Please spare a minute to think about it

Few months back, we came across shocking news reports that India's world cup hero and man of the tournament was diagnosed with cancer. The reports also mentioned that the cricketer would be leaving to USA for medical treatments and chemotherapy. If a person who is very active and fit can be affected by a disease like cancer, what about the most of us who hardly get any time to exercise? A deadly combination of stress, junk foods, pollution, lack of adequate rest or good healthy diet will make things even worse for us. Can you imagine what will happen if one day you are diagnosed with cancer? The cricketer was lucky as he could afford the best treatment available. What about a person from an average middle class family? What will happen to him/her? Will he/she be able to afford the treatment? What about his/her family? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 percent of cancer patients younger than 65 delay or refuse treatment due to the high associated cost. The cost of chemotherapy in USA can range from $1000 to $30,000 whereas in India it can vary from Rs 2,00,000 to Rs 10,00,000. A recent study has found that cancer affects Indians at a much earlier age than people in western countries. Cancer claimed 6 lakh Indian lives in the year 2010. A major finding of the study was that 70 per cent of cancer deaths were in the age group of 30 to 69 years. If you are healthy now, it is the right time to buy life and health insurance because tomorrow you may not get a chance to do so. Adequate life insurance will ensure that your family has enough money to live comfortably even in your absence. Health insurance can help you to get the best treatment and improve your chances of recovery in case of any unexpected illness. Always remember any financial planning is incomplete without adequate life and health insurance.