It’s not cheap to be sick, especially very sick. For those facing a critical illness, medical bills and being out of work will create a financial disaster and a health crisis. Understand beforehand where money may come from to help you and your family deal with life’s unpredictable moments.

Health insurance: Health insurance will cover a portion of the direct costs associated with a critical illness, but these plans typically require payment of deductibles, coinsurance and/or co-pays, which can vary from $2,000 to $10,000 or more in out-of-pocket costs to you before the plan provides 100% coverage.

If you elect out-of-network care from a specialist or nationally recognized hospital, you may incur additional expense, including the cost of travel and lodging. Indirect expenses from recuperating from a critical illness, such as modifications to a home or vehicle, child-care expenses and convalescent care, may also not be covered adding to the cost. Understanding what your health care plan will and will not cover before a critical illness strikes, including different kinds of cancer, such as skin cancer, that actually could be prevented with the right sun safety different sites online recommend.

Disability insurance: This type of insurance usually replaces a portion of your income if you are sick or hurt and unable to work. If you are covered by disability insurance, find the answers to questions such as these:

• How long must you be disabled before benefits begin?
• How much is the benefit you will receive?
• For how long will the benefit be payable?

Social Security benefits: If you qualify, Social Security disability benefits don’t begin until the sixth full month of disability and are generally not adequate to replace your earning power.

Savings and investments: A single critical illness could consume the assets you’ve worked a lifetime to accumulate.

Ask yourself: If you suffered a critical illness and were out of commission for three to six months, would you be able to survive financially? If the answer is no, contact your agent or financial adviser today.