Aflac---Yes or No?

[maslex]

Just curious how many of you out there have Aflac? I have seen many commercials for it. I have heard that stupid "AFLAC" duck many times. And I remember a few years ago my father telling me to get it (he had it). Other than that, I've never paid much attention to it.

Well, an Aflac rep was at work yesterday signing people up if they wanted to. And I signed up. Can you tell me what the pros/cons are of this?

 

[Happy Snowman]

What policies are they selling?

 

[Disney Doll]

We have a cancer policy through them which is great.

 

[aprilgail2]

Not sure what kind you are looking for but I have Disability insurance through Aflac- its just for 3,000 a month and certainly doesn't cover my monthly wages I would lose but its a little something to hold me over in case I am hurt and out of work.

 

[Jedana]

DH had a policy through Aflac, 04-07. We thought we were covered when he had to take off 3 weeks for his cancer surgery.

Nope. They had dropped the policy that he was paying on about a year before, and changed him to a different one, that paid out way less. He may have been notified at work (he didn't know) but I had never received anything at home about this (I read all that kind of stuff). So instead of getting $100 a day while in the hospital, he got $20.


He dropped the policy as soon as he was back to work, and told his boss why. The company dropped the Aflac option as soon as renewal time hit---turns out the boss didn't know they changed the policies either!

No more Aflac for us.

 

[aprilchem]

I've had two different AFLAC policies and am done with that company because I was never able to get them to pay claims. I had a maternity policy under them that they denied me for when I became pregnant because apparently you had to have the policy for 18 months before it became active (which I never could find in any of the paperwork I'd signed). Then a few years later I got an "accident" policy because it was cheap, and that year we happened to have an ER visit when my son fell and hit his head. It was a covered event, but they denied it, delayed payment, lost my paperwork twice, and were generally a pain to deal with. I ended up letting it go because the amount of time I was spending to try to get the claim accepted wasn't worth it. So no more AFLAC for me, ever.

 

[LukenDC]

I have two Aflac policies---a cancer policy and a life insurance policy. I'm at high risk for skin cancer, hence my decision to buy the cancer policy. Eight months after buying the policy, I had my first basal cell carcinoma and the policy paid out $800 (since basal cell carcinoma is non-lethal and easily treated, it is ineligible for the big lump sum payment). I bought the life insurance because it is completely portable should I leave my current workplace.

I recommend that you give careful consideration to your needs, possible health issues, existing insurance coverage, and the annual cost of the Aflac policies. Aflac can be expensive and the payments for many policies are relatively modest. I suspect that many people pay more in premiums than they will ever get in benefits. That said, I know people for whom Aflac was a real blessing.

 

[Happy Snowman]

I have two Aflac policies---a cancer policy and a life insurance policy. I'm at high risk for skin cancer, hence my decision to buy the cancer policy. Eight months after buying the policy, I had my first basal cell carcinoma and the policy paid out $800 (since basal cell carcinoma is non-lethal and easily treated, it is ineligible for the big lump sum payment). I bought the life insurance because it is completely portable should I leave my current workplace.

I recommend that you give careful consideration to your needs, possible health issues, existing insurance coverage, and the annual cost of the Aflac policies. Aflac can be expensive and the payments for many policies are relatively modest. I suspect that many people pay more in premiums than they will ever get in benefits. That said, I know people for whom Aflac was a real blessing.

Read the fine print--most skin cancers are not covered at all under these types of plans.

There are other companies out there that sell these types of plans that are better to deal with than AFLAC but if that is who your company contacted with, your rates are probably going to be better going with them.

 

[sam_gordon]

We have their accident and their hospitalization plan. I don't remember if we got their cancer plan. The accident plan has paid off for us. We've gotten money when all three kids have been hurt (at different times). Whether we're paying more than what we've gotten back... ?

Find out exactly what your policy covers. They have many different policies and what one person has may not be what you're offered.

They do pay on our claims very quick... within a week.

 

[littlejimmy]

Aflac is like every other insurance company. they take in more than they take out. so for every person that comes out ahead, there are way more that come out behind.

 

[LilyWDW]

AFLAC policies are quite a bit more expensive then similar or identical policies from other companies. Sadly, your company most likely didn't do their homework before going with AFLAC which means you don't really have a choice.

There are constantly reports of them being very slow to pay out and very difficult to GET to pay out.

 

[Pamlur]

In my area, they do very aggressive cold calls in businesses. They came to our office several times; we politely told them "no" the first time, then got less and less polite until they finally got the message. We still get a drop-in every so often, but thankfully not as aggressive as the first couple of guys. One of them left a tiny stuffed duck with my comptroller to give to me, and pretty much accused him of not planning to give it to me. I gave it to a secretary's kid.

 

[LilyWDW]

In my area, they do very aggressive cold calls in businesses. They came to our office several times; we politely told them "no" the first time, then got less and less polite until they finally got the message. We still get a drop-in every so often, but thankfully not as aggressive as the first couple of guys. One of them left a tiny stuffed duck with my comptroller to give to me, and pretty much accused him of not planning to give it to me. I gave it to a secretary's kid.

The biggest reason this happens is because an AFLAC seller's biggest competition is another AFLAC seller. There are SO many of them in most areas that they are tripping over themselves. How do I know this? I used to work for a market competitor and our manager would give us money if we brought in AFLAC business cards! My aunt gave me a stack of them one time after she had only been at her new job for two months. It was pathetic.

They also don't have a list of what places have already been "hit". Heck, they don't even have lists of what places already have AFLAC to give to their people. So they end up annoying their own customers.

 

[jdb in AZ]

AFLAC would have to get rid of their obnoxious commercials before I'd even consider buying one of their policies.

 

[CF'er]

I have been both a seller and a holder of their policies. I never had an issue with them paying my claims. Always easy to file and quick check in the mail. I no longer sell because I am not cut out for that type of work. I am a big believer in their policies tho. Or at least I used to be. Can't speak for what they offer now.