Indexed Universal Life: Combining Life Insurance and Market Potential

Indexed universal life (IUL) insurance is a unique type of life insurance that blends the security of a guaranteed death benefit with the growth potential of the stock market. It's a popular choice for people who want to protect their loved ones financially while also building cash value for the future.

Here's a closer look at some of the key benefits of IUL insurance:

• Growth Potential: Unlike traditional life insurance, IUL policies allow your cash value to grow based on a market index, such as the S&P 500. This means your cash value has the opportunity to grow significantly over time, potentially outpacing inflation and other savings vehicles.
• Downside Protection: IUL policies typically come with a floor rate of interest. This acts as a safety net, ensuring your cash value never loses money even if the market experiences a downturn.
• Flexibility: IUL offers flexibility in terms of premium payments and death benefit amounts. You can adjust these elements as your life circumstances change, ensuring the policy remains aligned with your needs.
• Living Benefits: Many IUL policies offer living benefits riders. These allow you to access your cash value while you're still alive, for purposes like critical illness or long-term care.
• Tax Advantages: The cash value in your IUL policy grows tax-deferred. This means you won't pay taxes on any gains until you withdraw the money. Additionally, any death benefit payout to your beneficiaries is typically income tax-free.

Here are some additional points to consider:

• Complexity: IUL policies can be more complex than traditional term life insurance. It's important to understand the features, fees, and riders associated with a policy before you commit.
• Costs: IUL policies typically have higher premiums than term life insurance due to the potential for market growth and added flexibility.
• Not a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme: While IUL offers the potential for higher returns, it's not a guaranteed path to riches. The stock market can be volatile, and there's always the risk of losing money.

IUL can be a valuable tool for those seeking a comprehensive insurance and savings strategy. However, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. If you're considering IUL, it's important to consult with a qualified financial advisor to determine if it's the right fit for your financial goals and risk tolerance.

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 You Should Consider A Cancer Insurance Plan

Cancer is a serious disease that can have a devastating impact on a person's physical and financial health. The cost of cancer treatment can be high, and even with health insurance, many people find themselves struggling to pay for their care. Cancer insurance can help to ease the financial burden of cancer by providing a lump sum of money to help cover the cost of treatment.

There are many different types of cancer insurance plans available, so it is important to compare plans carefully before choosing one. Some plans offer coverage for a variety of cancer treatments, while others may only cover specific types of treatment. Some plans also offer coverage for non-medical expenses, such as travel costs to and from treatment or lost wages.

The cost of cancer insurance can vary depending on the type of plan, the level of coverage, and the person's age and health history. However, for many people, the cost of cancer insurance is well worth the peace of mind that comes with knowing that they will have financial assistance if they are diagnosed with cancer.

Here are some of the benefits of having a cancer insurance plan:

• Financial assistance for cancer treatment: Cancer treatment can be expensive, even with health insurance. A cancer insurance plan can provide a lump sum of money to help cover the cost of treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and prescription drugs.
• Coverage for non-medical expenses: In addition to covering the cost of medical treatment, some cancer insurance plans also offer coverage for non-medical expenses related to cancer, such as travel costs to and from treatment, lost wages, and child care.
• Peace of mind: Knowing that you have financial assistance if you are diagnosed with cancer can give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on your health. If you are concerned about the cost of cancer treatment, a cancer insurance plan may be a good option for you. Compare plans carefully to find one that meets your needs and budget.

How to Choose a Cancer Insurance Plan

When choosing a cancer insurance plan, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

• The cost of the plan: Cancer insurance plans can vary in price, so it is important to compare plans to find one that fits your budget.
• The level of coverage: Some plans offer comprehensive coverage, while others may only cover specific types of cancer treatments. Make sure to choose a plan that offers the level of coverage you need.
• The terms of the plan: Read the plan carefully to understand the terms and conditions, such as the waiting period, the elimination period, and the maximum benefit.

Once you have considered these factors, you can start comparing plans. There are many different cancer insurance plans available, so you should be able to find one that meets your needs.

You can either run a quote for a plan (and apply for coverage) directly from our site or schedule a short phone call to discuss options.

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. And please subscribe to this blog!

A New Addition To Our Insurance Line-Up - Dental!

For the last few years we at Surf Financial Brokers have offered a dental/vision/hearing combo plan. And to be honest, we weren't too crazy about it because the dental portion of the plan had a network that just didn't work for most of our clients. 

We listened to your feedback and have taken on another dental and vision insurance carrier. However, instead of a "combo" product, the new plans are separate. We still offer the combo plan and if you need hearing coverage, it will be available.

One of the issues I have heard over the years is that dentists tend to go from one network to another, and rarely notify their patients ahead of time. There's nothing more frustrating than finding out after a cleaning or other service has been completed that your dentist no longer is in the network. With that in mind, we offer "out of network" plans that can work as well. 

We haven't done away with the old plans, and like our many of our other products, we will continue to offer a variety of carriers. That's the nice part about being a truly independent insurance agency. We don't work for a company, but instead the companies work for us.

The really good news is that you can get a quote directly from our site. And if you find the plan that you like and fits your budget, you can apply online. It's that easy!

Have a question? Book a short phone call from our site or drop us a note below in the comments. 

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. And please subscribe to this blog!

Do You Have A Rainy Day Fund?

We often hear about people who need funds in an emergency. Someone who has a medical emergency, for example, may need some quick cash for hospital bills, deductibles, co-pays. Along with that could be a shortage of money to pay bills while out of work. 

A general rule of thumb has been to make sure you have six months of money saved to pay bills, but many rarely do this. The solution has been to wait until an emergency occurs, then start a GoFundMe page and ask friends or family (or even strangers) to contribute. People who know I sell insurance will ask me "Why didn't you sell that person some insurance?"  My answer is "I tried but they didn't find it important enough at the time."

However, if one owns a permanent life insurance policy that builds cash value, asking friends and strangers to kick in doesn't have to happen. And by overfunding a policy*, building that cash value can happen faster. 

I knew of a gentleman who had quickly built a small fortune in a life insurance policy and would "warehouse" his money until he needed it. If he saw a piece of property he wanted to purchase he would call the insurance carrier and "borrow" against his policy, and within 6-8 months he would have the loan paid off. By using this method he avoided having to fill out loads of paperwork at a bank and, in most cases, he would have the money within a few business days.

The point of this is that life insurance that builds cash value can be used for emergencies, like a critical illness, or many other things. If you have questions about how this works, visit our site and book a short phone appointment to discuss. In the meantime, please stay healthy. 

*There are limits as to how much one can contribute to a policy which are set by the IRS. Tax penalties can apply if the policy isn't structured correctly.

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. And please subscribe to this blog!

What Is The Guaranteed Insurability Option?

One of the things that can confuse people when purchasing life insurance (and other types of coverage as well) is the various types of riders that are available. These riders are simply add-ons that can increase the coverage of your policy. One of these riders is the Guaranteed Insurability Option (GIO), also known as the Guaranteed Purchase Option (GPO). 

The GIO rider can work for you by giving you opportunities during the life of the policy to purchase extra coverage without having to go through medical underwriting. The insurance company will send you a notice from time to time (sometime stated in the policy itself) stating that you have a window of time called an "option date" to purchase more coverage. These dates usually fall on the anniversary of your policy and can be spread out every 3 to 5 years.

Of course if you purchase more coverage it will cost you more in premiums, and the additional coverage will be based on your current age. For instance, let's say that you bought a policy at age 35 and the premium is $40/month for $250,000 coverage. At age 45 you want to purchase more coverage (you may have had a life change or bought a bigger home or whatever), yet you have also had health issues recently. In the case your rate will increase because you are buying more coverage, but that new coverage will based on you being 45 years old now. 

As an agent I recommend this rider to people who are insuring small children because you just don't know what can happen down the road for a your person when it comes to their health. 

The rider itself can add a small amount to your premium but should be considered if you have a family history of medical issues or if you have a medical issue that will may get worse. 

Here's a brochure from Illinois Mutual, a great company that has some awesome policies. 

As always, let us help you if you have questions or comments. You can visit our site and book a short phone appointment. In the meantime stay healthy and thank you for your referrals.

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. And please subscribe to this blog!

What Is The Slayer Rule?

In a previous post from 2021 I discussed occasions when a life insurance policy wouldn't pay out. One example I briefly mentioned was the "slayer rule" or "slayer statutes", which prevents anyone from benefiting from murdering you, if they are suspected of murder or plotting to murder you. 

I had a few questions (off the record, nudge nudge, wink wink) and I thought it was an interesting topic, so here's a bit more information.

1. Each state has its own version of Slayer Statutes.
2. The rule applies even if there is no conviction.
3. Even the suspicion of murder can disqualify your beneficiary from receiving life insurance proceeds or any other part of your estate.
4. The disqualified beneficiary's proceeds can be distributed to other beneficiaries or the estate. 

The bottom line here is that you should trust your beneficiaries to care more about you than any monetary proceeds that would come at your passing.

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. And please subscribe to this blog!

Why Life Insurance Is Necessary For Blended Families

As the holidays approach, the idea of taking care of our family means more to us. Having our loved ones get together for a nice meal and gift giving leaves us with great memories. 

However, when we think of the "traditional family" we think of a husband and wife and their two or three children, who all live together in one home until the kids become adults and move out. Even though there are still families in this situation, there are many people who have changed that concept. With social norms changing and people living longer, the family structure has been altered dramatically. 

Now we have parents raising children who are not theirs, biologically speaking. Think of the old Brady Bunch TV show where two parents who had their own kids remarried. Of course, on the show everything was great. The fact that Marcia was not Mike Brady's biological daughter was never brought up as a topic. 

There are those people who do love their step-kids or other children who have been brought into the home, like nieces and nephews . I know of one person in particular who is raising his wife's nephew because his sister-in-law had a drug problem. 

There are those who begrudgingly raise a spouse's children from a previous relationship to "keep the peace". And when problems arise, the kids want to move back to their other biological parent or some other option. In other words, tensions can, and in some cases, do get escalated to the point where children are going back and forth between parents or other adult family members. 

With all of this in mind, it's important to keep an even keel when it comes to estate planning with a blended family as it creates a whole set of issues. A will may seem like a good way of planning, but in fact, life insurance could be a better option to make sure those who are intended to benefit will be taken care of in the eventual death of a parent. And in the flexibility of naming and changing beneficiaries, as well as listing primary and contingent beneficiaries, makes it incredibly easy to take care of the family's estate planning needs. 

As an attorney friend of mine says, "A life insurance policy trumps a will because it's a legally binding contract." The "yours, mine and ours" scenario can be very confusing for most families when it comes to estate planning, and life insurance can be the answer that is needed. It can help avoid a long and drawn out estate process and keep the peace within a family. 

Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life, disability, long term care, cancer, accident and other insurance coverages in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. 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. And please subscribe to this blog!

What The Heck Is An Elimination Period?

As you may know, I often refer to the "Holy Trinity Of Insurance", which consists of major medical insurance, life insurance and, of course, disability insurance. Many people have a disability insurance (DI) policy through their work, but unfortunately, not enough people who are contract employees, business owners and otherwise "self-employed" people (like myself) have an individual DI plan. That's a discussion for another day. 

I often speak to groups of employees when I am enrolling benefits, and when I discuss the DI plan, many of the employees ask what the elimination period is when they see it. 

Simply put, the elimination period is the time, usually in days, before the policy actually begins to pay out benefits. There are typically two numbers with a comma between them, such as "0,7" or "7,14". The first number is the number of days that need to elapse before the policy will pay for an accident, while the second number is the waiting period for the benefits to trigger during an illness.

In other words, the elimination period is like a deductible, but measured in time instead of dollars. So a 0,7 elimination period means that the policy will begin to pay benefits on the first day after an accident and the eighth day after a sickness.

Just like your deductible on your car or health insurance, the higher the number, the lower your premium. If you think you can "self-insure" for a month or two, your premiums can be reduced significantly. 

When one thinks of a disability, injuries from auto accidents come to mind. But consider that almost 90% of DI claims are for illnesses, like cancer. Treatment can last for months and can easily keep someone from working.  

If you have questions about Disability Insurance or other insurance products we offer, feel free to book a short phone appointment with us to discuss. In the meantime, please stay healthy!

Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life, disability, long term care, cancer, accident and other insurance coverages in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. 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. And please subscribe to this blog!

We Only Sell You What You Need! (and some humor)

We have all heard the adage that a good salesperson can sell ice to an Eskimo. But a salesperson with integrity will ask, "Does that Eskimo really need ice, and if not, why are you selling it to him or her?"  The question implies that sales people, entrepreneurs, contract employees and business owners must do their absolute best to come off as honest and not shady.

Think about those TV commercials for attorneys. There are two types - the ones who try to act sincere about how they really want to help, and the ones who scream and boast about how much money they get their clients. Neither is awesome, but the latter comes off like a used car salesman. Integrity? I'll plead the fifth. 

Selling on need means that there needs to be a discussion (short or long) to find out what the client's needs are. And everyone has different needs, despite what some of the financial "gurus" in the media assume when they give generic advice. That discussion will let everyone involved in the sales process know that we are doing our best by our client. 

The Funny Part

I was speaking to the Regional VP for Disability Sales at one of the insurance carriers I represent. We were discussing a YouTube video I had made a few months earlier titled "Can Zombies Get Life Insurance?" In that conversation he asked if vampires could get Long Term Care insurance. "Well, you certainly wouldn't sell them a policy with a lifetime benefit because they don't die. A company could go broke paying that claim!" Once again, this guy showed me why he's a lot smarter than I am.

But the conversation made me think. For several weeks, I have considered the "vampire market" and wondered if there were suitable products for such a niche market. My list looked like this.

1. Life insurance - Vampires don't die, unless by a wooden stake or sunlight. Life coverage may not be necessary.
2. Accident insurance - Most accidents will cover severe sunburns, as well as wooden stakes that accidentally pierce the heart. 
3. Long Term Care insurance - I'm not sure if being "undead" is a chronic illness.
4. Disability insurance - Tricky, because we are assuming that vampires have incomes to protect.  
5. Medical insurance - Assuming vampires need to be hospitalized, what doctor would know how to treat them? 

Let us make sure you are purchasing what you need and not what pays the highest commission. And if you aren't sure what you need, you can book a quick conversation with us from our website. We look forward to hearing from you.

Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life, disability, long term care, cancer, accident and other insurance coverages in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. 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. And please subscribe to this blog!

What Are You Buying Online? 2023

When I originally got into the insurance business the internet didn't exist. Agents would carry rate books with incredibly small print and have to calculate the premiums and fees by hand. Needless to say mistakes were a common occurrence, and I was one of the biggest culprits of quoting someone an incorrect price. 

At that time (back in the 1980's) we were taught a method of prospecting which involved networking and learning verbiage to ask for referrals. The networking part was not as bad as it would seem because I am comfortable talking to strangers. And I found out later that most of the people I was trying to connect with were not as comfortable as I was in that situation. On the other hand, though, the referral part was hard for me.

Let's face it, most people don't like to give referrals. When I have asked for referrals in the past I can sense the tension build and the wheels turn in my client's head. I understand the trepidation because I have been on that side of the situation as well. You give a friend's name and the next thing you know your friend calls you angrily. "Why did you give that insurance agent my name?"

Unfortunately, things haven't changed much since then. There are still companies out there trying to teach their new agents the old school ways. This is because they believe that insurance selling is built upon a relationship of trust. There's nothing wrong with that, but people in general, and younger people specifically, don't feel the need to have that relationship anymore. 

From an insurance agency standpoint, we still do some of the same "old school" things, but with the internet available, we can now market to a wider geographical area without having to be physically able to see and talk to our clients. Zoom and other tools have given agents access to people who need our products and services from multiple states.

This is evident by the increasing numbers of people who are buying financial products on the internet. Things like auto insurance, life insurance, investments and banking were handled in person by an agent or advisor, and they still are. However many people feel they no longer need, or want, to deal with someone for these types of services.

Personally speaking, I began purchasing my car insurance online years ago, as well as my small investment portfolio. By doing this, it keeps more money in my pocket and I don't have to wait for someone to return a phone call or be in their office. Convenience is the name of the game.

With that in mind, we have done our best to make available more products on our website that clients can look at when it is convenient for them. And if someone wants to speak to a real person, we have made our calendar available for a phone appointment accessible too. 

Check out our website and run a quote, and if you see a rate you like that fits into your budget, you can even start an application. We want to make things as convenient for our clients as possible. In the meantime, please stay healthy!

Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life, disability, long term care, cancer, accident and other insurance coverages in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. 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. And please subscribe to this blog!

The Basics Of Dental Insurance

One of the most popular benefits people want to discuss when enrolling for their benefits is their dental insurance. I have always felt that the reason they ask about dental coverage is because they know they will use it, even if it's just for the preventative benefits. And in the back of everyone's mind is the scenario of breaking a tooth while eating popcorn or a candy bar. 

Dental insurance, like health insurance, is typically supported by networks of doctors, who agree to fees for certain services. This can help dental patients with the fees for "basic" services such as fillings or extractions, or "major" services, like root canals or crowns.

There are plans available that will allow one to go out of the network for these services, which may mean paying more out of pocket, but they still cover the bulk of the costs. For those who live in rural areas where finding a doctor in a certain network can be difficult, this is a still a good option.

And there can be waiting periods, depending on the plan. I have seen some plans that only cover preventative (cleanings and x-rays) for the first year, while others may offer basic services. 

There is a good reason for this. Many people will tell me "I need a root canal, so I better get some dental insurance." The insurance carrier doesn't want to receive a couple of months of premiums (let's say $200 for the family) and have to pay out a $2000 claim right off the bat. Makes sense.

At Surf Financial Brokers, shopped around and looked at several plans that our clients would want. So now we offer a plan that includes vision and hearing coverage as well, and allows clients to receive services in or out of the network. If you are interested in such a plan, you can go to our website and run your own quote for you or your whole family. And if you see a plan you like, you can even start your own application. 

Dental coverage is an important way to avoid unforeseen situations that are painful, inconvenient and expensive. And our teeth are important for our quality of life, as well as part of a great smile.

Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life, disability, long term care, cancer, accident and other insurance coverages in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. 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. And please subscribe to this blog!

Are You Buying Insurance Or Peace Of Mind?

As I have mentioned previously, the Greek word for insurance is "asfalia", which literally translates to "security". The Greeks are not paying for someone to insure them, but instead are buying peace of mind, knowing that their families and loved ones are secure.

One of the recurring themes that insurance companies use when advertising, or even training their agents, is that their products give people the peace of mind. I worked with one company that had a brochure titled "What Keeps You Up At Night?", with the idea being that prospective clients would be so worried about what would happen to their families that they couldn't get to sleep. One can imagine that this may be the case for some people. 

If only there was a way to get to these people when they were worrying about this. How could I help people who were in their pajamas? 

That's why we have added several quoting tools onto our website. A concerned breadwinner can visit our site and run quotes for life, cancer, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance. We even have one for our combo dental, vision and hearing plan. And the best part is if someone sees a rate that fits into their budget they can start their application, all without a pushy salesman. (We aren't pushy.)

On the other hand, we make ourselves available if someone is looking for a little assistance, and we do have other insurance products, like disability and long term care, that we currently don't have the capability of quoting online. For those kinds of concerns, we ask that you book an appointment that is convenient for you from our site and we can help you out over the phone. 

If you are in Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina or South Carolina, and can't sleep, visit our site. In the meantime, please stay healthy!

Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life, disability, long term care, cancer, accident and other insurance coverages in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. 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. And please subscribe to this blog!

Time For a Change To This Blog

Not that many people noticed, but I took a week off from the blog last week as I tried to regroup a bit. I wanted to use the time to consider a few options. Partly from general burn out and partly because coming up with a new insurance related topic three times a week is harder than I thought, I mulled some stuff over and have decided to make a few changes. 

Part of the problem is that I continue to write another blog on sales and marketing twice a week. I appreciate that it makes me do research on new products and keeps my brain "flexing it's muscles", but it was becoming a bit much. 

After some consideration I will be changing the format here a bit. There will probably be only one (two at most) blogs each week, with less text and more video. This helps me because I'm a decent writer but I can knock out a short video on a topic in a minute or two, which is about the same time it would take you to read one of my blogs. 

I'm looking forward to sharing more information on life insurance, disability, long term care, accident and cancer insurance, as well as our other plans. 

To start us off on a lighter note, here is a good submission for you. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please leave us a comment. Thanks and please subscribe.

Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life, disability, long term care, cancer, accident and other insurance coverages in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. 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. And please subscribe to this blog!

What Is Heart Attack and Stroke Insurance?

Even though Covid has been the main medical headline for the last year or so, other serious health issues are still leading to more deaths. Heart disease, for example, is the leading cause of death in the United States, and as Covid deaths continue to decrease due to vaccines, strokes and cancer will remain near the top of the list as well.

Many times on this blog I have discussed the importance of a cancer insurance plan. Cancer, which comes in many forms and can be specific to one organ or another, is recognized by many when the topic comes up. And even though we all know that heart disease and cardio vascular issues prevail, we don't discuss them as much as cancer.

Part of this is because for many people, avoiding these health problems is a matter of changing one's lifestyle, diet and fitness goals. Making those changes, like eating less pork, drinking less alcohol and going for a walk tend to cut into our wants and needs. And it can seem as if it interferes with our work day. Of course, stress is a leading factor in all of this.

Yet we see and hear about heart attacks and strokes all the time. Think of all the commercials on TV for medicines that can reduce your chance of a heart attack or stroke. 

The effects of a major health event can be long lasting. Physically, one can expect to be on some sort of medication for the rest of their life after experiencing a heart issue. A stroke can be debilitating and lead to other issues. My mother had a small stroke while undergoing knee replacement surgery. The stroke, which affected some of her motor skills, also kicked her dementia into overdrive. What was previously some age-related memory loss became full-blown episodes.

There is a financial cost to all of this as well. Anyone who has been hospitalized for a cardiovascular disease knows all too well that there will be deductibles, copays, out-of-network cost (just because your hospital may be in the insurance company's network doesn't mean that everyone that works there is in the network!) and other out-of-pocket expenses. This can add up quickly. And believe me when I say this, not everyone wants to contribute to your GoFundMe page. Plus there is the loss of income when someone is out of work as a result of one of these illnesses.

With all of this in mind, it is important to know that there are insurance policies available that help cover these costs. Most of them pay a lump sum amount in the event of a major health issue, like a heart attack or a stroke. We offer several of these plans, including the following:

• Cancer, Heart Attack and Stroke plan. Just as the name implies, this policy will pay you a lump sum of money (you choose at the time of the application) when diagnosed for one of these conditions.
• Critical Illness. These plans also pay a lump sum but have a different array of illnesses. Most include heart attack, stroke, comas, and other major health events, but cancer may or may not be included. Check with your agent to see what they offer.
• Disability Insurance. When people think of disability insurance, they think of someone hurt who is in a wheelchair, but over 85% of all disability claims are from illness, with cancer and heart disease at the top of the list. 

If heart disease runs in your family or you have concerns about one of these health events, drop us a note or schedule a quick phone appointment with us. We'll be happy to help you with a quote. In the meantime, please stay healthy!

Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life, disability, long term care, cancer, accident and other insurance coverages in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. 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. And please subscribe to this blog!