October for Canadians is a season of pumpkin spice, turkey roasts, and toothaches from eating your children’s Halloween candy when they’re at school. But it’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to reflect on how this disease affects thousands of Canadians.
While the month is filled with festive frights and displays of gratitude, it’s also an ideal time to ask yourself a tough question: What if you or someone you love received a breast cancer diagnosis? Are you prepared for that? If the answer to that question makes you uneasy – it should. But if those feelings are amplified by your lack of financial preparedness – we may be able to help.
Here are some things to consider and share with loved ones:
Know Your Risk: Understanding your family history and personal health can help you assess your risk level. Early detection and awareness are key to improving outcomes. They also allow you to put in place Critical Illness coverage while you’re still insurable.
Self-Care and Regular Screenings: Schedule regular screenings and encourage loved ones to do the same. Now you may dislike medical check-ups. Many people do. But hearing bad news that could have been prevented? I guarantee you’ll dislike it considerably more.
Financial Protection: A breast cancer diagnosis can lead to significant medical expenses. Critical illness insurance or other funding solutions can provide a financial cushion, helping you focus on recovery rather than costs. Select carriers even feature return of premium options, which means you could get all your premium payments back if you don’t claim on the policy.
This October, take a moment to appreciate your health and well-being, but also think about ways to protect it. Let’s be thankful for what we have and take steps to plan for the best and prepare for the worst.