Local KZN mother of three, Mandy Cremer, has been confirmed as a guest speaker at an upcoming FMI hosted “Breakkie for Boobies” event to share her story about how she (like so many others) was about to sign up for critical illness cover when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
She and her husband had not yet signed on the dotted line, so armed with just her R200 000 oncology cover from medical aid and a gritty determination to get well, Mandy and her family embarked on the harrowing journey only cancer sufferers and their families will understand.
“The R200 000 was soon exhausted and we were paying 20% on all the treatments I was having. I gave up work to focus on getting better. This together with the inevitable extra monthly expenses, and going down to one salary just made things even more challenging,” said Mandy.
Mandy’s medical aid initially refused to cover her breast reconstruction after her mastectomy, saying it was an ‘elective surgery’. “After they declined it three times I wrote to the Medical Schemes Council of South Africa and I got my reconstruction paid for. The medical industry calls this type of procedure elective surgery and that’s not right. Nobody elects this,” said Mandy.
Soon after her breast reconstruction, Mandy discovered a lump under her arm in a lymph node. With all funds exhausted, she and her husband appealed to friends and family to help raise funds for the second round of treatment. “They managed to raise a substantial amount and if it hadn’t been for that we would have been in an impossible situation,” said Mandy.
If FMI’s new Critical Illness cover had been available to Mandy when she fell ill, her journey with cancer would have been a different experience. FMI CEO, Brad Toerien, said “We have based our critical illness cover on cases like Mandy’s to make sure that all needs are met in a critical illness event like this.” As a result, FMI’s Critical Illness products offer a combination of income and lump sum benefits, plus practical assistance with CI Assist, and an expert Medical Second Opinion.
According to Toerien, more than half of all FMI’s critical illness claims are cancer related and it’s now more than ever that people should be making provision for critical illness. “Looking at cases like Mandy’s we have improved the quality and breadth of cancer cover,” said Toerien.
Breast cancer is by far the most common female cancer which is further complicated with the decision to undergo breast reconstruction surgery after a mastectomy. FMI’s critical illness cover gives an additional payout of 15% of the sum insured up to R100 000. “The additional payment allows our policyholders to make this very personal decision without worrying about the cost,” said Toerien.
FMI’s ‘Breakfast for Boobies’ event will be taking place on the 4th of November in support of national breast cancer awareness. This will be an educational event enlightening women on ways to avoid getting cancer as well as the importance of critical illness cover.
“Our innovative Critical Illness cover is flexible and affordable. In the instance of cancer, we want to make sure that the financial battle is already won and our customers can just focus on getting well,” concluded Toerien.