Dr. Marius Barnard, the creator of Critical Illness Insurance, was the personification of the saying “Your health is your wealth”.
Dr. Barnard was a South African cardiac surgeon alongside his brother, Dr. Christopher Barnard.
They became famous for conducting the first-ever successful heart transplant in 1967. Dr. Marius had the monumental task of removing the donor’s heart.
In his career, Dr. Marius recognized the debilitating financial burden patients with critical illnesses suffered from. He felt for patients who didn’t have the resources to properly recover.
One patient-inspired critical illness insurance
A young single mother battling cancer deeply impacted him. Despite her illness, she worked up until her death to provide for her children.
Only upon her passing did her family receive financial aid through her life insurance policy.
In 1983, Dr. Marius collaborated with Crusader Life, a South African Insurance company, to create Critical Illness Insurance — a policy that offers a tax-free lump sum benefit to patients with serious health conditions.
Coverage applies to cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart attacks, strokes and much more.
This lump sum can go towards treatments, supplementing income and modifying a living space to accommodate illness.
Living with a life-threatening condition can be incredibly emotionally and financially strenuous.
Critical Illness Insurance changed the world
Dr. Marius truly believed that recovery or the end stages of life didn’t have to be further complicated by financial issues.
He traveled the world educating others about the benefits of his innovative approach. By 1997, Critical Illness Insurance was established in the UK, US, and Canada and has been adopted by more countries since.
With the support of a financial advisor, find relief in knowing your financial well-being is protected by Critical Insurance — and that you can have compassionate support in all areas of your health journey.
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