The Post-It Place

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Aflac. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

We have known for some time that we are under-insured. But Whoa Nellie!! After I used Aflac’s Real Cost Calculator I almost had a heart attack…but that is WAY to expensive for our purse strings. No wonder the leading cause of bankruptcy in the United States is medical bills.I mean goodness gracious, did you know that the national average for a broken leg is $10,000??? Seriously, that is just crazy to me.

After looking at several scenarios using the Aflac Real Cost Calculator I have realized that we cannot afford to get sick. I mean I knew that medical procedures, illnesses and emergencies are expensive but we have been so lucky that we haven’t really had to deal with anything medical wise other than the regular cold, flu shots, etc for several years. VERY lucky (hang on, I have to go knock on wood). But it has been a concern of ours. Like I said, we know we are under-insured but just had no idea where to even start…and where we need to be.

What is the Real Cost Calculator (RCC)? The Aflac RCC is an illustrative, interactive tool that shows the average out-of-pocket expenses associated with a number of injuries and illnesses. Many insurance policy holders don’t know what their package includes or to what extent they will be covered in the event of common accidents and illnesses. The Aflac RCC was developed to show the health care costs that major medical insurance doesn’t cover.

The calculator includes average medical costs not covered by major medical insurance for several types of cancer, stroke, heart attack, diabetes, broken leg, as well as common childhood ailments, pneumonia and asthma. The RCC tool incorporates cost data from numerous sources, including governmental and public health organizations, health care providers, etc. In addition to medical costs, the tool shows the ongoing household expenses that can add up during a patient’s recovery period to give a more complete picture of the cost of becoming sick or hurt.

It is alarming. I have several friends who have been struck with the sky-rocketing out of pocket costs that major illnesses have burdened them with. It breaks my heart watching them have to decide things like should I take chemo or pay the mortgage? Do I have enough money to pay for prescriptions and food? How are we going to pay the power bill and have enough money to go back and forth to doctor visits? These are question that many people have to deal with on a regular basis and while it isn’t fair, it is reality…and why we are looking at just how un-insured we are and where we need to be and how to go about getting there.

Many of us don’t know what our insurance package includes or to what extent we will be covered in the event of common accidents and illnesses. We tend to think that we are covered by our major medical insurance – but often, we’re not.

The Aflac RCC is simple and easy to use. In three easy steps it breaks down:

1) medical and out-of-pocket costs including deductibles and copays;

2) household expenses during a treatment or recovery period, like rent or mortgage, car payments, child care and utility bills and;

3) out-of-pocket expenses like transportation for follow-up doctor’s visits, special travel arrangements, caregiving and other health care needs that continue while a patient is sick and out of work.

The RCC tool will also show users how Aflac policies could help offset out-of-pocket costs and educate consumers about how voluntary insurance can help fill the gaps in their health insurance coverage.

For us, I have decided it is time to meet the duck. Aflac offers supplemental insurance plans that can pick up where major medical insurance leaves off and pays benefits in cash that can be used on everything from medical care to daily living expenses, filling in the gaps left by major medical coverage. For nearly six decades, Aflac insurance policies have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress, which is so important. And knowing that Aflac pays cash benefits fast, most within 4 business days…and are paid directly to the policy holder, not the hospital or doctor, so that they can be used to help pay bills, gas, groceries, childcare, etc.