Sadly life is unpredictable and statistics prove that leukaemia in children is the most common type of cancer. There are many other illnesses that a child could suffer; other types of cancers, loss of sight, heart surgery, meningitis, major burns, etc.

We hope and pray our beloved children are happy and healthy but we certainly need to prepare for adverse possibilities so that we are equipped to help our children in the worst case scenario. Did you know that critical illness for children is available by most major life insurers at quite an affordable premium as a stand-alone benefit?

Cover is also available should the child experience a debilitating injury. One can obtain cover for their biological and legally adopted children. The reason there is a need for this cover is that even if one has a comprehensive medical aid for hospital and specialist costs. there are many out of hospital expenses that need to be factored in.

This could include out of town travel expenses, loss of income of one or both parents as they will need to be with their child every step of the way, costs involved in paying for employing additional care and help, therapy for rehabilitation and potential additional structural changes to the home and vehicle.

Just the thought of these costs are mentally overwhelming but fortunately we can be proactive before something happens. We often consider a contingency plan to ensure the bread winner’s income is protected but tend to overlook cover for our children in the event of their precious health changing.

We could keep funds aside in the event of an emergency but when a child becomes majorly sick, expenses can very easily accrue into hundreds of thousands of rands, so it makes common sense to rather acquire an affordable critical illness cover.