CRITICAL ILLNESS
Surviving a critical illness can be very challenging financially.
Few of us want to contemplate the reality of being told we have a serious illness. Even fewer of us have likely given any thought to how we’d cope financially, if faced with such a diagnosis. And although the odds of surviving a critical illness are better than ever thanks to medical advances, you may want to consider these statistics*:
- Cancer, heart attacks and strokes are the three most common critical illnesses in Canada, occurring across all ages
- Heart attacks strike 70,000 Canadians each year – 1 in 2 are under 65 years of age – and 80% survive
- Strokes hit 50,000 Canadians each year – 1 in 3 are under the age of 65 – and 70% survive
- An estimated 2,865 Canadians are diagnosed with cancer every week – 75% of men and 77% of women who develop cancer survive.
Even though survival rates are improving, living with a critical illness can still be a huge challenge – not only physically and emotionally – but also financially. During your recovery, you may end up having to pay for healthcare services, special drugs and supplements, and homecare expenses not covered by your government health insurance plan or your group plan. You might even have to travel, to get the medical attention you need. Add all of this to your regular household bills, and the financial consequences of surviving a serious illness could and up very quickly.
YOU CAN’T PREDICT THE FUTURE, BUT YOU CAN BE PREPARED FOR IT.
*Heart and Stroke Foundation (2005), National cancer Institute of Canada (2005), Canadian Caner Statistics (2005)
