating a retired Navy Chief with 4 kids. Yup, out of my mind trying to be a role model and a mother. The ‘invincible’ side of me –and yes, the total adoration for my sailor—kept telling me there wasn’t a problem in the world! Health? Excellent… or so I thought.
I was 42 when I was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma In-situ, or DCIS. I really did not comprehend the seriousness of the word ‘cancer’. And yes, I was very lucky I didn’t have to go through chemotherapy. My treatment consisted of a lumpectomy, followed by about 7 or 8 weeks of radiation paired with and anti-estrogen drug, Tamoxifen.
Before you tell yourself on how breast cancer only affects women over 55, here are some stats that will make you think twice about feeling invincible, even at 42. Check out the stat chart from cancer.org (1). By the way, notice how DCIS incidences have risen?
Having a critical illness policy meant that I could still fulfill my financial obligations; especially towards my new family and especially my son. I could not afford to stop working... remember I had the kids to help take care of?
Plus, it helped me focus on the most important thing: making sure I was healthy again WITHOUT having the stress of worrying about household finances.
Do not get caught by surprise. All and all, I have to say I was lucky to be at the place I was when I got diagnosed. I had the care and support of a wonderful man. Imagine if this had happened when I was a single mother?
Who would have helped provided for us?
A critical illness policy for me meant peace of mind. Critical illness, by the way, covers much more than cancer. As women, we are more at risk as far as heart disease and having stroke are concerned. Other conditions payed out on a critical illness policy include Alzheimer’s disease, a major organ transplant, paralysis, kidney failure, blindness and deafness.
Compared to other benefits offered to me through my job, my Critical Illness Policy was (and still is) affordable. Here are a couple of things to think about when deciding to purchase a Critical Illness Policy:
Not all Critical Illness policies cover the same illnesses, not all Critical Illness policies have the same pay out.
Find out what the limitations of a Critical Illness Policy are, as well as the percentages covered according to the illness.
Talk to your insurance representative about which life-changing events are covered and which aren’t. Terminology is important.
Make sure you are aware of what happens to your Critical Illness Policy should anything happen to you.
For information on the Critical Illness Policy mentioned in this article, contact my insurance broker.
This information is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition.
Sources:
(1) http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@editorial/documents/document/acspc-046202.pdf ![endif]--
