Health awareness days in q2 2021- 6 things you should read
National & international health awareness days are an opportunity for charities and health organisations to raise awareness of medical conditions. They seek to promote education, understanding and support, as well as try to drive better prevention and treatment outcomes. There have been several awareness days so far this year and we’ve worked with our panel of doctors and medical experts, to give an overview of the condition and assessment on how these are covered on protection plans. Most advisers are not medically trained, so it can be daunting discussing complex medical conditions or critical illness definitions with clients. The awareness day insights we’ve so far published (and will continue to publish) will help advisers feel more comfortable and confident discussing this with their clients, when making protection insurance recommendations.
WORLD PARKINSON’S DAY – HOW DO CRITICAL ILLNESS PLANS COVER PARKINSON’S DISEASE?
Sunday 11th April marked Word Parkinson’s day and the start of Parkinson’s awareness week. This year’s theme focused on Mental Health in Parkinson’s and aims to raise awareness and much needed support for those living with the disease in order to improve quality of life and ensure that people live better for longer. In support of this initiative we asked our doctors to explain what Parkinson’s Disease is, who it affects, the current prognosis and how critical illness plans cover this condition.
OWEL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH – HOW IS BOWEL CANCER COVERED IN CRITICAL ILLNESS PLANS
It is estimated that someone in the UK is diagnosed with bowel cancer every 15 minutes. If caught early enough the survival rates are excellent, however like with most cancers the later bowel cancer is diagnosed the worse the prognosis. Bowel Cancer UK have dedicated the month of April to bowel cancer awareness and aim to increase knowledge of the symptoms in order to reduce the number of people dying from the disease each year. To support this important cause we asked our doctors to provide details of the symptoms, risk factors, prognosis, treatment and how the condition is covered within critical illness plans.
World MS Day – How is multiple sclerosis covered in critical illness plans?
World Multiple Sclerosis Day takes place on 30th May each year and aims to to raise awareness and provide a platform for people affected with MS to share their stories. This years theme was all about building community connection, self-connection and connections to quality care in order to challenge social barriers that leave those affected by MS feeling lonely and isolated. To support this cause and help raise awareness of the condition, we asked our doctors to explain what it is, how it might affect a person, the prognosis and how it is covered within critical illness plans.
Diabetes week 2021 – how is diabetes covered in critical illness plans?
There are 4.7 million people in the UK living with diabetes and this number is expected to increase to 5.5 million by 2030. The condition causes raised sugar levels in the bloodstream which can lead to problems like cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney damage and eye damage among other major health issues. Diabetes Week, organised by the charity Diabetes UK, ran from the 14th-18th June and this year focused on telling the stories of those living with diabetes from across the UK. In support of this we asked our doctors to explain the different types of diabetes, how it is evolving and how this condition is covered within critical illness plans.
Men’s health week – how do critical illness plans cover prostate cancer?
Every year Men’s Health Week, which this year ran from the 14th-20th June, seeks to raise awareness of health issues that disproportionately affect men and to focus on how they can manage their health better and seek treatment when problems do arise. The most common form of cancer in men in the UK is prostate cancer, so this is naturally often a focus of men’s health awareness initiatives. In support of Men’s Health Week we asked our independent panel of doctors to take a look at prostate cancer specifically, to help advisers better understand how it is diagnosed, its prognosis and how it is covered within critical illness plans.
Global mnd awareness day – how is motor neurone disease covered in critical illness plans?
Global Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Day takes place every year on June 21st and sees MND associations mark the impact of the disease on people around the world. As well as being a day of recognition, the focus is also on raising hope of searching for the cause, treatment and cure for MND. National associations are encouraged to promote and undertake various activities, including numerous fundraising initiatives. To support this cause and help raise awareness of the condition, we asked our doctors to explain what it is, how it might affect a person, the prognosis and how it is covered within critical illness plans.
