A doctor and financial advisor, Dr Linda Biomdo, shares how losing her mother and witnessing her uncle’s disability shaped her mission to help families protect their health, income and future.

When Dr Linda talks about insurance and financial preparedness, she is not speaking from theory. She is speaking from lived experience.

In 2008, when she was only 10 years old, Linda lost her mother, a single mother who was the family’s breadwinner.

Before that moment, life felt stable. Her family was managing. But in a short period, everything changed.

“My mum was the breadwinner for our family,” she recalls. “My uncle got sick, and within a span of a year, he lost his hearing and became blind. My mum had to take him in with his daughter. Everything was on my mum. Then unfortunately, a few years later, my mum died.”

The responsibility shifted to her grandmother, and Linda watched as one medical crisis created a ripple effect that affected an entire family.

That experience planted a question that would later shape her career: How can families protect themselves when life changes unexpectedly?

Today, Dr Biomdo wears two hats. She is a medical doctor, a certified insurance agent and financial advisor, while also working with the United Nations World Food Programme on country strategy planning.

Her journey into financial education was born from seeing how closely health and money are connected.

When illness becomes a financial crisis

n her medical practice, especially while working in a public hospital, Dr Biomdo has seen health emergencies push countless families into financial distress.

“Many Kenyans are one diagnosis away from complete financial ruin,” she says.

She has witnessed patients diagnosed with serious illnesses who could not afford treatment. Some were lost to follow-up because medication was too expensive. Others returned months later with advanced disease when treatment options were limited.

“It is not just about the patient,” she explains. “When someone gets critically ill, their ability to work is affected. Their spouse or adult children may have to stop working to become caregivers. Then school fees, rent, food and other household needs are affected.”

A health crisis, she says, rarely affects one person. It affects an entire family system.

The hidden cost of critical illness

When people think about critical illness, they often think only about hospital bills. However, Dr Biomdo says the financial impact goes much deeper. There are immediate medical costs, consultations, medication, procedures and hospitalisation. But there is also the loss of income.

“Most critical illnesses happen during the years when people are most productive, when they are working and supporting families,” she says. Conditions such as cancer, stroke, diabetes complications and kidney disease can disrupt a person’s ability to earn, sometimes permanently.

Even caregivers experience financial strain because they may need to step away from work to support their loved one. “That is why financial preparedness is not just about paying hospital bills. It is about protecting your ability to continue living and supporting your family.”

Health insurance versus critical illness cover

Many people confuse health insurance with critical illness cover, but Dr Biomdo explains they serve different purposes. Health insurance primarily covers medical expenses. Depending on the policy, it can cover inpatient and outpatient treatment, but it often requires annual renewal and may have limitations, exclusions or waiting periods.

Critical illness cover works differently. “It is usually an additional benefit attached to a life insurance policy,” she explains. If someone is diagnosed with a listed critical illness, they receive a financial payout that they can use according to their needs. “The money does not have to only go to treatment,” she says. “It can help pay school fees, rent, household expenses or support your family while you recover.”

For example, someone diagnosed with a serious illness may need time away from work. A critical illness payout provides a financial cushion during that period.

Why starting early matters

According to Dr Biomdo, one of the biggest misconceptions people have is believing that critical illnesses only happen when they are older. “People think, ‘I am young, cancer cannot happen to me,’” she says. However, illness does not always follow age or family history. Environmental factors, lifestyle and unexpected medical conditions can affect anyone.

She advises families to start with the basics:

• Have a household budget.
• Prioritise medical insurance.
• Build an emergency fund.
• Consider life insurance if others depend on your income.
• Have a retirement plan.
• Explore additional protection such as critical illness cover when financially possible.

“The earlier you start, the better,” she says. “Insurance is usually more affordable when you are younger.”

Breaking the mindset that ‘it won’t happen to me’

Why do many people delay financial protection despite seeing heartbreaking stories every day?

Dr Biomdo believes it comes down to several factors: optimism, lack of information and economic pressure.

“For many people, survival comes first,” she says. “They are thinking about rent, food, electricity and school fees. Thinking about the future becomes difficult when today is already a struggle.”

She also acknowledges that negative experiences and misconceptions around insurance have contributed to mistrust. However, she believes education is key. “People need to understand what products are available, what they cover and how they work.”

Protecting the next generation

For Dr Biomda, financial preparedness is ultimately about protecting families from repeating cycles of hardship.

Her childhood experience showed her how quickly circumstances can change. Her medical career has shown her how many families face similar challenges every day.

“We cannot predict everything that will happen in life,” she says. “But we can prepare.”

Health may be a personal matter, but protecting it requires a family approach, because when one person falls ill, the impact is often felt by everyone around them.

Financial planning is not about expecting the worst. It is about ensuring that when life happens, your family has a foundation to stand on.

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