Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and around 2 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in 2025. You can’t control a genetic predisposition to certain conditions, but you can make decisions to help reduce the risks of developing them. Here, we discuss simple steps you can take to reduce your risks of developing a chronic illness and explain how short-term disability insurance can help you stay prepared in the event you’re diagnosed with a covered illness.
Eat healthy
Eating healthy is a simple way to prevent, delay, and manage chronic diseases like heart disease. A balanced diet should consist of a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy products. Try to limit saturated fats, sodium, and added sugars.
Exercise regularly
Everyone should aim for at least 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity, with muscle-strengthening activities twice a week. That could include weightlifting, running, playing a sport, or brisk walking.
Get enough sleep
Lack of sleep has been linked to chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Every adult should get at least seven hours of sleep daily.
Limit alcohol
Excessive drinking can eventually lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and liver disease, and has been linked to various cancers. Drinking in moderation can help reduce your risk of developing a chronic illness.
Practice good oral hygiene
Brushing and flossing regularly isn’t just about keeping a white smile and avoiding cavities. Oral diseases cause pain and discomfort but can also develop into more severe illnesses like oral cancer. To reduce your risk of oral diseases, brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss daily, and drink fluoridated water. It’s also a good idea to visit your dentist for a routine exam at least once a year.
Get regular screenings
Regular visits to your doctor and dentist for preventative services and screenings can help you prevent chronic illnesses or catch them early. Don’t wait until you experience symptoms to see a doctor; make sure to get at least an annual checkup.
Know your family history
Many chronic illnesses have genetic influences, meaning if someone in your family has a condition like cancer, heart disease, or diabetes, you may be more likely to develop it as well. Talk to family members about their health history and share your family history with your doctor to create a plan to monitor for symptoms or preventative treatment.
Why you should consider getting short-term disability insurance
If you develop a chronic illness, your health insurance will typically cover much of your treatment costs. However, it likely won’t cover contingent costs like childcare when you have to go to the hospital, increased living expenses for an adapted lifestyle, or lost income if you’re forced to miss work while recovering from a covered condition.
Short-term disability insurance is a policy that pays you a cash benefit equal to a percentage of your regular salary when you’re unable to work. This can help reduce financial stress that may exacerbate your symptoms and make it harder to focus on getting better.
How does short-term disability work?
Now you know what it is, but how does short-term disability work? You may get short-term disability insurance through private insurance or as a workplace benefit from your employer. The specifics of policies can differ, but generally, the process of using a short-term disability policy looks like this:
- You pay monthly premiums to keep your coverage active.
- After being diagnosed with a covered illness or injury, you’ll submit a claim to your insurance company.
- The insurance company pays cash benefits up to a certain percentage of your income. You can use this cash as you’d like, whether it’s for medical bills, recovery expenses, or even rent or groceries.
Each policy functions differently. Some policies may deduct premiums from your paycheck and pay benefits for covered illnesses or injuries that occur either on or off the job. Some may have more restrictions.
The bottom line
Even if you have a family history of chronic illnesses, there are steps you can take to help lead a healthier lifestyle and reduce your risks. Likewise, you can also be prepared for the financial stress of being out of work due to a covered illness by considering a short-term disability insurance policy.
Sources:
1 CDC – Heart Disease Facts. Updated October 24, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html. Accessed May 22, 2025.
2 National Cancer Institute – Cancer Stat Facts: Common Cancer Sites. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/common.html Accessed May 22, 2025.
3 CDC – Preventing Chronic Diseases: What You Can Do Now. Updated May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/prevention/index.html. Accessed May 22, 2025.
Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.
Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.
Short-Term Disability, A57600 series: In Arkansas, Policies A57600AR & A57600LBAR. In Delaware, Policies A57600DE & A57600LB. In Idaho, Policy A57600IDR. In New York, Policy NY57600. In Oklahoma, Policies A57600OK &A57600LBOK. In Oregon, Policies A57600OR & A57600LBOR. In Pennsylvania, Policies A57600PAR &A57600LBPA. In Texas, Policies A57600TX &A57600LBTX. In Virginia, Policies A57600VA &A57600LBVA.
Coverage may not be available in all states, including but not limited to DE, ID, NJ, NM, NY, VA or VT. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on state and plan levels. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policy and rider forms for benefit details, definitions, limitations, and exclusions.
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