Malignant melanoma is not as common as other skin cancers, but is much more serious in that it accounts for most deaths related to skin tumors. It is also the sixth most common cancer in men and the seventh most common in women in North America¹.

The number of melanoma cases is rising faster than any other major cancer in the United States².

Around 123,590 people in the U.S. are diagnosed annually³. It has been estimated that almost two percent of the people born in the United States in 2009 will be diagnosed with this form of cancer in their lifetime⁴. Twenty years ago, less than one percent could expect to develop this potentially deadly disease. Malignant melanoma is found to occur most frequently in fair-skinned individuals and in those who have a history of repeat sunburns. Thus, Caucasians have a much greater risk of developing melanoma than any other racial group⁵.

If you have a history of getting sunburned, or have spent a lot of time in the tanning beds, then you should consider protecting yourself with Critical Illness insurance.

Your health insurance is not likely to cover all the costs of treatment, and you will almost certainly need some extra cash for the time you will miss work for surgery, chemo therapy, and recovery.

Coverage is available in amounts from $5,000 to $500,000, and the policy is very simple: Upon diagnosis, the insurance company writes you a check for a lump sum of cash. It also covers other Critical Illnesses, not just cancer. For example, heart attack, stroke, angioplasty, bypass surgery, renal failure, organ transplant, and other illnesses.

For a proposal, or to ask questions, call today (800) 680-5596 or send an This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

¹ Rothberg M.D. et al Yale University School of Medicine. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 101(2009):452

² H. Gilbert Welch, M.D., et al. Dartmouth Medical School. British Medical Journal 331(2005):481

³ American Academy of Dermatology, Melanoma Fact Sheet

⁴ Duncan. Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America. 23(2009):501

⁵ Markovic, Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 82(2007):364