Costly illnesses trigger about half of all personal bankruptcies, and most of those who go bankrupt because of medical problems have health insurance, according to a Harvard University study. Even if you have great insurance, you will have to pay insurance deductibles and co-pays. You'll pay for care, medications and alternative treatments that are not covered. Your paycheck will stop or be reduced. You'll still need to pay the rent, the mortgage and everyday expenses. If you are self-employed or own a business, the financial toll can be devastating to everything you worked to create.

Today you can find out more about an affordable way to receive a lump-sum cash benefit upon the diagnosis of a critical illness or condition. Critical illness insurance pays a cash benefit even if you make a full recovery.