AFLAC

[kf0rt]

Anyone have any comments about AFLAC (the supplemental insurance people with the duck)?

Had the annual sales pitch at work... couldn't bring myself to go to my designated 10 minute 1-on-1 presentation and was just curious if anyone had any thoughts (pro or con) on this stuff. I was told I "had to go to sign a waiver" if I didn't want it. Bullshit -- I only sign for stuff I want.

[N7RJD]

All I know about it is that I know someone with a stuffed duck they named Aflac.
Of course that was after their partner had kept the dead duck frozen in a trash can
most of the winter. Don't ask, it only gets worse from there.

[kf0rt]

Had a pretty good friend at work a few years ago who had some experience with AFLAC and it wasn't good. Dude died about three years ago (lung cancer; nothing to do with AFLAC).

At work, it seems like they've always pushed this a bit. They'd offer a group meeting for info and nobody would show up. This year, they scheduled 10 minute 1-on-1 sessions with each employee. Seems like it's just a bigger "push." I watched as the two AFLAC reps drove up this morning. One was driving a late-model Cadillac and the other a late-model Audi. First inclination was to attend the meeting and tell 'em that I don't buy insurance from people who drive cars that I can't afford. The gal driving the Audi left her lights on.

Got a call from the receptionist a couple minutes before my supposed meeting saying they were ready and "I could go early." Eh, don't think so. Told her I was working on an international phone call (boring, but true) and that she might let the "AFLAC chick know that she left her lights on." Checked later and her lights were off, so I guess she got the message. I suppose some attended the sessions, but everyone I know avoided it like the plague.

Just curious if others here have had experiences with this outfit.

Where you been, Ron? Haven't seen you here in ages....

[W7XF]

They are very picky as to who they will insure; they denied to cover me due to the fact that I'm on anti-arrythmia drugs.

[n6hcm]

if you're a new employee or if aflac is new to your employer then they cover the whole group ... otherwise they get picky.

my employer just signed up for similar crap with colonial life ... only they gave them the whole benefits sign-up process (so you really had no choice but to talk to these people).

[KC9ECI]

The owner of the place I work was impressed with AFLAC enough that he brought it in to the shop. He brother had AFLAC coverage as he went through a long bout of cancer before he finally died from it and he thought the AFLAC was worth it. I've got primary coverage through my wife's work. It's a lot cheaper through her municipal employer than it is through mine. Family coverage where I work is non-AFLAC and runs about $100 a week. The AFLAC is just a supplemental coverage that we can take. Based on family history I took the coverage for heart attack, cancer, and dental. The dental is nice as the primary coverage is again on my wife's plan, but AFLAC still sends me a check. It takes the edge off and as my weekly premium is less than $20 it's a fair deal.

[PA5COR]

Each person pays 105 euro's a month and is insured agaaiinst 95% of all costs, basics are all insured, just the estra ( gold fillings etc) are on your own tab partly.
Kids under 18 don't have to pay.
Housedoctor, treatments operations hospital stay ambulance, dentist, medicines, etc etc. all under that mandatory insurance,

Bloody socialist chopsticks here....;)

[WV6Z]

The concept is really a good one IMHO, pretty much plain straight up indemnification against one's lost wages, pure and simple. As it is a supplemental plan, I am NOT surprised you had to sign to opt out Rob. A bit like your employer insuring itself against you in the event that you should suffer an issue resulting in lost wages so you cannot go back after them for not specifically offering you the opportunity to protect yourself by opting in for the supplemental insurance offered through them by AFLAC. Like all insurance, what is offered by AFLAC and Colonial Penn, just for example, seems like just another unnecessary expense until you end up wishing you had opted in........ for the record, I do NOT have supplemental insurance, hell, for that matter, I have NO insurance at the moment except for homeowners and automobile. ;(

[KC2UGV]

The concept is really a good one IMHO, pretty much plain straight up indemnification against one's lost wages, pure and simple. As it is a supplemental plan, I am NOT surprised you had to sign to opt out Rob. A bit like your employer insuring itself against you in the event that you should suffer an issue resulting in lost wages so you cannot go back after them for not specifically offering you the opportunity to protect yourself by opting in for the supplemental insurance offered through them by AFLAC. Like all insurance, what is offered by AFLAC and Colonial Penn, just for example, seems like just another unnecessary expense until you end up wishing you had opted in........ for the record, I do NOT have supplemental insurance, hell, for that matter, I have NO insurance at the moment except for homeowners and automobile. ;(

Why should you need to purchase 2 insurance policies? Why doesn't the first offer what you need?

I thought the purpose of insurance was to protect yourself from the sorts of unexpected things. Could you imagine if your auto policy failed to cover "Bumper-related accidents", and required you to purchase supplemental insurance to cover that?

[W1GUH]

Don't understand "2 insurance policies." Doesn't the duck say this is supplemental income protection, not health inusurace?

[K7SGJ]

Nah, the duck says Aflack Aflack

[KC2UGV]

Don't understand "2 insurance policies." Doesn't the duck say this is supplemental income protection, not health inusurace?

If it quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck...


Sorry, couldn't help that :)

But, seriously, isn't that exactly what insurance is? Methinks they are trying to find a way to skirt insurance regulations.

[W1GUH]

Don't think so. Medical coverage pays (most) medical costs. Doesn't pay you squat as supplemental income.

[W1GUH]

As Yogi said (I think)

"It pays you cash, which is just as good as money."

[KC2UGV]

Don't think so. Medical coverage pays (most) medical costs. Doesn't pay you squat as supplemental income.

My disability insurance pays me cash while out of work due to injury... So, I could call my disability insurance "supplemental income". My life insurance pays cash while I am dead, to my family, so I could call my life insurance "supplemental income".

Again, why the need for multiple insurance policies?

[W1GUH]

My disability insurance pays me cash while out of work due to injury... So, I could call my disability insurance "supplemental income". My life insurance pays cash while I am dead, to my family, so I could call my life insurance "supplemental income".

Again, why the need for multiple insurance policies?

That explains it. Yep, disability is the same thing.

I'm guessing the people who are being hyped for AFLAC at work don't have disability? Or maybe AFLAC supplements that? Dunno.

[W3WN]

Don't understand "2 insurance policies." Doesn't the duck say this is supplemental income protection, not health inusurace?No, the duck just quacks. At least the voice isn't that annoying, ignorant schmuck Gilbert Gottfried anymore. (But since they no longer run spots with his voice, I missed the Yogi Berra one last year).

But yes, this is supplemental insurance, not your primary health or disability insurance.

[ab1ga]

Gleaned from the AFLAC web site:

1. There is no employer contribution to the premiums, the employee bears the full cost.

2. If the employee pays the premium, the value may reduce the amount of wages reported to the IRS. This could mean a reduced payroll tax obligation not only for the employee, but the employer as well. To wit, your employer saves money when you buy the insurance.

I'm no insurance expert, but I'm paranoid about insurance, so I wonder if the existence of an AFLAC policy to compensate for lost wages might have an impact on Worker's Compensation claims as well. If you're hurt on the job and AFLAC pays first, Workmans Comp payments might be delayed or denied. Now the employer saves money on those premiums as well.

[K7SGJ]

Gleaned from the AFLAC web site:

1. There is no employer contribution to the premiums, the employee bears the full cost.

2. If the employee pays the premium, the value may reduce the amount of wages reported to the IRS. This could mean a reduced payroll tax obligation not only for the employee, but the employer as well. To wit, your employer saves money when you buy the insurance.

I'm no insurance expert, but I'm paranoid about insurance, so I wonder if the existence of an AFLAC policy to compensate for lost wages might have an impact on Worker's Compensation claims as well. If you're hurt on the job and AFLAC pays first, Workmans Comp payments might be delayed or denied. Now the employer saves money on those premiums as well.

I don't know how it works anywhere else, but here it doesn't matter what kind or how much additional insurance you have; if you are hurt on the job and have a valid WC claim, you will receive those payments and medical benefits. If, for some reason, a medical charge or Rx charge is denied by WC, your regular health insurance would pick up the charges less any deductable/copay. If, for some reason, WC denies the claim and appeals, the regular healt insurance coverage then kicks in. If WC later accepts the claim, the health insurance company will want reimbursement for anything they paid out.

[W1GUH]

About medical and disability insurance, and I'm pretty sure everybody is aware of this but somehow I want to repeat it. Anyone, anytime can suddenly, without warning need it.

'Nuff said.

[WØTKX]

No Poop, Pops.

IMHO, AFLAC is attractive to employers because ther is no cost to the employers. Google "AFLAC supplemental insurance reviews" and you will find a lot of stories where folks felt they should have been covered, but were not. Because of the small print. As usual, the contracts are written more for the insurer, and not the insured.

If my employer was promoting this, I would question the motivation behind it.

[ka8ncr]

One thing I liked about my previous job was that the disability insurance was outstanding. No additional cost, covered everything should you find yourself unable to work for any medically verified reason. You received 100% of your paycheck for six months, and after that went on long term disability at 70%. I know guys who were on that for a decade until they made it to full retirement.

When I switched jobs, I inquired about supplemental LTD insurance and I am convinced you can not get it as an individual.

[KC9ECI]

Have to say I'm quite pleased with my AFLAC dental coverage. Between that as a supplemental and my primary coverage though my wife's employment, I went in for an $800 root canal, paid $240 up front, and got a $300 refund check from the dentist in the mail today. Doing some rough math, I got paid about $60 to get a root canal done.

[K7SGJ]

Have to say I'm quite pleased with my AFLAC dental coverage. Between that as a supplemental and my primary coverage though my wife's employment, I went in for an $800 root canal, paid $240 up front, and got a $300 refund check from the dentist in the mail today. Doing some rough math, I got paid about $60 to get a root canal done.

Just imagine how much you could make getting the hemorrhoids fixed, oh wait, on second thought you'd probably be in the hole.

[NA4BH]

I would only trust Maxwell.

http://images.wikia.com/walterhedgehog/images/8/8e/MAXWELL.jpg

[K7SGJ]

Thanks, you asshole. At least the little fucker isn't on a zip line.

[KC9ECI]

No 'roids here, I am a perfect asshole. Just ask my wife.

[ad4mg]

Thanks, you asshole. At least the little fucker isn't on a zip line.
It's worse now ... he's street luging:

5403

:lol:

[KG4CGC]

Aflac paid for some of itself in lowering your overall federal tax bill IIRC. It was taken out pre tax on each billing cycle. (paycheck johnny)

[K7SGJ]

It's worse now ... he's street luging:

5403

:lol:

Yeah, I just saw that this morning. Hope the little bastid luges into an oncoming steam roller.

[kf0rt]

Yeah, I just saw that this morning. Hope the little bastid luges into an oncoming steam roller.

Got everybody talkin' about it; some ad guy's earning his pay.

The bastid

[ki4itv]

It's worse now ... he's street luging:

5403

:lol:

One well placed pebble...just one well placed pebble.
Road jerky. Squeeeeeeee.

[kb2vxa]

1 pebble + 1 squeee = face plant/camera lens.