Leading Insurer Stresses Protection During Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

Main Category: Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 21 Jan 2008 - 1:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), death rates from cervical cancer, once one of the most common causes of cancer death among American women, have significantly declined due to early detection. Unfortunately, this is not the case for so many other forms of cancer that plague women, men and children in this country. Consider this - ACS estimates that more than 1.4 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed in 2007 - that's a new cancer diagnosis in America every 22 seconds. With cancer a nationwide issue, Combined Insurance Company of America encourages everyone to consider whether the insurance protection they carry will be sufficient to meet both their current and future needs, in the event cancer strikes.

According to Becky Mills, Vice President, Research and Development at Combined, "Traditional insurance plans don't cover all expenses. There are out of pocket costs including deductibles, co-payments, co-insurance and other cost-sharing responsibilities. For instance, if you have a plan with an 80/20 split, you are responsible for 20 percent of the expenses. This can easily run into thousands of dollars for those faced with a critical illness, such as cancer."

Take Stock of Your Needs - Look Beyond Traditional Insurance

According to the American Cancer Society, cancer will touch one out of three people and three out of four families. That's why planning for the unexpected is so vital to protecting your future, according to Mills. "Given that traditional insurance doesn't cover 100% of the costs associated with cancer, you might want to consider investing in supplemental insurance plans that specifically address cancer care protection."

Some supplemental insurance providers offer cancer care protection products that cover the expenses traditional insurance offerings don't cover. For example, some expenses that are not covered by traditional insurance might include:

- Income loss (if you have to stay home from work due to treatment)
- Transportation (means of traveling to and from treatment)
- Lodging (should your family need to stay with you during treatment)
- Domestic help (for child care, meals, laundry, etc.)

Mills indicates that many supplemental cancer care plans afford additional coverage, providing a specified daily benefit for hospital stays, intensive care, surgery and anesthesia, radiation and chemotherapy, preventative care, private nursing and a physician's hospital visits. "It is also wise to consider a supplemental program where benefits are paid directly to you, which can make supplemental insurance a great option for those concerned about having enough money to pay for expenses not covered by traditional insurance," she adds.

"Some plans offer coverage without requiring a physical exam, making it relatively easy to apply for this type of supplemental plan by answering a few medical questions. Additionally, in many states, individuals can select an insurance plan that returns their -a win-win that only serves to underscore the real value of planning ahead," she adds.

Be Thorough - It's Your Health

Mills concludes, "According to the American Cancer Society, 67 percent of total cancer costs are non-medical. That makes selecting the right partner to provide supplemental insurance coverage critically important. Seek out a provider or agent who will meet with you face-to-face to review your current coverage and help you select the right supplemental coverage to meet your individual or family's specific needs."

About Combined Insurance Company

Combined Insurance Company of America is a leading provider of supplemental accident, health and life insurance products. With a field sales force and corporate staff in excess of 10,000 people worldwide, Combined meets the growing coverage needs of policyholders around the globe. For more information, call 800-225-4500 or visit http://www.combinedinsurance.com.

About Aon

Aon Corporation (NYSE:AOC) is the leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human capital and management consulting, and specialty insurance underwriting. Through its 43,000 professionals worldwide, Aon readily delivers distinctive client value via innovative and effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions. Our industry-leading global resources, technical expertise and industry knowledge are delivered locally through more than 500 offices in more than 120 countries. Aon was ranked by A.M. Best as the number one global insurance brokerage in 2007 based on brokerage revenues, and voted best insurance intermediary, best reinsurance intermediary, and best employee benefits consulting firm in 2007 by the readers of Business Insurance.

http://www.aon.com