Know Your Risk and Insurance Coverage for Heart Attacks and Strokes

American Heart Month ideal time to consider supplemental insurance for critical illness coverage

Chicago (PRWEB) February 4, 2009 -- The American Heart Association estimates 785,000 Americans will experience their first heart attack in 2009 and, on average, every 40 seconds someone in the United States will have a stroke. American Heart Month is a good time to consider not just your risk for heart attack and stroke but also your insurance coverage for critical illness.

Combined Insurance

With the high incidence of heart attacks and strokes and the health care costs associated with treatment, it is important to consider whether your primary insurance coverage is sufficient to meet your needs in the unfortunate event of a heart attack, stroke or other heart-related illness

Many people don't realize that primary health insurance plans don't cover all expenses related to critical illnesses, like heart attacks and strokes. There are out of pocket costs including deductibles, co-payments, co-insurance and other cost-sharing responsibilities. Additionally, long-term recovery can include many unexpected expenses.

The good news is that people are living longer, in part, by surviving critical illnesses such as heart attack and stroke for longer periods of time

According to current research, more than half of those who suffer first-time heart attacks now live five years or longer.

The cost of a supplemental critical care policy varies depending on the level of coverage selected, but these plans are generally affordable

A typical premium for a 30 or 40 year old might be as low as $8 to $14 per month, with rates based on age at time of purchase.

"Many people don't realize that primary health insurance plans don't cover all expenses related to critical illnesses, like heart attacks and strokes. There are out of pocket costs including deductibles, co-payments, co-insurance and other cost-sharing responsibilities. Additionally, long-term recovery can include many unexpected expenses."

Lifetime Heart Disease Treatment Costs Can Approach $1 Million

According to the 2006 Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) study, the lifetime bill for treating a woman's heart disease-linked angina (chest pain that occurs when your heart doesn't receive enough oxygen-rich blood) could total $1 million. That figure includes medical care as well as an estimate of indirect costs such as lost work hours, transportation costs and out-of-pocket expenses for drugs and other therapies.

"The good news is that people are living longer, in part, by surviving critical illnesses such as heart attack and stroke for longer periods of time," adds Moore. "According to current research, more than half of those who suffer first-time heart attacks now live five years or longer." For this reason, Moore recommends considering supplemental insurance for income and asset protection in the event of a critical illness.

Supplemental Insurance Policies Focused on Critical Illness

Supplemental insurance is a separate insurance policy which provides benefits that can be used to add to or 'supplement' life and accident and health coverage and can provide additional benefits to help offset uncovered expenses and out-of-pocket costs. Supplemental insurance policies are available specifically for critical illness protection.

"The cost of a supplemental critical care policy varies depending on the level of coverage selected, but these plans are generally affordable," says Moore. "A typical premium for a 30 or 40 year old might be as low as $8 to $14 per month, with rates based on age at time of purchase."

For more information about supplemental insurance or to schedule an appointment with a local agent, please call 1-800-490-1322 or visit http://www.combinedinsurance.com/contactus to submit an online inquiry.

About Combined Insurance Combined Insurance (www.combinedinsurance.com) is a leading provider of supplemental accident, health and life insurance products and is a member of The ACE Group of Companies. With a field sales force and corporate staff in excess of 9,000 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
The ACE Group of Companies is a global leader in insurance and reinsurance serving a diverse group of clients. Headed by ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE), The ACE Group of Companies conducts its business on a worldwide basis with operating subsidiaries in more than 50 countries. Additional information can be found at http://www.acelimited.com/.

###

Post Comment:
Trackback URL: http://www.prweb.com/pingpr.php/WmV0YS1DcmFzLUZhbHUtRmFsdS1GYWx1LVNpbmctWmVybw==

heart attacks strokes american heart association supplemental insurance combined insurance health insurance healthy heart insurance supplemental

Bookmark -  Del.icio.us | Furl It | Technorati | Ask | MyWeb | Propeller | Live Bookmarks | Newsvine | TailRank | Reddit | Slashdot | Digg | Stumbleupon | Google Bookmarks | Sphere | Blink It | Spurl