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Since education is a critical component of successful voluntary programs, this resource provides an increasing compilation of proprietary and non-proprietary articles. Home / Articles / Employee Benefit News Articles / Research casts light on critical-illness coverage Font Size: Research casts light on critical-illness coverage by Editorial Staff March 10, 2009  Two recent reports by the Kaiser Family Foundation point to the importance of having critical-illness insurance during tough times.   People diagnosed with cancer or other serious illnesses struggle to pay for life-saving care, according to jointly authored research with the American Cancer Society.   The report, “Spending to Survive: Cancer Patients Confront Holes in the Health Insurance System,” highlights five key gaps in the health care system that can lead to financial jeopardy associated with these diagnoses. They include high cost-sharing and benefit caps, becoming too sick to work, difficulty finding adequate and affordable coverage in the individual market, being shut out of high-risk insurance pools and waiting periods, benefits eligibility restrictions or delayed applications for public programs.   In a poll of more than 1,200 adults conducted in February, nearly 53% of cash-strapped Americans admitted to rationing their health care, 34% neglected their dental health, 21% did not fill prescriptions, 15% cut pills in half or skipped doses and 16% put off care for a serious problem or delayed surgery. Any use of this information without written permission from Employee Benefit News and Voluntary.com, LLC is prohibited. Go to Employee Benefit News Print this article      Email this article • Return to Employee Benefit News Articles • See Employee Benefit Adviser Articles