Are Cancer policies a wise investment?

Most Americans have insurance. We find comfort in knowing our future is secure in the event of a health crisis. But how do we know how much insurance is enough? Is it wise to take our specialized policies?

BY Bonnie Annis

PUBLISHED January 03, 2018

Bonnie Annis is a breast cancer survivor, diagnosed in 2014 with stage 2b invasive ductal carcinoma with metastasis to the lymph nodes. She is an avid photographer, freelance writer/blogger, wife, mother and grandmother.

I received a call from my youngest daughter the other day. She was at work and was meeting with the director of human resources to go over benefits for the new year. Her company had made some changes to their insurance policies and each employee was required to update their health benefit choices. There were so many choices. She needed help understanding them, especially with regard to the cancer policy. She didn’t know whether to accept the offer or decline it. With my recent history of breast cancer, she felt it might be wise to add that coverage to her existing plan. She wanted to know my thoughts.

It was difficult to know what to tell her. Many years ago, I’d taken out a small cancer policy never dreaming I’d one day be diagnosed with breast cancer. I’d been given the opportunity to take out coverage and I’d accepted. It was only going to be an additional premium of $11. But just before I left the company, I'd cancelled the insurance thinking I’d no longer need it. Boy, was that a big mistake! Just a couple of years later, I received news that I had cancer. I still beat myself up to this day wondering if that cancer policy if it would have helped to offset some of our skyrocketing medical bills.

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