Cancer insurance has taken a backseat to critical-illness coverage, with sales for the latter soaring 88% to $225 million between 2008 and 2009, according to Eastbridge’s annual U.S. Worksite Sales Report. Critical-illness coverage accounts for 4% of total voluntary sales.
Cancer insurance sales decreased about 8% between the 2008-2009 period, and account for about 8% of sales, according to the report.
“Critical illness goes beyond cancer to cover things like heart attack and stroke, and most critical-illness policies include cancer,” said Beth Bierbower, CEO of Humana Specialty Benefits. “So it covers a broader array of very common illnesses or events.”
Mark Sylvester, vice-president of voluntary sales at Assurant Employee Benefits agreed. “Some people use critical illness to cover both major illnesses and cancer, and employers are interested in using it to offset increases in premiums and higher deductibles.”
