Hi Heather,

Insurance is key, if you can get it. But some types of insurance may or may not make sense or even be available for you, depending on the specific chronic illness you have. Is it a chronic illness with an eventual death sentence attached, or is it a chronic illness that can be controlled such that you can live a relatively normal life, aside from the treatment?

Check at work - you may find that your work can offer you life, health, long-term care, disability, and perhaps some other insurance as well, at an affordable group rate and with the less stringent underwriting often associated with group plans.

Additionally, because you know you have chronic health issues, it is doubly important for you to save as much as you can while you can. If your health forces you into taking early retirement, yet you cannot get disability insurance that will cover you, it means your nest egg will have that much less time to compound, and in addition to covering 'typical' retirement, it will also have to cover your medical costs. Do you have a 401(k) and/or 403(b) plan, or other employer sponsored salary deferral plan? If those plans have matches or employer contributions, participating will help you compound dramatically faster. What about a pension?

Best of luck to you,
-Chuck