Tell me about AFLAC

[Felonious Monk/Fignozzle]

I understand it's supplemental insurance, but find it bizarre that they run commercials and then provide NO contact info, just "ask about it at work".

Is it 'just another insurance option' that most companies will offer in one flavor or another?
Or is there something unique about it?

Does anybody carry this insurance?  What does it actually cover?  
Thanks,
Fig

[Firethorn]

Being military, I have no experience with normal health care insurance.  However, given that most americans recieve their health care through their employer, I think that the ads are similar to the yellowbook television commercials.    Yellowbook is trying to get people to use their books so that businesses will pay to be advertised in their books.  AFLAC's trying to reach the employees to get them to convince their employers to switch.

[MillCreek]

AFLAC is supplemental medical/short-term disability insurance coverage.  It is designed to cover, at least in part, those medical or living expenses not covered by your other medical or disability insurance.  They sell a variety of policies that cover different things.  They are the largest seller of individual medical insurance policies in Japan.  An individual can buy policies direct from AFLAC, or employers can provide the coverage and get some tax benefits.

An article in the Wall Street Journal a few years ago revealed that since they started the duck commercials, sales have taken off like a rocket.  In front of their new corporate headquarters, they have a duck pond complete with several white ducks paddling about.

[onions!]

I purchased it from my employer & carried it about three years.At the time I figured that since I was riding my motorcycle exclusively that it might come in handy.As I stopped riding everyday & had never made a claim I chose not to re-up last year.The price seemed reasonable-I paid under $10/week & carried two of their three available policies.Being in my early thirties at the time I didn't carry their cancer policy.

A co-worker who signed up at the same time I did has had a much different story.He was able to add both an in-ground pool & a 20x40 addition onto his house largely from Aflac payments.He's mid forties,married,& had four kids.Between the kids broken bones(arms & legs-7 so far IIRC),a hand crushed & rebuilt) in a gate,the wifes womanly surgeries,& a knee that's still being treated two years after the accident he's making $$$ hand over fist.We have very good regular medical insurance & our co-pays are no more than about 3-4% of our take home pay-so the Aflac $$$ is extra.YMMV

One last thing?Aflac also pays wellness benefits.IIRC,they pay you $75ish just for getting a yearly checkup.


p.s.I asked but never recv'd a duck...