Many people don’t realize that insurance companies will frequently pay for what can be termed alternative cancer treatment. Proton therapy, for example, is usually covered due to its high rate of effectiveness.

Proton therapy, though considered alternative, is far from being new. The process developed rather quickly after an enterprising scientist working on splitting atoms decided his proton accelerator could be used for more than just physics research in 1946. Robert R. Wilson would see the proton therapy program begin to thrive and treat around nine thousand patients.

Participation in the program for hospitals was difficult. Only those affiliated with universities who had access to a particle accelerator could even get close to beginning a program. The technology was too new (and too expensive) to set up from scratch. It would be 44 years from the time Wilson wrote his book to when the first proton therapy center opened its doors. In the meantime, the process was refined and the potential Wilson saw in the procedure really began shining through.

Proton therapy works differently than traditional radiation. Traditional radiation focuses as much as it can on a specific area, but the radiation can’t be targeted to a specific depth. The radiation starts at the skin, and gets thinner as it passes through the body. Since tumors happen anywhere from internal organs to the skin, radiation can often affect large amounts of healthy skin.

Proton therapy has a narrow focus, and allows radiation to be deposited in a very precise manner. It’s less likely to cause damage to healthy skin. As complicated as the science behind it is, for patients, treatment typically consist of fifteen-minute sessions spread across two or more weeks.

The science, of course, is a little more involved. Protons are accelerated, and then pointed directly at the affected area. The beam can be stopped at any depth, and molds are fashioned to ensure that just that happens.

On a molecular level, the protons technically aren’t destroying cells by conventional means. The nucleus of a cell is comprised of protons and neutrons and it’s surrounded by electrons that have an opposite charge of electrons. The protons from the proton beam disrupt the electrons, which break the cell down. Patients typically don’t experience any discomfort that wouldn’t naturally come from sitting perfectly still for a period of time.

Proton centers can cost millions of dollars to build, which explains how they were so slow to catch on. As proton beam technology becomes more and more prevalent, you can expect to see more centers opening. Hospitals (or independent clinics) that use proton accelerator technology have tripled in the last 10 years, with more posing to open soon.

Michigan Short Term Medical
Affordable, temporary health insurance

• Between jobs
• Waiting for employer benefits
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Unexpected illnesses and accidents happen every day, and the resulting medical bills can be disastrous. Safeguard your financial future with Michigan Short Term Medical temporary insurance. It provides the peace of mind and health care access you need at a price you can afford.

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You can enjoy the protection of reliable health coverage as early as tomorrow.

For Students

• No longer covered as a dependant under your parent’s plan?
• Attending school outside an HMO or PPO region?
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• Finding a traditional individual medical or other current coverage to be too expensive?

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Long-Term Care is the type of care received either at home or in a facility, when someone needs assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing due to an accident, an illness or advancing age.

Rising life expectancy means that the potential need for “long-term care” grows with every passing year of your life. The likelihood is that you or a member of your family will need long-term assistance due to a prolonged illness, a disability, or general deterioration of your health and ability to perform routine daily activities. Most long term care expenses are not covered by Social Security or Medicare, Medicare Supplement (“Medigap”), or private health insurance. Medicaid pays for nearly half of all nursing home care, but you must meet federal poverty guidelines and may have to “spend down” most of your assets on health care.

Life insurance in Michigan from The Focus Group can help you secure your family’s financial future by providing the funds they need to: cover burial expenses, uninsured medical bills, pay off your mortgage and other outstanding debts, and maintain a comfortable standard of living.

There are a variety of life insurance policies that we can provide. The kind of policy you choose depends on your needs:

Term Life

Term Life Insurance is a low-cost way of providing maximum coverage for your family. Protection is provided for a limited number of years. The insurance expires without value if the insured lives beyond the policy period, usually 5 to 20 years. Other policy life periods are available, including 1 year annual renewable term.

Term insurance premiums will not increase during the guaranteed policy time period (term) you select. Term Life Insurance pays a death benefit only if you die during that term. Term insurance generally provides the largest insurance protection for your premium dollar.

Term Life Insurance remains in force for as long as premiums are current, provided there are no misrepresentations on the application. The insurance coverage terminates if you discontinue your premium payments.

Universal Life

Universal Life insurance is characterized by great flexibility. Policyholders can determine the amount and frequency of premium payments – i.e., the more you pay, the less time you will need to pay. Your premiums cover the insurance part also the savings or investment element and the expense part. The stated interest on the investment portion changes along with movement in interest rates; moves in 1/4 % interest steps are typical as banks and other financial institutions make similar moves.

Whole Life

Whole Life Insurance provides permanent protection for the whole of life – from the date of policy issue to the date of the insured’s death, provided that premiums are paid. Premiums are set at the time of policy issue and remain level for the policy’s life. Unlike term insurance, whole life combines insurance protection and savings or cash value which builds over time. Cash value build-up may provide a source for living benefits, for example, helping pay off a mortgage, or a child’s education, or cash surrender value if the policy is ever canceled.

These products are continually changing and we can provide you with the latest information and policies available!

Individual health insurance programs are designed for individuals and families who cannot obtain health insurance through an employer. Due to the continually rising cost of medical care, it has become more important to provide health insurance for you and your families. The Focus Group offers health insurance programs to individuals which offer extensive coverage as well as high-deductible programs which are designed to protect against catastrophic financial losses.

As an independent agency, The Focus Group can provide insurance plans from numerous health insurance companies. With the health insurance market changing frequently, we are always on the lookout for quality, service-oriented insurance companies for our clients.

Individual Disability Income Protection is a must for a business owner, and highly recommended for executives. If you are a business owner, you should consider purchasing both group and individual policies, if possible. As an executive, you should be sure to obtain group coverage if it is available. Only forty three percent of large companies provide group long term disability insurance.

Your chances are even less likely to get long term disability insurance if you work for a small company. The cost of a plan provided by your employer is usually less than you would pay for an individual disability policy and often you can get coverage automatically without having to qualify medically. If your employer doesn’t provide disability insurance then you may want to consider an individual disability policy.

Or, you may need a personal disability insurance policy to supplement an employer group plan. Be sure to check the group provisions carefully: How long does the group disability insurance coverage last? How much is the benefit? Does the disability insurance policy cover bonus and commission income? Will the coverage continue if you leave that employer?

A typical Individual Disability Income Protection plan starts to pay benefits after you have been off work for 1 to 6 months, and pays benefits for several years or until retirement age, depending on the policy.

Dental Insurance is available to individuals and families that are not covered on group dental insurance. For people without dental insurance, cost often stands in the way of getting the care they need to maintain the health of their teeth and gums. Even for routine preventive care, a trip to the dentist’s office could mean a substantial amount of money out of your pocket.

A freedom-of-choice plan allows you to see any dentist you wish. However, this plan does impose 6- to 12-month waiting periods for some services. This is not the best plan for an individual who needs comprehensive coverage within the first 12 months. However, if dental coverage is desired for a long period of time, and there is no rush to receive the major benefits, this plan may work for you.

Individual and family health insurance is health coverage specifically tailored to those not covered by employer groups or organizations. A broad selection of individual and family health insurance plans is available. Less expensive plans may provide coverage in case of a major accident or illness, while other plans may provide comprehensive coverage for all your healthcare needs.

• Annuities
• Dental Insurance
• Individual Disability
• Individual Health
• Individual Life Insurance
• Individual Long-Term Care