Between 1960 and 2015, the average life expectancy of an American has increased from 69.77 years to 78.74 years, according to World Bank. That’s nearly a 10-year increase in the past 55 years! Consider the medical advancements across all kinds of conditions and treatments this represents. Further, consider that there are billions and billions of dollars poured into medical research annually. Clearly, the ways we treat patients and the way we view illness are constantly changing, but the question is: Are insurance policies keeping up with this rapid pace of change?

The insurance industry, by its nature, requires very specific guidelines for when and how carriers are able to pay benefits to policyholders. And industry professionals depend on feedback from medical practitioners to determine when and if a policyholder is eligible for benefits. But, if the language used for the policy doesn’t match the way the doctor treats the patient, it’s ultimately the policyholder who suffers — and often at an already difficult time.

How we treat critical illness