News & Information    

Breakthrough Surgery For Heart Failure Patients
What do you do when you need an aortic heart valve replacement, but the surgery is too risky? Until now, elderly heart failure patients have had only one option: risky open-heart surgery that can cause potential complications or even death. Now, the Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Heart
Friday, October 19th, 2012

Robotic Cancer Surgery
Just what is robotic cancer surgery? You might think it’s something out of a scary sci-fi movie – but actually, robot-assisted cancer surgery isn’t performed by hulking metal creatures leaning over your bed. Doctors use high-tech miniature robotics (minimally invasive laparosco
Wednesday, October 17th, 2012

Cancer Treatment Without Drugs?
Just a few years down the road, cancer treatment may be as simple as switching on a light bulb. In current clinical studies, scientists are exploring non-invasive gene therapy treatments that can combat cancer without surgery or chemotherapy. Essentially, the treatments activate dormant genes th
Monday, October 15th, 2012

Who Gets Parkinson’s Disease?
No one really knows what causes Parkinson’s disease, but scientists have identified a number of risk factors. If you have any of the following characteristics, you may be more likely to contract Parkinson’s  -- and it might be a wise idea for you to protect yourself financially by
Saturday, October 13th, 2012

What Causes Heart Disease?
Heart disease can lead to heart failure, and heart failure can have serious or fatal consequences – but where does heart disease come from in the first place? Knowing the facts about heart disease can help you see whether or not you’re at risk. If you have any of the conditions below
Thursday, October 11th, 2012

Ovarian Cancer FAQs
Here are answers to some of the most commonly-asked questions about ovarian cancer: Can I get ovarian cancer if I have had my ovaries removed? Technically, no – but it’s still possible to develop a type of cancer called primary peritoneal carcinoma, which attacks the area where the
Tuesday, October 09th, 2012

Treatments For Colon Cancer
Colon cancer treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Colon cancer is classified by stages (0-IV) depending on the seriousness of the condition, and each stage requires a different treatment approach. The doctor may use different types and combinations of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to com
Sunday, October 07th, 2012

What Causes Liver Cancer?
Liver cancer – and all the other types of cancer in the world – are caused by damaged cell DNA. (When the DNA is damaged, cells become cancerous, dividing and reproducing uncontrollably.) What triggers this abnormal cell growth, though? Sometimes it’s heredity, sometimes it&rsquo
Friday, October 05th, 2012

Risk Factors For Brain Cancer
Scientists still aren’t sure what causes the genetic mutation that lead to brain tumors. However, over the years, a number of risk factors have become associated with cancer of the brain – if you exhibit any of these characteristics, you’re much more likely to develop a brain tum
Wednesday, October 03rd, 2012

Are You At Risk For Stomach Cancer?
You might be surprised! Gastric (stomach) cancer has some unique risk factors that you might not have expected. You’re probably aware of some of the more common risk factors for this type of cancer – they include age (risk increases after 40), gender (men are more likely to get stomach
Monday, October 01st, 2012

Kidney Failure: Male Side Effects
If you are a man at risk for kidney disease, you may be focused more on the immediate consequences of renal failure, including the possibility of hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and/or kidney transplant. You may not be thinking about the potential sexual side effects of chronic kidney disease &n
Saturday, September 29th, 2012

Multiple Sclerosis In Men
Did you think that multiple sclerosis was mainly a women’s disease? Unfortunately, men can get it, too – in fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, men are more likely to pass MS to their children than women are. A family history of MS on either the father’s or the mother’s sid
Thursday, September 27th, 2012

Head And Neck Cancer: Risk Factors
You may think of head and neck cancer (cancer that attacks the mucosal linings of the nose, mouth or throat) as exclusively a smoker’s disease, but that’s actually not the case. It’s true that 85% of head and neck cancers are related to tobacco usage – alcohol usage and sec
Tuesday, September 25th, 2012

Bone Marrow Transplants For Breast Cancer
If you have a mother, sister or daughter with breast cancer, you are at risk for contracting the same disease. Wondering about the effects of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation can be overwhelming – will your body ever return to normal after such invasive treatments? Fortunately, a bone m
Sunday, September 23rd, 2012

Strokes: Unique Risk Factors For Women
A stroke (a “brain attack”) occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked (usually by a clot in a blood vessel) or when a blood vessel bursts in the brain, causing internal bleeding. You may be aware of the common risk factors for a stroke, which include high cholesterol and blood pre
Friday, September 21st, 2012

The Most Common Childhood Cancers
Children get cancer, too – and often, the types of cancer they get are different from common adult varieties. Occasionally, children develop more “adult” variants of the disease, but the list below shows some of the most frequent childhood cancers. Leukemia Brain and oth
Wednesday, September 19th, 2012

How Is Childhood Cancer Different From Adult Cancer?
Childhood cancer can be difficult to understand. When children get cancer, it’s usually not because of long-term lifestyle choices, environmental factors or pre-existing medical conditions. Usually, childhood cancers are caused by genetic mutations that occur extremely early in life, sometim
Monday, September 17th, 2012

Men Get Breast Cancer, Too!
Male breast cancer really does exist, and it’s just as serious as female breast cancer. It works the same way as female breast cancer, too: male breast cancer occurs when breast tissue cells begin to multiply abnormally, creating malignant tumors. According to the American Cancer Society, in
Saturday, September 15th, 2012

Are You At Risk For Prostate Cancer?
The simple answer to this question is “Yes”! (If you are a man, that is.) Approximately one man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during the course of a lifetime; one of every thirty-six men will die from the disease. However, some genetic or lifestyle factors put certain m
Thursday, September 13th, 2012

Breast Cancer Treatment Options
If you have a close relative (mother, daughter or sister) who is a breast cancer patient, you may also be at risk for breast cancer, and you should think carefully about the available treatment options. A breast cancer diagnosis is a traumatic experience for anyone, and thinking about your options
Tuesday, September 11th, 2012

Ovarian Cancer: What You Need To Know
Ovarian cancer strikes swiftly, and often it’s unexpected. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 15,500 women will die from ovarian cancer in 2012. Here are the important facts about who’s at risk, what may cause ovarian cancer and what you should do about it. Risk
Sunday, September 09th, 2012

Choosing A Kidney Failure Treatment
When your kidneys fail, your body is no longer able to clean wastes from your bloodstream, and you will quickly become very ill. Unless you get treatment that replaces kidney function artificially, you may die. Fortunately, kidney failure treatments allow you to stay alive and keep functioning fro
Friday, September 07th, 2012

Common Alternative Cancer Treatments
Do you have a family history of cancer? Have you been exposed to toxic chemicals? Are you a smoker, overweight or diabetic? These are just a few of the risk factors that could contribute to a cancer diagnosis in your future. If you think you may be at risk for cancer, it’s a good idea to inv
Wednesday, September 05th, 2012

Stroke Treatments: What To Expect
A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked (ischemic stroke) or when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, causing internal bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke). Both types of stroke kill brain cells and cause permanent brain damage. (Click here to read more information on stroke risk factor
Wednesday, September 05th, 2012

Chemotherapy FAQ
If you think you may be at risk for cancer, wondering about chemotherapy is a very normal step. Cancer treatments can be costly and confusing, and it’s important to have accurate information. If you believe you may be at risk for cancer, a cancer insurance policy can help protect you finan
Monday, September 03rd, 2012

Critical Illness Insurance And Medicaid
Are you trying to get Medicaid – but have you been told that your income is too high? Taking out a critical illness insurance policy provided by CancerPlans.com can actually help you qualify for Medicaid by meeting “spend-down” requirements. Here’s how the process works:
Sunday, September 02nd, 2012

Are You Eligible For Cancer Insurance?
Don’t worry – qualifying for cancer insurance is actually fairly simple. Critical illness insurance often requires a more extensive underwriting process, but a cancer insurance policy is comparatively easy to get. Regulations vary with individual providers, but (in general) there are j
Friday, August 31st, 2012

What Types Of Cancer Does Cancer Insurance Cover?
Cancer insurance is a flexible supplemental insurance policy that provides financial assistance upon first diagnosis of a wide variety of cancers. Covered conditions may vary with individual policies and carriers, but in general, most invasive internal cancers are included under a cancer insuran
Thursday, August 30th, 2012

Will My Health Insurance Cover Cancer?
Standard health insurance is limited – it covers relatively few of the costs of a serious illness like cancer. There are significant gaps even in a good medical insurance plan – and that’s one reason why taking out a supplemental cancer insurance policy is such a good idea. Can
Thursday, August 30th, 2012

How Does A “Return Of Premium” Rider Work?
So, what if you pay critical illness insurance premiums or cancer insurance premiums for 20 years, and never get sick? That would be ideal, of course – but what about all that “wasted” money? Fortunately, your premium money doesn’t have to disappear forever. The “
Tuesday, August 28th, 2012

What Is The “survival Period” For Critical Illness Insurance?
The “survival period” is the length of time you must wait after your critical illness diagnosis before you can collect your benefit money. For most critical illness insurance carriers, this period of time is 30 days, but individual providers may specify a different amount of time. On
Sunday, August 26th, 2012

How Are My Cancer Insurance Benefits Paid?
When you take out a cancer insurance policy, you want to know how, when and where you’ll receive your benefit money. Thankfully, supplemental insurance doesn’t require endless rounds of red tape and confusing procedures before you get your money. Cancer insurance is simple, it’s
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

Is Cancer Treatment Expensive?
These days, more and more cancer patients are surviving and going on to live rewarding lives. However, this success comes with a price tag. According to a recent study in Health Affairs, U.S. spending on cancer increased from $47,000 per individual case to $70,000 per case (49%) from 1983 through
Monday, August 20th, 2012

What Are Common Cancers For Men?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the top 10 cancers for men are prostate, lung, colon, rectum, bladder, malignant melanoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, kidney, mouth & throat, leukemia and pancreatic, in that order. Of the top three (prostate, lung and colon), prostate is
Friday, August 17th, 2012

Who Is At Risk For Pancreatic Cancer?
You may have heard that coffee or alcohol consumption will increase your risk of pancreatic cancer. Well, you’re wrong! According to the Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center at Johns Hopkins University, neither alcohol nor coffee plays a significant part in pancreatic cancer. Howeve
Wednesday, August 15th, 2012

Most Common Cancer Treatments
If you think you may be at risk for cancer, it’s vital to understand the available treatment options. Treatments vary depending on the type and severity of your cancer, but in general your doctor will prescribe one of three main options, or a combination of two or more. Surgery, chemotherapy
Monday, August 13th, 2012

How Much Does A Cancer Wig Cost?
Cancer is a life-changing experience, and cancer treatments can be just as traumatic. If you undergo chemotherapy treatments and lose some or all of your hair, you may need a wig or “hair prosthesis,” in medical terminology. While getting a wig sounds simple at first, it’s actual
Friday, August 10th, 2012

What Are Common Carcinogens?
Carcinogens (substances that cause cancer) are around us every day. Some carcinogens directly modify DNA to create cancer, while others cause cells to multiply at a faster than normal rate, increasing the chances of mutation. You can be exposed to carcinogens through a variety of avenues, includin
Thursday, August 09th, 2012

What Are The Risk Factors For Colon Cancer?
Colon or colorectal cancer (cancer of the intestines) can be devastating both medically and financially. It’s important to know whether you’re at risk, so you can take proactive steps to protect yourself and your family. The list below is not exhaustive, but it may help you decide whet
Tuesday, August 07th, 2012

Who Should Get Cancer Insurance?
If you are at risk for cancer, taking out a cancer insurance policy would be a wise plan. Otherwise, someday you may find yourself sick, unable to work, and struggling to make medical payments your normal health insurance does not cover. A supplemental cancer insurance policy can create the financ
Sunday, August 05th, 2012

What Is Cancer Insurance?
Cancer insurance is just what it sounds like – an insurance policy specifically designed to protect you from the financial effects of cancer. In order to take out a cancer insurance policy, you cannot have a pre-existing cancerous condition, and (depending on the policy) you may be ineligibl
Friday, August 03rd, 2012

What Is Dialysis?
When you experience total renal (kidney) failure, your kidneys can no longer perform their usual task of filtering waste from your bloodstream. Dialysis artificially replaces your kidneys by hooking you up to a mechanism that performs kidney functions for you. A dialysis system helps to control bl
Wednesday, August 01st, 2012

What Is The Most Dangerous Type Of Skin Cancer?
If you have an unusual mole, don’t panic. Some types of strange-looking skin discolorations or moles may be just that – moles. In addition, a type of benign mole called dysplastic nevi resembles skin cancer, but is completely harmless. The real malignant melanoma (invasive skin cancer)
Monday, July 30th, 2012

What Is Critical Illness Insurance?
Today, 4,000 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer. 2000 will have a stroke, and 2100 will have a heart attack. The nightmare doesn’t stop at the hospital, either…each one of these people will have to pay for medicines, treatments, living expenses, co-pays and deductibles for months
Saturday, July 28th, 2012

What Is A Stroke?
A stroke is a “brain attack” – it usually occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked, just as a heart attack is caused by lack of blood flow to the heart. Without oxygen-rich blood, the brain cells begin to shut down and die. This type of stroke is known as “ischemic&rd
Thursday, July 26th, 2012

What Are The Main Types Of Paralysis?
Paralysis (complete muscle function loss) occurs when a muscle or group of muscles stops working, sometimes permanently.  Paralysis is often caused by spinal cord injury or another nervous system disorder (nerve or brain damage), but can also result from myopathy (a disease of the muscle itse
Tuesday, July 24th, 2012

Can I Get Lung Cancer If I Don’t Smoke?
Smoking is the top risk factor for lung cancer worldwide, causing approximately 90% of all lung cancers in the U.S. Smokers are 15 to 30 times more likely to contract lung cancer than non-smokers are – and even second-hand smoke is deadly, killing about 3,000 American non-smokers per year. U
Sunday, July 22nd, 2012

Who Gets Leukemia?
Leukemia (cancer of the blood cells) is sometimes thought of as a “children’s disease,” but that’s a misconception. Over half of all leukemia victims are adults – usually over the age of 65. Leukemia doesn’t discriminate on an age basis – it can attack any
Thursday, July 19th, 2012

What Are The Symptoms Of Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer can be easy to miss. Initially, you may not experience any symptoms at all – a cancer diagnosis may come as a shock after a routine mammogram. In other cases, however, you or your doctor may notice a small lump or abnormality that turns out to be a tumor. Typically, breast canc
Wednesday, July 18th, 2012

What Are The Risk Factors For A Heart Attack?
Actually, they’re just what you’d expect: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking. It’s as simple as that. While conventional wisdom often claims that only 50% of patients with coronary disease display one of these characteristics, the facts say otherwise. A
Tuesday, July 17th, 2012

How Often Do Women Get Heart Disease?
Most women don’t realize that they’re in danger from heart disease. According to an American Heart Association survey, women are much more aware of breast cancer than they are of heart attacks, often dismissing heart disease as something that primarily affects men. However, heart disea
Monday, July 16th, 2012

How Can I Recognize A Heart Attack?
Heart attacks (myocardial infarction) can be deceptively difficult to recognize. An acute heart attack occurs when one of your coronary arteries suddenly becomes blocked by plaque or a blood clot. The blockage prevents blood from reaching your heart, killing at least some of the heart muscle suppl
Sunday, July 15th, 2012