Death or Disability Death or Disability According to the Insurance Information Institute, at age 40, the average worker faces only a 14 percent chance of dying before age 65 but a 21 percent chance of being disabled for 90 days or more. Osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer and premature death and disability attributable to sexually transmitted diseases disproportionately affect women, according to the National Institutes for Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Caring for your health can decrease the possibility of a medical crisis. Caring for your insurance and financial needs can increase the possibility of surviving a crisis and avoiding a fiscal disaster. According to the Insurance Information Institute, at age 40, the average worker faces only a 14 percent chance of dying before age 65 but a 21 percent chance of being disabled for 90 days or more.