Specified (Dread) Disease Coverage

Specified (Dread) Disease Coverage is a type of insurance policy that provides benefits for the treatment of specific illnesses or diseases. Here are some key features of specified disease coverage:

  • Limited coverage: Specified disease coverage is usually limited to a specific list of illnesses or diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, or stroke.

  • Fixed benefits: The policy pays out a fixed amount of benefits for each covered condition, regardless of the actual costs of treatment.

  • No deductibles: Specified disease coverage usually does not have a deductible, meaning that benefits are paid out as soon as a covered condition is diagnosed.

  • Affordable premiums: Premiums for specified disease coverage are typically lower than for comprehensive health insurance, making it a more affordable option for those who may not be able to afford traditional health insurance.

  • Supplemental coverage: Specified disease coverage is often used as a supplement to comprehensive health insurance, providing additional financial protection for specific conditions.

Example: Let's say a person has a family history of cancer and is concerned about the potential cost of treatment if they were to be diagnosed with the disease. They purchase a specified disease coverage policy that provides a fixed benefit of $50,000 for cancer treatment. If the person is diagnosed with cancer, they would receive a payout of $50,000, which they could use to cover medical expenses, lost income, or other costs associated with the illness. The policy may also cover other specified diseases or illnesses, depending on the terms of the policy.

Next Up

Vision is the most commonly offered ancillary benefit in employer-sponsored plans — 89% of employers offer it nationally, higher than dental, higher than life insurance, and higher than any voluntary benefit. And yet vision is also one of the most underfunded benefits in the market.
Dental benefits are not your largest cost center. For most employers, dental represents a fraction of what medical costs per covered employee annually. But dental is one of the highest visibility benefits in your package: employees use it, notice it, and talk about it. When it’s good, it builds goodwill. When it’s inadequate (low maximums, no orthodontia, zero employer contribution) it registers as a signal that the employer isn’t invested in the total package.
How an employer funds its health plan sits quietly in the background of every benefits decision. Most CHROs and CFOs know their premium cost. Fewer understand the mechanics of how their plan is actually structured: who holds the risk, who administers the claims, how costs flow, and what flexibility, if any, they have to change any of it.