Why Young Families Should Consider a Cancer Plan: Protecting Your Health and Your Home

Life as a young family is full of excitement—first steps, school milestones, building careers, and buying your first home. While you're planning for the best, it’s also wise to prepare for life’s unexpected challenges—like a cancer diagnosis.

Most of us don’t think about cancer striking in our 30s or 40s. But the truth is, it does—and the costs can be devastating. Nearly 2 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer every year, and about one in two men and one in three women will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.

Hidden Costs That Health Insurance Doesn’t Cover

Even with a good health insurance plan, families are often shocked by the hidden costs of cancer—travel to treatment centers, lost income during recovery, home care, special diets, childcare, and more. Many of these aren’t covered by traditional insurance. And most people don’t realize that cancer treatment often stretches into more than one calendar year, meaning you could be responsible for multiple deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums—doubling your financial burden.

For 2025, the maximum out-of-pocket for a Bronze Marketplace plan is $9,200 per year. If treatment spans two years, that’s $18,400 in medical expenses before your insurance fully kicks in. Could your family afford that without dipping into savings, using credit cards, or taking out loans?

My Family's Story: A Real-Life Example

Our local agent, Kathy Anderson, knows this from personal experience. Over 10 years ago, her mom was diagnosed with cancer. She fought bravely for two and a half years before passing. She didn’t have a cancer plan in place. Her parents had to take out a HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) just to cover the costs insurance didn’t handle. After she passed, her dad was left paying off those bills for years. Because of this experience Kathy now has a Cancer Plan in place for her and if she is ever diagnosed like her mom, she will have $100,000 to use to pay for treatment, unexpected costs, travel, lost income and even a trip with family to enjoy the time with people who matter most. 

No family should have to mortgage their home to afford medical care. Your home should be a place of safety, not a source of debt.

A Simple Solution: Cancer and Critical Illness Plans

At Utah Avenue Insurance, we offer CriticalGuard plans that pay a lump sum cash benefit upon first diagnosis of cancer, heart attack, stroke, and other serious illnesses. This money is yours to use however you need—medical bills, childcare, travel, child care, mortgage payments, or anything else. These funds are paid directly to you, tax free, so you can use the full benefit and don't have to worry about how this will affect your tax return. 

These plans are:

• Affordable and customizable for your needs

• Available for adults ages 18–90

• Renewable for life

• Some benefit levels are offered with guaranteed issue options (no medical underwriting needed for some amounts)

There are even optional benefits like outpatient prescription coverage, wellness exams, and telemedicine services—all with no deductible or network restrictions.

Peace of Mind for the People Who Matter Most

A cancer diagnosis is hard enough without worrying about how to pay for it. A supplemental cancer and critical illness plan gives you financial breathing room so you can focus on what matters—getting better and being there for your family.

As your local health insurance experts, we’re here to guide you through these decisions with compassion and clarity. Better coverage starts here. Let’s make sure your family is protected—no matter what the future holds.