Can you afford to be sick? It's not only the main breadwinner who needs to think about this - and an illness doesn't have to be serious to be a pain.

When it comes to critical illness, the NHS has a strong track-record. However, unglamourous complaints like piles, slipped discs and varicose veins, fail to get the red carpet treatment. And if you're off work while you're on the waiting list, could you manage on statutory sick pay of just over £70 per week?

Home and away
Juggling the school run, employment, household chores and childcare, can be exhausting even when you're fighting fit. Everyday niggles don't help, as anyone who's tried bathing the baby with a bad back can testify to. And toddlers don't know the meaning of headaches, sinusitis or chronic period pain.

Wouldn't it be great if there were a cheap and simple way of getting things checked out? A quick consultation and diagnosis enables you to get the problem sorted, and puts your mind at ease.

What can you do?
You don't have to pay for prohibitively expensive health insurance. You know the NHS will cover a crisis, so deploy your money where it will make a difference - do your homework and find out the best life and health insurance plans to suit you and your lifestyle. The Association of British Insurers provides a code of conduct and impartial advice.

Something to bear in mind
Don't make potentially expensive assumptions. For example, where the man is the main breadwinner, many people assume his next-of-kin will be automatically covered by his work insurance, which may not be so. Weigh up the pros and cons - insuring against a gluey-eared schoolchild being left on a waiting list may not seem worth it, but paying a childminder to cover on sick days soon adds up.

Stay-at-home parents shouldn't discount their own worth either - paying for a nanny or cleaner costs more than almost any health insurance scheme. Currently, there are over 500,000 people in England and Wales awaiting diagnosis - a small monthly premium may prevent any of your family joining them.

While every effort has been taken to ensure accuracy at time of publication, this information may be subject to change. Always consult your financial advisor.