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"We always think we have enough time to do it, and we procrastinate and say, 'Okay, eventually I'll look at it,'" says Prudential financial planner Bill Danas. "There is a high cost of procrastination and so you might want to start while you are younger, while you're healthy."

Starting the process, Danas says, can be as easy as going online.

"You can go on the Internet, run some numbers, ask for quotes and get quotes from a number of carriers," he says. "But I think there's no substitute for face-to-face selling where you actually meet with a financial professional."

Insurance agent Anthony Domino says to find a professional insurance agent, one can ask around for recommendations, either from family and friends or other professionals.

"There are a variety of networks. The LIFE organization, LifeHappens.org, has a referral list of people in specific areas, zip-code driven, that you can find," says Domino.

Next, check the broker's rating and credentials.

"'CLU,' chartered life underwriting designation. 'CHFC,' chartered financial consultant designation. 'CFP,' certified financial planner. Those are great designations," says Mark Pfaff of New York Life. "What that tells you is the person has been in business for an amount of time and has done some advanced training and advanced work."

Pfaff says choosing between several professional, highly-trained agents then becomes a matter of personal preference. He recommends people choose someone who listens and makes them comfortable.

"If I'm sitting down with you, that process is not something that I do to you. Done professionally, it's something we do together, through dialogue and interaction," says Pfaff.

That initial dialogue can take place at the broker's office, or an individual's office or home. The same typically goes for the physical that follows.

"As I always say to people, it's at our expense and it's at your convenience," says Pfaff.

"[The physical] may be as simple as some questions from a doctor and a little blood or urine sample, and you're done," says Domino.

After that, paperwork is filed and medical records are requested:

"Voila. Before you know it, you have an offer," says Domino.

The initial interview may take 90 minutes, the physical may take even less, but while getting a policy does not require a lot of time or travel, it does require being proactive.

"The reality is, when you really recognize and know that you need it, because you have a health problem, you can't get it," says Pfaff. "So it really requires some foresight to sit down and do it."

For a list of professionals in your area, visit www.lifehappens.org.