No one likes to think of becoming seriously ill, especially when they’re healthy. But, the truth is, the best time to prepare for illness is before you become sick. Through the stories of real people who have overcome their journey with cancer, we know circumstances can change in an instant. The good news is you can better prepare your health and finances for the road ahead.

Our featured experts shared professional insight on how to manage your finances and health:

• The last thing you want to stress about if you fall ill is your financial stability. To ensure your finances are secure, prioritise taking out a severe illness benefit and income protection cover. This way, you’re covered with a tax-free pay-out should you not be able to work due to injury or illness. You’ll also want to ensure you set up an emergency fund made up of three to six months’ income to cover any short-term expenses.

• You want to make sure your family will not bear the brunt of the medical costs when it comes to cancer treatment or surgery. To safeguard yourself and your family, invest in medical aid and a gap cover policy. The gap cover will assist with expenses that are not necessarily covered by your medical aid. It’s important to consult a financial planner to help you map out a financial plan that covers your health needs while keeping your family secure.

• Preventative measures include planning your finances whether you’re at risk of disease or not. It’s also wise to ensure you have life cover in place, to help your family cover costs such as any debt and taxes incurred following your passing.

Speak to your financial planner about a severe illness benefit or a standalone cancer benefit, if cancer is your main concern. Sanlam offers both benefit options, the Comprehensive Severe Illness benefit covers illnesses such as cancer, heart attacks, and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to ensure you’re financially protected in the event of a severe illness.

• Small changes to your daily routine can make a lasting difference in keeping track of your health. Regular exercise, and taking time to re-centre yourself in the day through meditation, can help foster a healthy body and mind. Performing regular self-examinations will also help you notice any oddities or lumps that are changing in size, colour, feeling or form early on.

• Checking in with your doctor for regular screenings is vital if you’re at risk of developing a severe illness by virtue of your family history. It’s important to also talk to your family about the risk, in order to build a network of emotional and physical support should you or a family member fall ill.

• Men have a 1 in 7 (or 14%) lifetime risk of cancer – including prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer. Women have slightly lower risk with a 1 in 8 (or 12%) lifetime risk of cancer – including breast and cervical cancer. Knowing these statistics and your family history will help you prepare for a potential diagnosis.

Now’s the time to be proactive. Make plans for the future to ensure you can enjoy the present. Whether it's a form of self-love, a protective measure for your loved ones or purely a preventative move, have the peace of mind to say, "I am covered" should life throw you an unexpected curveball.