MAKE HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL PLANNING YOUR WOMEN'S MONTH SELF-CARE

WE SPEND so much of our lives juggling work, family and the daily hustle that it’s easy to forget one truth: our health is priceless.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

Yet the real question most of us dodge isn’t just how we take care of our bodies but how we can afford to do so, especially as women.

This Women’s Month, it’s time to get real about something we rarely talk about enough: healthcare financial planning. Because, as sad as it sounds, money and health go hand in hand, and for women, the stakes are even higher.

According to Statistics South Africa, women typically live longer than men but often earn less over their lifetime. Add career breaks to raise kids or care for ageing parents, and the financial gap widens.

“Women face longer life expectancy combined with lower lifetime earnings, which makes healthcare costs an even bigger burden, especially later in life,” explains Martin Rimmer, the CEO of Sirago Underwriting Managers.

And when you look at South Africa’s struggling public healthcare system, private healthcare isn’t just nice to have, it’s a lifeline. But it comes at a cost.

Why women can't afford to ignore financial health

Women are statistically more likely to face certain health challenges: breast, cervical and ovarian cancers, autoimmune diseases and musculoskeletal conditions, as well as cardiovascular disease. Treatment often means long periods off work, impacting income when expenses are highest.