Healthier Lifestyle and Disability Insurance Can Ease Impact of Heart Disease

The numbers are stunning. Nearly one in two adults in the United States carry at least one major risk factor for heart disease: smoking, high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol.¹ But these aren’t the only conditions that can put you at risk for developing heart disease. Other risk factors include being overweight, having diabetes, abusing alcohol, having a poor diet, and lack of exercise.¹

Are you at risk for developing heart disease?

How would heart disease change your life and the lives of those who love you?

Have you considered what would happen to your financial health?

Financial impact

Accidents and illnesses impact people’s financial health, and cardiac disease has the capacity to be devastating to people’s finances.

On average, a cardiac event in the United States results in a $16,000 hospital bill² and can take weeks to months of recovery, which could mean missed paychecks. Patients with major medical insurance usually have co-pays and deductibles to meet, and the costs can really add up.

Other potential costs associated with being ill include:

Transportation to and from doctors’ offices
In-home nursing
Grocery delivery
Housekeeping help
Childcare givers
Dog walkers
Lawn care

Consider that 29% of U.S. workers in the private sector did not receive a single paid sick day in 2018, and you can see that having a cardiac event means serious financial stress.³

Action equals empowerment

No one wants to think about having a cardiac event, but the truth is it happens. The good news is, there are actions you can take now to help avoid the negative impact of having a cardiac event.

Health-

Take a look at the risk factors listed above:

High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Smoking
Diabetes
Being overweight
Abusing alcohol
Poor diet
Lack of exercise

Are there changes you can make to your diet and exercise regimens? Medications that would help? Write down your health goals and take small steps to stick to them.

Read Skills - Not just Pills - Help Treat these Common Chronic Conditions to learn how your lifestyle choices can make a big difference.

Empower yourself to take charge of your heart health. Talk to your doctor to make sure you are taking every possible action to improve your heart health.

Finances-

If you are concerned about the effect a cardiovascular event would have on your finances, consider purchasing disability insurance. Depending on the plan, these products are often structured so as to pay workers when they can’t work and are under a doctor’s care due to sickness or injury.

Some products offer coverage on the very first day of a disabling illness while others make people wait for 30, 60, or even 90 days. This is huge for people who are living paycheck to paycheck.

When comparing products, also be sure to note how long benefits last. Some policies offer benefits for up to five years.

Combined Insurance offers supplemental insurance that may be of interest to you if you think you may be at risk for having developing heart disease. Our products offer an easy way to help you pay for your daily living expenses. Be sure to check out our product pages for more information.

Disability products are issued by Combined Insurance Company of America in all states, except New York. In New York, products are issued by Combined Life Insurance Company of New York (Latham, NY). Combined Insurance Company of America is not licensed and does not solicit business in New York. See the policy for complete details of the policy plans, features, benefits, options, rates, definitions, limitations, and exclusions.

Products vary by state and are subject to availability and qualifications.

1- Heart Disease Facts & Statistics. (2017, November 28). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm.

2-Michaels, M. (2018, March 1). The 35 most expensive reasons you might have to visit a hospital in the US - and how much it costs if you do. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/most-expensive-health-conditions-hospital-costs-2018-2link opens in a new window.

3-Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Private industry workers with sick leave benefits received 8 days per year at 20 years of service on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2019/private-industry-workers-with-sick-leave-benefits-received-8-days-per-year-at-20-years-of-service.htmlink opens in a new window