No? Let me mansplain. It’s different from Life Expectancy (obviously).
Life Expectancy tells us how long we’re expected to live.
Healthy Life Expectancy tells us how many of those years we’ll likely live in good health.
In Malaysia, the average life expectancy is about 76 years, but our healthy life expectancy is only around 65 years. That means… on average, we could spend the last 10 years of our lives managing health issues or living with long-term illness.
And it’s not always just one illness. Many people (like myself) live with comorbidities, which simply means having two or more diseases at the same time.
Like… diabetes plus high blood pressure (that’s me), or heart disease plus high cholesterol.
That, btw, is one of the biggest reasons our “healthy” years are getting shorter, even though we’re living longer.
So, research also shows that as healthcare improves, people are living longer but not necessarily living healthier lives. And those extra years often come with rising medical costs, long recovery times, and reduced income.
That’s why it’s important to plan early and protect yourself (Gen Z, are you reading this?!), especially from critical illnesses like cancer or heart disease. It’s going to be as unpredictable as it’s going to get.
So how now brown cow? Contoh…
Insurance. Like FWD’s CI Intense Shield is available now for as low as RM5 per day (terms & conditions apply, of course). Cheaper than your crafted beverage.
👉  Visit fwd.com.my/ci-intense-shield
They’re even giving out gold if you purchase before 31st December, 2025.
Just mention code AHFWD to FWD’s Health Advisors (that is AuntyHR FWD if you didn’t realise it haha!).
Happy weekend, everybody! Remember, living longer should also mean living well. And without worry.
Gitu.
xoxoxo, AuntyHR
P.S. Thank you Stella for introducing me to this big word, “Comorbidities!”
