Protect the ducklings: How Aflac supports children’s health

Many businesses say that family comes first. But employees know that it’s what employers do, not what they say, that matters. Beyond all the talk, are there actual policies in place to support parents?

At any workplace, parents can be effective, productive team members. Perks such as flexible work policies, childcare assistance and benefits options that include coverage for dependent children can go a long way in attracting and retaining these valuable employees.

That’s why Aflac helps ensure that our supplemental policies respond to the needs of employees with children. No parent wants to think about a child having an illnessor accidental injury, but most parents want to know that their employer cares enough to offer protection in case of the unexpected.

Let's face it, health insurance was never designed to cover it all. Serious illnesses or accidental injuries can bring many unexpected costs. With half of employees saying they couldn't cover an out-of-pocket expense of $1,000, many families aren't financially prepared.¹

Benefits decision-makers can offer their employees Aflac insurance policies, often at little or no cost to the business, that help provide peace of mind. And it’s not necessarily just for young families — depending on the state of residence, employees can cover dependent children up until age 26. Our benefits include:

• Hospital indemnity insurance that pays cash benefits to help with expenses that may not be covered by health insurance. A dependent child rider can also be added that pays a cash benefit to help if the dependent child is in the ICU in addition to other hospital indemnity payments.
• Critical illness insurance that covers dependent children at 50% of the amount the primary insured would be available at no additional cost to the employee.
  • A childhood conditions rider can be added to pay a cash benefit for children diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, cleft lip or cleft palate, Down Syndrome, spina bifida, type 1 diabetes, autism spectrum disorder and phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency disease.
  • A critical illness enhancement rider can also be added that helps pay for lodging and transportation for patients and their families for treatment related to a covered critical illness.
• Accident insurance that pays a cash benefit if a covered child is injured. The policy also pays benefits that can help with expenses from covered injuries and conditions, such as concussion and fractures, and can help pay for logistics such as ambulance rides, medical tests and lodging.
• Cancer insurance that allows dependent children to be covered at no extra charge to the employee.

Aflac’s supplemental policies are designed to help ease the burdens of all employees. That includes working parents, the 72.9% of working women — and the 92.9% of working men — who are parents to children under age 18.² When employees with children can breathe easier knowing the most important things are covered, families and businesses thrive.