Prepare for the unexpected. You never know what’s going to happen down the road. This was a concept that was emphasized regularly as I was growing up.
When you’re growing up, you make plans for your future. Go to college. Get married. Have a family. Buy a house.
But have you noticed that life rarely goes exactly as you had planned or envisioned it?
My mom had a pretty intense personal experience that taught her the importance of preparing for the unexpected when, at 24, she found out that her husband – my dad – was dying of cancer.
They met when they were 15. Married when they were 20. I came along when they were both 22. They had a long life ahead of them. She hadn’t planned on being a young widow. A young single mom without a career to fall back on. But there she was.
When I was an older teenager, getting ready to graduate high school and head off to college in a different state, my mom started sharing things with me. Letters from my dad. Details about his sickness.
When I was a young married soon-to-be-first-time-mom, I recalled one of the things she told me about those last few months of my dad’s life. She said that one of the main things that helped her financially during that time was their Aflac policy.
Not only did their Aflac supplemental insurance help pay for many of the hospital expenses, but it provided peace of mind at a time when the last thing either of them wanted to think about was money and bills.
The fact is, illnesses, accidents, and other unexpected things could happen at any moment, but the more prepared you are for the “what-ifs,” the easier they will be to manage and get through.
We’re no longer in that new-family, new-job stage of life. Now we’re somewhere mid-career. Kids are more expensive, house payments are more expensive, and any sort of accident or illness would hit even harder at this stage.
What is supplemental insurance like Aflac?
Aflac offers supplemental insurance, which is designed to complement your major medical insurance to help fill the holes in your health care coverage. Aflac knows that major medical insurance may not cover every expense related to a serious health event – an accident or a hospital stay or an illness like cancer. Aflac is there to help cover expenses that major medical may not cover, such as deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses. Aflac pays cash directly to the insured (unless assigned), who can decide how to best use the benefits. The goal? To help policyholders maintain their current lifestyle as they recover and move on from those unexpected life events.
No matter what your life stage – whether you’re just starting a family, a middle-career family with kids and a house, or whether you’re approaching retirement, Aflac can help give you peace of mind.
Is cancer insurance right for you? Most people today know someone – a family member or a close friend – who has been touched by cancer. Even when they’re covered by major medical insurance, a cancer diagnosis can be a difficult financial challenge. A study at Duke University Medical Center found that the average monthly out-of-pocket expenses for cancer patients is $1266. And that’s for insured patients!
For more information, visit aflac.com or check out Aflac’s Benefits Estimator to calculate the amount Aflac can provide to help with out-of-pocket costs that may not be covered by your major medical insurance: aflac.com/benefitsestimator.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Policies may not be available in all states. Limitations and exclusions may apply. Benefits are determined by state and plan level selected. Coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York. WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999.
1 Clear Health Care Costs, “By the numbers: Out-of-pocket costs for cancer treatment,” accessed Oct. 4, 2016 – https://clearhealthcosts.com/blog/2011/08/by-the-numbers-out-of-pocket-costs-for-cancer-treatment/
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It is a really good idea to plan ahead and have some structure in place in case the worst happens! I find I have to strike a balance between planning ahead and yet not being too fearful of doomsday scenarios. Insurance is one of those no brainers that can really come in handy when you need it.