Can you cover Real Illness Costs should you get Sick?
Illness Costs, Real Expenses of Medical Illness is a blog post I prepared as I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Aflac. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.
Medical Illness Costs May Shock You
- Severe stroke — first 30 Days –$20,346, Lifetime cost–$140,000 (Avg Real Cost, 2009)
- Cardiac pacemaker insertion or replacement– $33,000 (Avg Real Cost, 2009)
- Heart valve procedure and hospitalization — $49,000 (Avg Real Cost, 2009)
- Some of the newer cancer treatments can cost you $10,000 a month.
- The average hospital stay can cost almost $10,000
- Average cost to treat a broken Leg is $10,000+
- Average ANNUAL expense to treat diabetes is $11,000+
Recently, I was worried about having Breast Cancer (I did not, Praise the Lord!) but while I waited for tests, I worried about many issues, including the illness costs to our family. You can see from the illustration above, which was generated by using the Aflac Real Cost Calculator that the REAL Illness costs for my situation (a married woman, over 50, with high coverage medical insurance, etc) would still be $44, 057 even with excellent medical coverage. WOW!
My mom has also been quite sick lately. She had to make weekly and sometimes daily trips to a large medical center about 1.5 hours from her home. I was astounded at the amount of gas consumed for each trip. This is an expense that my mom and dad must pay out of pocket, in addition to the food they have to buy while not at home and the wear and tear on the car.
Real Illness Costs — What are They?
Real Illness costs are the costs that you experience over and above what is covered by your medical coverage.
These costs include:
- Deductibles and co-pays
- Transportation
- Follow-up medical appointments
- Every day household expenses (rent/mortgage, utilities and car payments) that continue even if you are sick and out of work, not earning a paycheck.
Try The Aflac Real Cost Calculator
Use the Aflac Real Cost Calculator by giving it some simple facts about yourself
Head over to and give the Real Cost Calculator a try yourself. It will help you to be educated on ways to help cover REAL uncovered illness costs and prepare for your future and financial stability. I was not aware that Medical debt is the number one cause of bankruptcy! Were you aware of that?
It’s important to educate yourself about what is not covered should you face an illness (and chances are good you will) and what you can do to prepare. After you use the calculator, check out to see how Aflac can help with Real Illness costs. (Besides, you can also visit the Aflac Duck. He is so darn cute!)
I’ve experienced high medical bills before and it is definitely a shocker. I would’ve never thought basic care would cost so much!
it is insane how much you are supposed to pay for your life…crazy!
I’ve never really considered the true financial impact of a serious illness, ti goes beyond doctors bills, for sure. Thanks for the reminder, I really need to look at our insurance.
After two brain surgeries and living with a progressive brain disorder I am well aware of what it costs to get sick. It’s downright scary!
$44,000+ out of pocket even WITH high coverage insurance. Oh my gosh. As if you wouldn’t have enough to worry about already. Glad you turned out ok.
We are way to familiar with not having a plan in place when a medical emergency occurs for something that happened a couple of years ago. This year when my husband was out of work for 3 months due to a broken elbow we were prepared with Aflac…thank goodness!
Those are some scary numbers. Will definitely look into Aflac
I didn’t know that illness can lead to bankruptcy…wow! This calculator would be really helpful to many!!
Wow, that sure is an eye opener. I really like the calculator to help you really understand the cost of what it will take should you get sick. Makes you realize how important it is to have good coverage.
before i married my hubby i wouldnt have been able to, i had inusurane through my work but still paid a ton in copays and non covered things. Im lucky to have our medical covered by the military now.
I was unaware that medical issues are the #1 reason for bankruptcy as well. It makes sense having gone through a huge medical expense a couple years ago.
Our day care provider has a secondary insurance to help cover travel expenses she has because of health issue and she has said that is has saved their house time and time again.
It is so sad how medical bills can bankrupt a family. I certainly hope our insurance is good enough to cover something if it comes up.
Shelley,
I’m glad you are ok after your bc scare! What a relief! I’m sorry to hear that your mom is sick. This was a really eye opening post. What a great tool from Aflac!