Aflac Launches Critical Care and Recovery Insurance Policy

COLUMBUS, Ga., May 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac (NYSE: AFL), the No. 1 provider of voluntary and guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States, announced the launch of its Critical Care and Recovery insurance policy. It helps policyholders by providing them with cash benefits if they suffer from a heart attack, stroke, coma, major human organ transplant, paralysis, or coronary artery bypass surgery, among other conditions. Aflac Critical Care and Recovery now offers a simplified underwriting process so more applicants may qualify for coverage.

The Critical Care and Recovery policy helps employees with out-of-pocket expenses as they recover from an illness. The policy pays cash benefits for an unlimited number of reoccurrences and also provides daily benefits for hospital stays, follow-up treatments, and therapies(1) Aflac insurance policies help provide a safety net and give policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress.

"Aflac Critical Care and Recovery is guaranteed-renewable for life," said Tom Morey, vice president of Product Development at Aflac. "The policy clearly stands apart from other plans that only pay one-time lump sum benefits."

Aflac Critical Care and Recovery, previously known as Specified Health Event, is available to businesses with as few as three employees and can be provided at no direct cost to the company.

Research shows only one in five Americans (19 percent) believe they or a family member will be diagnosed with a serious illness, according to a recent Aflac study.(2) The American Heart Association says more than one-third of Americans suffer from heart disease, and an American experiences a heart attack every 34 seconds and a stroke every 40 seconds.(3) The Aflac study also found more than half (51 percent) of employees feel unprepared for out-of-pocket expenses related to a chronic illness or accident and one-third of consumers have less than $500 to spend on an unexpected accident or illness.(2)

For more information about Aflac Critical Care and Recovery, visit www.aflac.com.

About Aflac

When a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For 55 years, Aflac insurance policies have helped provide a safety net and given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance. In Japan, Aflac is the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force. Aflac insurance products provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. For five consecutive years, Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere magazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies and by Forbes magazine as one of America's Best-Managed Companies in the Insurance category. In 2011, Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the thirteenth consecutive year. Also, Fortune magazine has included Aflac on its list of Most Admired Companies ten times. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com or aflacenespanol.com.

(1) See specific policy language for all benefits, as well as limitations and exclusions. Policies may vary by state.

(2) "2011 Aflac WorkForces Report," a study conducted by Harris Interactive for Aflac, 2010.

(3) Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, American Heart Association, 2010 Update.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100423/CL92305LOGO )

Media Contacts:
Jonathan Freed
Aflac
706.243.8793
[email protected]

SOURCE Aflac Media Relations