How to better manage medical expenses once you hit 40

TURNING 40 is a major milestone for most people. It's a time to celebrate successes achieved throughout adulthood, a time to savor moments with family and friends, and a time to experience and reap some of the fruits of your labor over the years. After all, people say life begins at 40.And while it is a time to enjoy life and everything you've worked hard for, it's also the age when you should start paying more attention to your health. Unhealthy habits from your youth — late nights, overworking, high fat and sugar diets, and a lack of physical exercise, among others — may start to catch up, manifesting through various health problems many years later. What can you do to stay physically well and avoid major illnesses as well as the costs that come with them when you reach the age of 40 and above? Here are some important things to keep in mind:Keep a healthy diet and stay activeEating healthy food and exercising regularly are a must for people of any age but more so when you turn 40. A nutritious diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins can help prevent many age-related health issues. Some ways to stay healthy would be to incorporate salads into your daily meals, to add more fish and vegetable dishes into your menu, or to replace sweet desserts and snacks with fruits or smoothies.Additionally, create a physical activity routine that includes brisk walking, jogging, cycling, or yoga to keep you active while strengthening bones and muscles and improving cardiovascular health. Do regular strength training exercises if your body can manage it. Even activities such as swimming or dancing provide a fun and effective way to stay in shape.Studies have shown that committing to both a good diet and regular exercise is also an effective way of staving off critical illnesses such as heart conditions or various forms of cancer.Go for regular health screeningsSince certain diseases may start creeping up as you age, doing the proper checkups and health screenings are very important.For one, cardiovascular conditions continue to be among the leading health concerns for both men and women. Monitoring heart health is crucial to detect and alleviate early symptoms before they turn into something more life-threatening. Diabetes screening is another consideration, especially for those who have risk factors such as having a first-degree relative with the condition, being overweight or obese, having a history of heart disease or being a pre-diabetes candidate.A third priority is cancer. Those with a family history of certain forms of cancer must be tested appropriately while both men and women should get regular tests for common cancers such as breast, cervical, prostate or colorectal cancers.The obvious benefit of having regular screenings done is that you know what's happening to your body, allowing for better management of your health condition.Prepare for health setbacksBecause entering your 40s is like receiving an invoice from your past self for all the indulgences of your youth, it should also serve as a wake-up call for you and as payback time for your body. By the time you start a new decade, you get a fresh chance to recalibrate, prioritize your wellness, and take your health and self-care journey more seriously.It's the perfect time to take on better habits as well as prepare for any future health or financial complications. Getting a good insurance plan that has add-on benefits for health care is an important step in this direction, especially one that can fund any hospitalization expenses once these arise.AIA Philippines — formerly Philam Life, a leading life insurance company across Asia and the Philippines — introduces AIA Max Protect, which offers you a strong safety net. Besides offering more generous death and maturity benefits (at 200-percent life coverage or 200-percent maturity benefit should the policyholder live up to 100 years old) for its plan holders, the product can be upgraded with optional benefits to tailor-fit to your exact protection needs. Among the riders available are the medical and hospital income benefits. The medical benefit removes the burden of expenses by covering hospitalization fees of up to 90 percent, and the hospital income benefit provides a daily allowance for every day of confinement that lasts up to 365 days.Stay protected against critical illnessBeing properly safeguarded against critical illnesses and unforeseen health-related events should be at the top of your priority list once you hit 40. Being diagnosed with a major sickness at this age can lead to exorbitant expenses that not all health insurance plans can cover and that would end up taking a huge chunk of your savings. Knowing this, integrating critical illness coverage into any financial plan, such as the critical illness rider, can be added to AIA Max Protect, which is a customizable insurance plan that can also help provide protection against the top 10 most common critical illnesses.Having one provides both peace of mind and financial security in uncertain times, especially when it comes to matters of health. It also becomes a good complement to taking baby steps in caring for your health, taking regular medical screenings, and getting medical benefit coverage while giving you multiple buffers against long-term health concerns.You can avail of the new AIA Max Protect plan by visiting the AIA Philippines website or by talking to an AIA life planner today.