MILWAUKEE, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- With a rising national unemployment
rate and increase in layoffs, many people are temporarily left without health
insurance. What's worse, the majority of those people are unaware of
short-term medical insurance as an affordable option to protect their health
and financial security.
Short Term Medical insurance is an excellent product that can help
millions of people fill the gap between permanent health insurance plans,
according to Kathy Clark, market development director, Specialty Products
Division at Fortis Health ( http://www.fortishealth.com ).
"With large employers like Barnes & Noble, Sears, Verizon, and GM
experiencing mass layoffs -- not to mention thousands of smaller companies --
there is an even greater demand for temporary insurance," says Clark. "As the
nation's largest provider of Short Term Medical, we've conducted significant
research which shows a real lack of consumer awareness about the product --
unfortunately, most don't even know it exists."
Designed for individual and family coverage, this major medical insurance
product is affordable, allows choice of service providers and boasts a fast,
easy application process. Coverage is available for as little as 30 days and
up to six months. It costs significantly less than COBRA (however, it is
important to note that Short Term Medical covers unexpected illness or injury
and does not cover pre-existing medical conditions).
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 15,738 mass layoffs and
1.8 million unemployment filings for 2000. As both categories continued to
rise in January 2001, Short Term Medical sales at Fortis Health increased by
77 percent. Yet Clark stresses the importance of informing even more people
about the product, which is offered by several other insurance providers as
well.
"We're trying to get the word out about this product so more people can
obtain coverage," says Clark. Fortis Health Short Term Medical can be
purchased online at http://www.temporaryinsurance.com , through independent
insurance agents, or by calling Fortis Health at 800-989-2345. The
application process takes only minutes. Although cost varies by age, state
and deductible, a 40-year-old male in Wisconsin would pay just $281 for six
months' coverage.
Fortis Health is the leading developer and provider of individual medical,
small group, and specialty health insurance products. In business since 1892,
the company provides health insurance coverage for over one million people
nationwide. Fortis Health is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., and has
operations offices in Minnesota, Idaho, Texas, Florida and Ohio. Fortis
Health is part of Fortis, Inc., a financial services company that, through its
operating companies and affiliates, provides specialty insurance and
investment products to businesses, associations, financial service
organizations and individuals in the U.S.
Fortis, Inc. is part of the international Fortis group, operating in the
insurance, banking, and investment arenas worldwide, with headquarters in the
Netherlands and Belgium.
Fortis Health can be found on the Internet at http://www.fortishealth.com
SOURCE Fortis Health
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.fortishealth.com
CONTACT:
Kristin Seigworth for Fortis Health,
262-523-3740, kristin@seroka.com
NOTE TO EDITORS: Interviews available.
|
