Awareness Days July to September – Everything you need to know
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 many awareness days last quarter and we’ve worked with our panel of doctors and medical experts to give an overview of various conditions and to assess how these are covered in protection plans. Given most advisers are not medically trained, we recognise that it can be a challenge to discuss complex medical conditions or Critical Illness definitions with clients.
The awareness event insights we published last quarter (and will continue to publish) will help advisers feel more comfortable and confident discussing the various conditions with their clients when making protection insurance recommendations.
Exploring Sarcoma: Diagnosis, Treatment and Critical Illness Coverage
In support of Sarcoma UK’s awareness month we shone a light on this thankfully rare condition by asking our independent panel of doctors for further insight. Sarcoma is a rare group of cancers that develop in the body’s connective tissues. In simpler terms, while most cancers develop in organs or glands (called carcinomas), sarcomas arise in the physical framework that holds our body together. These connective tissues include bones, muscles, fat, nerves, blood vessels, and other tissues that provide structure and support.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GIST) – Why Insurers Treat Them Differently
In this article we explored Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GISTs), which is a specific type of sarcoma affecting the digestive tract, so we asked our independent panel of doctors to shed more light on the condition and how it’s covered in Critical Illness (CI) plans.
How talking can save lives: Understanding the work of Samaritans
With Samaritans Awareness Day on the 24th July, we shone a light on the critical work undertaken by this wonderful charity. In this insight we explored how The Samaritans can support businesses through their training programme and heard from someone very familiar to us about their experience of navigating this very painful subject.
The old saying ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ recognises that talking to someone about your worries can make them less daunting and overwhelming. That can only be good from a mental health and wellbeing perspective.
Alcohol Awareness Week – Rethinking our relationship with alcohol
Alcohol Awareness Week began on 7th July, it presented a timely opportunity to reflect on personal habits and examine the broader role alcohol plays in our culture, health and daily lives. Whether you’re someone who enjoys an occasional glass of wine or a health professional advising others, this encourages all of us to reconsider our relationship with alcohol; what we drink, why we drink and what the effects might be.
World Brain Day: Unlocking Brain Health Through Lifestyle
World Brain Day (22nd July), the spotlight was firmly on how we can better protect and nurture our brains throughout life. Traditionally, people have thought about brain health mainly in the context of ageing or illness, something to worry about only when issues like memory loss or dementia begin to appear. Yet, a growing body of research is revealing that brain health is intricately linked to overall physical health, particularly heart health and that proactive lifestyle choices can have profound effects on our cognitive function, mental wellbeing and long-term neurological resilience.
Schizophrenia Awareness and Insurance Coverage in the UK
National Schizophrenia Awareness Day (25th July) shone a spotlight on a condition that remains widely misunderstood. Despite its reputation, schizophrenia is not a “split personality” disorder, but a serious and often debilitating psychiatric illness. While it poses substantial challenges, modern treatments mean that many people can lead stable and fulfilling lives.
World Hepatitis Day
28th July marked World Hepatitis Day, a global reminder of the millions of lives affected by viral hepatitis and the importance of prevention, testing and treatment. Hepatitis may not come up often in everyday client conversations, but its long-term effects, especially liver failure and cancer, make it highly relevant when it comes to insurance protection.
National Wellness Month: A Celebration of Self-Care and Holistic Health
August marked National Wellness Month, a month dedicated to the promotion of self-care, healthy habits and holistic well-being. Starting in 2018 the initiative encourages us to pause, reflect, and hopefully adopt better habits. In this insight we outlined some of the great content we’ve already shared this year. The links embedded will highlight which providers offer features designed to help us embrace a healthier lifestyle, the societal changes happening around cigarettes and alcohol (who mentioned the Oasis Tour) and key insight from our panel of doctors around weight loss injections, the benefits of sleep and other great tips.
What National Financial Awareness Day means for the protection industry
Financial Awareness Day on 14 August was the perfect time for the industry to reflect on the more educational side of the work it does. National Financial Awareness Day is an annual event aimed at promoting financial literacy and encouraging individuals and businesses to take control of their finances for the future.
Understanding Endometrial Cancer: Clinical Insights and Insurance considerations
September saw the start of Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month, with 60 people a day in the UK receiving the devastating news they’ve been diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer we wanted to shine a spotlight on one of the five gynaecological cancers. We asked our panel of independent doctors to share their insight on endometrial cancer.
Sepsis in the Spotlight: Advising Clients with Confidence on Critical Illness Cover
Sepsis Awareness Day falls on 13 September each year. 48,000 people died of sepsis in the UK last year. It’s a timely moment to help clients understand what sepsis is, why it matters, and how today’s Critical Illness (CI) policies do and don’t cover it.
World Alzheimer’s Day – who offers WHAT?
September saw the start of World Alzheimer’s month with World Alzheimer’s Day falling on 21st September each year. It’s a global opportunity to raise dementia awareness and support people affected by the disease.
Lymphoma Awareness Day: How CI policies cover blood cancers
15th September is World Lymphoma Awareness Day, held during Blood Cancer Awareness Month, and is a good opportunity for advisers to revisit how Critical Illness (CI) cover treats lymphoma and other blood cancers. These conditions can be complex, but hopefully this article will make it easier to understand where cover applies, where exclusions still exist, and what’s changed in recent policy updates.
Why National Eye Health Week should matter to protection advisers
Each year, the charity Eye Health UK runs an awareness campaign, National Eye Health Week, to promote good eye health and the importance of regular sight tests. This year’s campaign took place on 22-28 September, with each day focusing on a different theme, including children’s eye health, ageing eyes and eyes at work.
Eye Health Week – Visual Impairment
National Eye Health Week runs from 22nd September to 28th September. Many UK Critical Illness (CI) policies include cover for serious eye conditions, but the definitions and payout triggers vary widely between insurers. To mark Eye Health Week, we created a five-part series, looking at the main wordings used for eye-related claims. Each piece explains what the condition is, how insurers define it, and how it’s covered in CI policies.
Eye Health Week – Eye Stroke In Critical Illness Cover
National Eye Health Week runs from 22nd September to 28th September. In this second insight of our five-part series we explored eye stroke.
Eye Health Week – Retinal Detachment In Critical Illness Cover
In part three of our series of articles dedicated to Eye Health Week, we unpacked retinal detachment. Retinal detachment happens when the retina, the thin, light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, pulls away from the tissue that supports it. This layer acts like the film in a camera, capturing images for the brain to process. If it detaches, it loses its blood supply and stops working properly.
Eye Health Week – Removal of an Eyeball in Critical Illness Cover
In part four of our series of articles dedicated to Eye Health Week we unpacked removal of an eyeball.
Eye Health Week – Devic’s Disease in Critical Illness Cover
In this final part of our series of articles dedicated to Eye Health Week, we unpacked Devic’s disease.
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – Common causes of childhood mortality
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, an annual global campaign to raise awareness of childhood cancers. Here at Protection Guru, we wanted to support this initiative by asking our doctors to offer their insights into the impact that critical illnesses in children have on families, the impact on employment and the role that personal protection policies can have in helping families get through a previously unthinkable situation.
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – The impact of a cancer diagnosis on families and employment
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month takes place every September. 1,900 children (up to the age of 15) in the UK are diagnosed with cancer each year.
How do Critical Illness plans cover heart attack?
World Heart Day, which takes place every year on September 29th, was created by the World Heart Federation to drive education and help raise awareness of the risks that can lead to cardiovascular disease. The campaign aims to encourage better lifestyle choices and improved heart healthy living across the world. In support of World Heart Day, we asked our doctors to look in more detail at heart attacks, what it is and how it’s covered in Critical Illness (CI) plans, both historically and today.
