Movember: The Critical Matter of Critical Illness Cover

‘Doing our bit’ is extremely important to most of us. We love taking part in worthy causes and none more so than those relating to health and well-being. These days it seems there’s a worthy cause to be supported every day of the year. October’s breast cancer awareness month saw millions of women across the globe come together to ‘do their bit’. Similarly, the month of ‘Movember’ sees men from all walks of life, from all over the world doing their bit and growing beards to promote awareness of male diseases such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and male suicide. These illnesses are more common than most people realise, and raising awareness is crucial in reducing the number of preventable deaths.

Both campaigns have been phenomenally successful in raising the profile of these health issues and have united people in their efforts. But think on this…when the month is over and the hype of each campaign inevitably fades, what can you do to ensure that these diseases don’t impact on you and your family? How will you ‘do your bit’?

The good news is that due to advances in modern medicine, more people are living longer and surviving critical illnesses like these. But, as with any serious illness, there can be a long road to recovery with many people facing crippling medical bills and numerous day-to-day expenses. In instances where there is no income, this can eat into, and sometimes wipe out, a family’s life savings.

As 2017 draws to a close and we begin to contemplate our family lives in 2018, Alpha draws your attention to the importance of the correct cover for these types of diseases. Critical illness cover is designed to protect you and your family from the impact of illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke and provide financial security during a time of crisis.

When you have critical illness cover, if you or a family member are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, your policy will pay out a lump sum. You define how much that lump sum is when you take out a plan. The money is tax free and can be used in any way you like. It could enable you to stop working or go part-time, clear your mortgage or pay for specialist medical care.

Everyone should talk to a specialist adviser before choosing a policy. This will ensure you get the best rate and help you decide what will be an adequate amount of cover for you and your family’s needs. The process is straightforward and typically comes with a free medical examination. It can even include free life cover when you take out certain policies.

The bottom line? Having this cover in place will give you the peace of mind that you need during a potentially stressful and traumatic time.  At Alpha, Critical illness is a critical matter. Are you ‘doing your bit’?