IT'S essential to always be prepared for the unexpected in life.

This simple adage is something that I not only live my own life by, but also advise my clients to adhere to rigorously.

The reason for this is simple... None of us know what's round the corner.

And one of the key ways that it's possible to ensure that you're prepared for any health-related eventuality that life throws your way is by ensuring you have critical illness cover in place.

Earlier this month, World Cancer Day brought into sharp focus for me precisely how important this is.

While most people are aware of the statistics that demonstrate how prevalent cancer is, many are unaware about the average age of diagnosis.

Zurich Intermediary Group Limited has recently revealed that its critical illness claims for the first half of 2021 showed that the average age of claimants for cancer was typically in their late 30s, 40s and 50s.

Zurich's research found that the average age for open heart surgery is just 35-years-old, while for motor neurone disease it's 45.

Similarly, the average age for someone claiming after they'd had a stroke is 50.

The average age for a testicular cancer diagnosis was just 38, whilst ovarian and cervical cancer were both 44.

Zurich's first-half claims figures also show that the average age for claims related to leukaemia was 39, lymphoma was 45, breast cancer and melanoma were 47, renal cancer was 50, bowel cancer 52, lung cancer 57 and prostate cancer 58.

It's wonderful to be able to write that those people who find themselves living with cancer are increasingly likely to survive it.

According to Cancer Research UK, cancer survival in the UK has doubled in the last 40 years with 50% of patients living for 10 years or more.

Nonetheless, I’m sure I speak for us all when I express my surprise that the average age for those claiming for these illnesses is so low.

And this just makes me more resolved than ever to raise awareness about the importance of critical illness cover.

Unfortunately, I've witnessed first-hand on many separate occasions how critical illnesses can impact people's ability to work and subsequently provide for their families.

Income goes down and expenditure rises at a time when money worries should be the last thing on people’s minds.

Indeed, Macmillan’s 'Cancer's Hidden Price Tag' report estimates that four out of five (83%) of those living with cancer are around £570 worse off each month.

Macmillan also states that the benefits system can be complex and difficult to navigate and this - among other things - adds unnecessary stress and worry "at a time when people should be focusing on their treatment and recovery".

To conclude, I don't think that any of us can afford to adopt the "it will never happen to me" mindset.

Critical illness cover provides a truly invaluable financial safety net – albeit something that we all hope that we'll never need to use.

But - as these figures from Zurich clearly highlight – you can never take good health for granted.