Combined Insurance Encourages Women to Assess Their Insurance Needs During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, an annual campaign focused on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of this disease. While most people are aware of breast cancer, the campaign also serves as a reminder to women on the importance of taking necessary steps to protect against the disease. It’s also a good time to assess insurance protection.

The facts are real. The American Cancer Society’s 2014 estimates show that one in eight American women will develop breast cancer, making it the most common cancer among American women, other than skin cancer.

Combined Insurance, a leading provider of individual supplemental accident, disability, health and life insurance products, and an ACE Group company, recognizes that while cancer survival rates have greatly improved in recent years, the need for cancer protection insurance coverage is still strong.

While major medical insurance or Medicare may cover a good portion of medical expenses, it does not cover deductibles, co-pays and unforeseen out-of-pocket expenses. That’s where supplemental insurance can help. Supplemental insurance pays cash directly to the policyholder, which can be used to cover transportation costs to doctors and medical facilities, lost income from time off work, or hiring of outside help for child care, cooking and home chores.

“A breast cancer diagnosis, treatments and post-treatment therapies can be lengthy and costly, and can put a significant financial strain on individuals and families,” said Janet Martin, vice president, product innovation for Combined Insurance. “Because supplemental insurance pays cash directly to the policyholder, the policyholder can choose to use the money where it’s needed most, which helps provide additional financial support and peace of mind.”

What to Look for in a Cancer Protection Supplemental Insurance Policy

Some key attributes consumers should look for in evaluating supplemental cancer care insurance include:

• An insurance company with an established history, financial stability and a high rating by insurance industry rating organizations
• A flexible plan that can be tailored to the needs of an individual or family
• Guaranteed renewability for the principal insured’s lifetime as long as the premiums are paid
• A plan that provides for benefit payments delivered promptly and directly to the insured or insured’s designee
• No reduction in agreed-upon benefits, regardless of the insured’s age or number of claims previously paid

“With added financial support that supplemental cancer protector insurance coverage provides, patients and their families can feel more confident in knowing that they can focus on getting better rather than on medical expenses and bills,” Martin concludes.

As a leading supplemental insurance provider, Combined Insurance is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, as well as A.M. Best, one of the world’s top insurance rating and information firms. Combined Insurance also has been recognized for five consecutive years as a top performing life-health insurance company on Ward’s 50, a list of the top performing insurance companies that have achieved outstanding results in the areas of safety, consistency and financial performance over a five year period. In addition, the company ranks sixth on G.I. Jobs magazine’s list of top 100 military friendly employers.

For more information on Combined Insurance Company’s cancer care policies and complete portfolio of supplementary insurance products, please visit www.combinedinsurance.com.

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About Combined Insurance

Combined Insurance is a leading provider of individual supplemental accident, disability, health and life insurance products and an ACE Group company. With a field sales force and corporate staff in excess of 5,000 people worldwide, Combined Insurance meets the growing coverage needs of policyholders around the globe. For more information, call 1-800-490-1322 or visit www.combinedinsurance.com.

About ACE

ACE Group is one of the world’s largest multiline property and casualty insurers. With operations in 54 countries, ACE provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. ACE Limited, the parent company of ACE Group, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACE) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Additional information can be found at: www.acegroup.com.