these cancer insurers have us by our emotions and not thinking with our heads. Thankfully my husbands employer provides us with excellent insurance at a minimum cost, which also includes long term disability. He was diagnosed in April of 2008 w/ Hodgkin's Lymphoma and spent the rest of the year off of work (and he hadn't worked the previous 4 months either because of a work injury he was recovering from surgery for). His insurance was great in paying everything minus our deductible and co-pays. We ended up having to use 2 months of the long term disability before his treatments were up, but we could have never of made it as well as we did without the long term disability. I would much rather have that than cancer insurance.

Nicole December 03 2009 7:26 AM

There are a lot of indirect costs for cancer that Health Insurance doesn't cover. A refundable supplemental cancer policy has been a life saver for hundreds of individuals across this country. The ones that have had to use it would disagree with you wholeheartedly! I love most of your advice, but you need to do more research on this one. Cancer is known as the bankruptcy disease.

Gretchen December 02 2009 9:50 AM

When I was diagnosed, my policy paid out for chemotherapy expense, without regard to my primary insurance. Thus, I filed a claim for immunotherapy and it paid over $70,000 which ended up being the money we lived on for that year, plus paid off the thousands of dollars that the insurance did not pay. Furthermore, I now have a high risk medical policy with the State of Tx that carries a $7500 deductible, and limits doctor visits to 5 times a year. So, even though it's been 6 years I cannot get regular medical insurance;I am afraid to let the cancer policy go.

karen December 01 2009 2:48 PM

My sister died of the infectious type of breast cancer in 1999. She had taken out insurance for cancer. That insurance did not pay anything on any of the bills. Her regular insurance was the only one that paid.

Margaret November 02 2009 6:27 PM

I read and understand what is being said but I still feel this nagging concern about my wife's (has already had breast cancer) and my family's history (Mom and both sisters). What about after I retire and may not have the great coverage I have now?

Tom Conley October 31 2009 10:06 AM

Even if I'm diagnosed with Cancer or a heart attack before I build my emer. fund, I would end up receiving more money from the extra insurance to cover expenses not paid for by medical such as deductibles and co-insurance. Plus, there's everday living expenses medical doesn't pay for. Also, the extra insurance would help cover travel/lodging expenses for treatments that medical won't pay for.

Chris October 31 2009 7:40 AM

What do you do in the case of my sister. A cancer victim and now her Ins. Co. not only told her that she wasn't covered anymore and as a matter of fact they owed the Ins. Co. $52,000.00.

Scott Krecker October 31 2009 5:30 AM

This was interesting. My sister who is 66 has a supplemental insurance policy. I guess she sees this as an "emergency fund" in a sense, but she doesn't understand that she doesn't have prescription drug coverage with this plan. I would like to see an article about seniors and medicare. I think my sister was sold a policy that she doesn't need.

E'ville Woman October 31 2009 4:27 AM

I had a cancer policy that I paid $23.00 a month for 15 years. In July of 07 I had a liver transplant that was due to cancer. The policy paid out $22,000. this covered items primary insurance did not cover.

Jimmy Downs October 30 2009 3:43 PM