When people are faced with the possibility of critical illness, they often say, “It can’t happen to me.”
This kind of denial about one’s health is common. According to the Mayo Clinic, this type of thinking helps people cope with emotional conflict, stress, painful thoughts, threatening information and anxiety.1 But the truth is, many of us will be affected by a critical illness at some point in our lifetime. Consider these statistics:
Probability of developing cancer
Nearly 1-in-2 men and more than 1-in-3 women are expected to develop cancer at some point in their lifetime.2
Probability of suffering heart attack or stroke
About every 34 seconds, someone will suffer a heart attack. And on average, every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke.3
Probability of Alzheimer’s disease
1-in-9 Americans aged 65 and older has Alzheimer’s disease.4
Taking control of your future
The good news is, there are steps you can take today to help protect your health and prepare for the possibility of developing a critical illness.
Eating healthy, not using tobacco, exercising, getting enough sleep and managing your stress are all simple ways you can help protect your body from a host of critical illnesses, including cancer, heart attack, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.5, 6, 7
And you can help protect your life’s savings in the event of critical illness with help from Critical Benefit PlusSM from Bankers Life. This critical illness insurance can help you cover the out-of-pocket expenses that your primary health insurance may not cover—such as insurance shortfalls, house payments and lost wages—so you can focus on getting better.
Are you ready to learn more about Bankers Life Critical Benefit Plus? Contact us today!
Everything you need for the life of your retirement
1Mayo Clinic, Denial: When it helps, when it hurts, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/denial/art-20047926, April 2017.
2American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts and Figures 2015, 2015, p. 1.
3American Heart Association, Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, 2014.
4Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures 2015, 2015, p. 16.
5Mayo Clinic, Strategies to Prevent Heart Disease, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/heart-disease-prevention/art-20046502?pg=1, June 2016.
6Mayo Clinic, Cancer prevention: 7 tips to reduce your risk, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/cancer-prevention/art-20044816, November 2015.
7HelpGuide.org, Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease, https://www.helpguide.org/articles/alzheimers-dementia-aging/preventing-alzheimers-disease.htm, October 2017.
LIMITED-BENEFIT POLICY. This policy has limitations and exclusions. For costs and complete details of coverage, contact your agent.
Policy underwritten by Bankers Life and Casualty Company, Chicago, IL. Policy form numbers: GR-G220; GR-G222; GR-G224. Subject to state availability.
Bankers Life is the marketing brand of Bankers Life and Casualty Company, Medicare Supplement insurance policies sold by Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company and select policies sold in New York by Bankers Conseco Life Insurance Company (BCLIC). BCLIC is authorized to sell insurance in New York.