3 Little Known Advantages Of A Cancer Insurance Plan

When most people think of cancer insurance, they think about paying for medical bills. But cancer insurance can offer much more than just coverage for hospital stays and treatments. Here are three lesser-known benefits that could make a significant difference for you and your loved ones:

1. Coverage for Non-Medical Expenses

Cancer treatment doesn’t just affect your health— it can disrupt your entire life. Many cancer insurance plans provide cash payouts that you can use for non-medical costs such as:

• Travel to treatment centers, sometimes far from home

• Lodging for both patients and accompanying family members during treatment away from home

• Everyday living expenses like rent, groceries, and childcare when your income is affected by your diagnosis

This flexibility allows you to focus on recovery, knowing that your policy can help with much more than doctor’s bills.

2. Lump-Sum Payouts with No Hospitalization Required

A little-known advantage is that many cancer insurance policies pay out a lump sum upon diagnosis—no hospitalization or long claim processes necessary. This cash benefit is often available immediately after your diagnosis and isn't restricted to medical spending. You could use it for travel, experimental treatments, or simply as a financial cushion while you’re unable to work. 

3. Income Replacement and “Waiver of Premium” Benefits

Facing cancer often means missing work and losing income. Some cancer insurance plans offer income replacement benefits—regular payments to help you manage monthly expenses if you’re unable to work. Additionally, certain policies provide a “waiver of premium” option, so you don’t have to continue paying your policy premiums after a diagnosis, keeping your coverage active without extra financial strain.

While often overlooked, these advantages can provide critical support during a challenging time, making cancer insurance a valuable supplement to traditional health coverage—especially for expenses that standard policies don’t touch.

Feel free to visit our site and run a rate for you or your family. You can even start an application online. And if you have questions, please drop a note. 

Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life and disability insurance coverage. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. Please subscribe to this blog!

Surf Financial Brokers Now Offering UnitedHealthcare Ancillary Products

Surf Financial Brokers is thrilled to announce the addition of UnitedHealthcare ancillary products to our suite of offerings. This expansion allows us to deliver even greater value and flexibility to our clients, helping employers and individuals access a broader range of health and financial protection solutions.

What Are Ancillary Products?

Ancillary products*—also known as specialty benefits—go beyond traditional medical insurance. They include essential coverage such as:

• Dental

• Vision

• Life and Supplemental Life Insurance

• Supplemental Health Coverage (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity)

These policies don't pay the doctor or hospital, but instead pay the policy holder. This way, the insured can use the money for deductibles, copays, loss of income or any other bills that need to be seen to.

Adding UnitedHealthcare’s ancillary products enables Surf Financial Brokers to support a whole-person approach to health and wellness. This integration helps identify and manage chronic conditions, increase engagement in preventive care, and provide holistic protection for life’s uncertainties. 

One of the best parts is that you can visit our site and compare plans, run quotes and apply online! It's really easy!

Whether you’re an employer looking to enhance your benefits package or an individual seeking comprehensive coverage, Surf Financial Brokers is ready to help you explore the new UnitedHealthcare ancillary product options. Contact us today to learn how these solutions can make a difference for you and your team.

*Not all products are available in all states and some policies may be subject to underwriting. 

Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life and disability insurance coverage. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. Please subscribe to this blog!

Disability Insurance During Economic Uncertainty

In today's ever-changing economic landscape, protecting your income has never been more important. Disability insurance serves as a vital financial safety net, especially during periods of economic uncertainty. Here's why this often-overlooked insurance is so vital.

As difficult as it is to deal with job losses and reduced income, it can be even more challenging to cope with an unexpected disability. Disability insurance provides a steady income stream if you're unable to work due to illness or injury, helping cover essential expenses like housing, groceries and utilities. This income replacement allows you to focus on recovery without the added stress of financial instability.

During economic uncertainties, you may be tempted to dip into your savings or retirement funds to cover expenses. Disability insurance helps protect your savings by providing an alternative source of income. Preserving your savings is crucial for maintaining your long-term financial goals and stability.

Economic fluctuations often coincide with increasing healthcare costs. If you become disabled, these rising costs can also quickly deplete your finances. Disability insurance helps offset these expenses, ensuring you can afford necessary medical care without sacrificing your financial wellness.

According to the Social Security Administration, one in four adults will experience a disability before reaching retirement age. Having disability insurance in place provides peace of mind and financial protection.

With the rise of the gig economy and freelance work, many individuals lack traditional employer benefits. Individual disability insurance becomes even more critical for these workers, offering portable coverage that moves with them regardless of their employment status.

Remember, disability insurance is a crucial component of financial planning, particularly during times of economic uncertainty. It provides income protection, preserves savings, and offers peace of mind in an unpredictable world. As we navigate through economic challenges, having this financial safety net in place can make all the difference in maintaining stability and security for yourself and your loved ones.

Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life and disability insurance coverage. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. Please subscribe to this blog!

Why Hospital Indemnity Insurance Is A Must For Self-Employed And Small Business Owners

Being your own boss comes with a unique set of rewards – freedom, flexibility, and the satisfaction of building something from the ground up. But it also comes with unique risks, especially when it comes to healthcare. For self-employed individuals and small business owners, a sudden hospital stay can wreak havoc on both personal finances and business operations. That's where hospital indemnity insurance steps in, offering a crucial safety net.

Unlike employees with employer-sponsored health insurance (and options for HRA's and company funded HSA's), self-employed individuals and small business owners often shoulder the full burden of healthcare costs. Even with a solid health insurance plan, unexpected hospital stays can lead to significant out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles, copayments, and non-medical costs.

Here's why this is especially concerning:

• Lost Income: When you're running your own show, time off means lost income. A prolonged hospital stay can severely impact your ability to work and generate revenue.
• Business Disruption: For small business owners, a health crisis can disrupt operations, potentially impacting employees, clients, and overall business continuity.
• Financial Strain: The combination of medical bills and lost income can create a financial burden that's difficult to recover from.

Hospital Indemnity Insurance: Your Financial Buffer

Hospital indemnity insurance provides a fixed cash benefit for each day you're hospitalized. This benefit is paid directly to you, regardless of your other health insurance coverage. Here's how it can be a game-changer:

• Covers Out-of-Pocket Expenses: Use the cash benefit to pay deductibles, copayments, and other medical expenses not covered by your primary health insurance.
• Replaces Lost Income: The cash benefit can help offset lost income during your hospital stay, allowing you to focus on recovery without financial stress.
• Pays for Non-Medical Expenses: Use the money for things like childcare, transportation, or even hiring temporary help to keep your business running.

Why It's Ideal for Self-Employed and Small Business Owners:

• Flexibility: Hospital indemnity plans typically offer flexible benefit options, allowing you to choose a level of coverage that fits your needs and budget.
• Direct Payment: The cash benefit is paid directly to you, giving you the freedom to use it as you see fit.
• Supplement to Existing Coverage: It works alongside your existing health insurance, filling in the gaps and providing extra financial protection.
• Affordability: Compared to major medical insurance, hospital indemnity plans can be relatively affordable, making them accessible to those on a tight budget.

Investing in Your Well-being and Business Continuity

As a self-employed individual or small business owner, your health is directly tied to the health of your business. Hospital indemnity insurance is a smart investment that can protect you from the financial fallout of an unexpected hospital stay, ensuring you can focus on what matters most: your recovery and your business.

Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life and disability insurance coverage. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. Please subscribe to this blog!

Are You Missing This Part Of Your Retirement Plan?

One of the top reasons people give when purchasing an individual Disability Insurance (DI) policy is that it's part of their retirement planning. You see, when people save during their working years, most likely that money is being saved for their retirement. However, one illness or accident could not only keep that person from working, but the loss of income would mean dipping into those savings.

Granted, most of our clients who buy DI are self-employed, such as business owners, salespeople or contract employees who don't have access to "group plans". Also, these people have to create their own benefits "package", which includes some sort of retirement plan. Linking their retirement planning with a DI plan makes sense.

When people think of disability insurance, they usually think of someone in a cast or wheelchair who suffered some sort of accident. In reality, around 85% of all claims are from illnesses, such as cancer, heart attack or a stroke. These claims can go on for months while the bills continue to come in the mail. A DI policy can keep those bills paid and your retirement savings intact.

If you are a business owner or otherwise self-employed, let us help you find a DI policy that covers your bills and stay in your budget. 

Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life and disability insurance coverage. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. Please subscribe to this blog!

We Know Your Time Is Valuable

At Surf Financial Brokers, we know you are busy. Between work, family and other activities, it can be difficult to meet with an insurance agent to discuss the different types of life insurance, or to get a quote for a cancer plan. With that in mind, we have upgraded our scheduling calendar and made it accessible for you to set a time to meet that is convenient for you.

So if you have a question about an existing policy with us or just want to compare premiums on a dental plan, use our scheduler to find a time that fits into your busy schedule.

Don't put off securing your family's finances. Schedule a short phone call or Zoom meeting and let us help you.

Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life and disability insurance coverage. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. Please subscribe to this blog!

Disability Insurance For 2025

Happy 2025! I hope you've got your New Year's resolutions in order and  that one on your list is making sure that you've got your paycheck protected. 

When I speak to groups I ask what is their number one asset is. People will say it's their house or their car or collectibles, but the number one asset you have is your ability to earn a living. Without that you really don't have all those other things.

This is why it's important to make sure that you can still earn a living and bring money into your household. If you're sick or hurt and you can't work what happens to your bills? They just keep coming and don't stop. This is how people get behind the eightball, so it's important that you have a protection plan in place. We call it disability insurance. 

Let's say that you had a box in your house that prints money. Once a year it would print enough money to replace your annual salary so just for instance, if you make $40,000 a year, once a year this machine would print $40,000.  Would you insure that machine? The answer is of course "yes". 

Just to be clear, you're the machine. You're the one making that money, so it's important to make sure that you are protecting your "number one asset". With that in mind knowing that you're going to have to need some disability insurance you've got a couple of options.

If you're self-employed you would call an insurance agent and say, "I need to get some disability insurance." The agent will give you a quote based off of your line of work, as well as your age, your health and if you smoke. 

Most of our clients go with a two-year benefit because it can take that long for Social Security disability benefits to kick in. However, some of our clients choose benefits periods from six months or up to age 67.

If you have the option to purchase disability insurance through work, get it. Disability plans through work are a little bit different because almost all employees are going to have the same occupation rating because you're all working in the same industry. Also, they may include maternity benefits which individual plans won't offer. 

One item to mention is that if your employer is paying for your disability insurance, those benefits are taxable. In other words, if you file a claim because you got sick or hurt you can't work you're only bringing home about 65-70% of your income. and you'll be on the hook for paying taxes on that money. 

One of the misconceptions when it comes to disability is that people think of people in car wrecks or sitting in wheelchairs, however about 85% of all disability claims are from sicknesses. Things like cancer, strokes and heart attacks as well as other chronic illness tend to be the majority of claims. 

One more thing I want to share is called a Return of Premium Rider. It can cost a little more, but if you keep your plan to age 67, the insurance company will return your premiums to you minus any claims paid. Think of it as a forced savings plan.

If you have any questions or if you're self-employed and would like more information, let us know.  

Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life and disability insurance coverage. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. Please subscribe to this blog!