COLUMBIA, S.C. (Dec. 13, 2005) - It´s now easier for employees to be approved for voluntary cancer coverage from Colonial Supplemental Insurance because the company has reduced the time an applicant must be cancer-free to be eligible.
"With innovations in cancer treatment dramatically improving cancer survival rates, requiring applicants to be cancer-free for five years is reasonable for most types of cancer," says Monica Francis, assistant vice president of product marketing for Colonial. Colonial previously required applicants to be cancer-free for 10 years. "Early detection and prompt treatment are keys to cancer recovery and survival, and our product includes the popular wellness benefit that encourages cancer screening and early detection."
Colonial´s cancer product can help employees pay for cancer treatment costs not fully covered by health insurance and for nonmedical costs associated with cancer, such as transportation to a treatment center. In addition, when employers offer reduced major medical coverage for out-of-network care, Colonial´s cancer product can help fill financial gaps when employees choose to go out of network. "Cancer treatments can take months or years and costs can be overwhelming," Francis says. "Major medical coverage may not provide enough benefits to help pay for the longer-term, high-technology approaches some cancer treatments demand."
Many employers are increasing health insurance deductibles or reducing benefits to combat health care inflation, but by adding Colonial´s cancer product to their benefits program, employers can provide needed coverage choices for employees at no direct cost to their company.
Sold to employees at the worksite, Colonial´s voluntary cancer product pays benefits directly to the policyholder when an insured is diagnosed with cancer or receives cancer treatment. The product pays lump-sum benefits if a policyholder has certain treatments or procedures as a result of cancer, such as:
Inpatient hospital confinement, ambulance, private full-time nursing services.
Radiation/chemotherapy, antinausea medication, blood/plasma/platelets/ immunoglobulins, experimental treatment, supportive or protective care drugs and colony stimulating factors, hair, prosthesis/external breast/voice box prosthesis, medical imaging studies, bone marrow and peripheral stem cell transplants.
Transportation to and lodging near a treatment facility, including companion transportation.
Surgical procedures, anesthesia, second medical opinion, reconstructive surgery, prosthesis/artificial limb, outpatient surgical center.
Skilled nursing care facility, family care, hospice or home health care services.
Colonial´s voluntary cancer product offers four benefits levels plus coverage through optional riders that are available at additional cost: Specified Disease Hospital Confinement, Initial Diagnosis of Cancer and Progressive Payment. The product is currently available for sale in 47 states and Washington, D.C.
About Colonial Supplemental Insurance
Colonial Supplemental Insurance is the marketing brand of Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company. Colonial is a market leader in providing voluntary insurance to employees and their families through the workplace, along with personal benefits communication, enrollment capabilities and a commitment to service. Colonial Supplemental Insurance products are underwritten by Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company and include a broad portfolio of insurance coverages, such as disability, accident, life, cancer, critical illness and hospital indemnity insurance policies. Similar products, if approved, are underwritten in New York by a Colonial affiliate, The Paul Revere Life Insurance Company.
A subsidiary of UnumProvident Corporation, Colonial is based in Columbia, S.C. and operates in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. "Colonial Supplemental Insurance," "for what happens next" and the logo, separately and in combination, are registered service marks of Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company. All rights reserved.
For more information about Colonial´s products and services or opportunities with the company, contact Monica Francis at (803) 798-5555, ext. 8448, e-mail her at MLFrancis[at]ColonialLife.com or visit www.coloniallife.com.
Media Contact:
Juliann Kaiser or Linda Kobel
Kaiser Marketing Group
770 643-0615 jkaiser[at]kaisermarketinggroup.com lkobel[at]kaisermarketinggroup.com