What to Do If You’re at Risk for a Critical Disease

Anyone can be diagnosed with a critical disease at any time. Unfortunately, some people have a higher risk of being diagnosed with a critical illness than others. It’s possible you might have a family history of a particular disease, or you may be at risk due to your current health circumstances. Getting a critical illness insurance policy is one of many steps you can take to prepare yourself. Here are a few things you can do to prepare if you’re at risk for a critical illness:

Get a critical illness insurance policy

Critical illness insurance policies can provide you coverage for certain medical emergencies. The money is paid directly to you (unless assigned) if you’re diagnosed with a condition under the policy. It can help pay for your medical expenses, travel expenses, and other daily living costs. A critical illness insurance policy can generally be purchased at a low cost. As an example, a 45-year-old female can potentially get a critical illness plan that offers $25,000 of coverage for $40 a month¹. The premium you pay will depend on things such as your age, gender, current health, and the amount of coverage you’re seeking.

You can get quotes from multiple insurance companies to find a price that’s affordable for you. Be sure to check the illnesses covered under the different critical insurance policies to find one that helps cover the illnesses you need to be covered.

Seek preventative care

A medical service that lowers the risk of future negative health outcomes is known as preventive care. It’s recommended for adults over 18, without known hypertension to get annual screenings for abnormal blood pressure². It can reduce the possibility of heart failure, heart disease, and incidents of strokes.

Diabetes is a common illness that 1 in 5 people don’t know they live with³. Early diabetes screening can allow a person to treat the condition with lifestyle changes and possibly avoid getting a critical illness. In addition to these tests, other helpful preventative measures include cholesterol tests, cancer screenings, and routine vaccinations. It’s important to get annual checkups to help ensure you’re in good health and at less risk for a critical illness.

Practice a healthy lifestyle

Along with preventative care, practicing a healthy lifestyle can also help manage your risks of a critical illness. The CDC notes that adults who eat a healthy diet have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Obesity is one of the main risk factors for illnesses such as a stroke and heart disease⁴. Choosing healthier foods like vegetables, and limiting unhealthy foods like processed meats, can help with maintaining a healthy weight.

Exercise is also a healthy habit known for helping to prevent critical illnesses. The Mayo Clinic notes that regular exercise can improve heart health, control weight, and help insulin be more effective in lowering blood sugar levels⁵. Taking all these steps can help lower your risk of becoming critically ill and keep you prepared if you’re diagnosed with a critical illness.

[Footnote sources]

1.  Investopedia. “Critical Illness Insurance: What is It? Who Needs It?” Published March 13, 2022.
2.   U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. “Recommendation: Hypertension in Adults: Screening.” Published: Apr. 17, 2021.
3.  CDC. “Diabetes Fast Facts.” Reviewed: Dec. 17, 2021. Accessed: Jul. 20, 2022.
4.  CDC. “Poor Nutrition.” Reviewed: Jun 6, 2022. Accessed: Jul. 20, 2022.
5.  Mayo Clinic. “Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar.”  Published: Jun. 3, 2022.

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