Cancer insurance has evolved along with medical advances since the product was first introduced more than 50 years ago. Some of the best cancer plans now include benefits such as egg and sperm collection and harvesting, cancer vaccines and experimental treatment. This kind of coverage can help your clients offer their employees protection for themselves and their loved ones through diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

Here are some features and benefits you should consider when selecting a cancer plan for your clients:

• Flexible family coverage options — plans that cover individuals, spouses, one-parent and two-parent families.
• Choice of plan levels — various levels of coverage helps meet your clients' budget and coverage needs.
• Wellness/health screenings — coverage for tests and screenings that encourage early detection of cancer.
• Family care coverage —inpatient and outpatient treatment for covered dependent children, sometimes through optional riders that pay a one-time benefit when dependent children are diagnosed with cancer and receive treatment.
• Hospital confinement coverage — coverage for hospital stays of various durations.
• Treatment benefits — payment for radiation/chemotherapy, antinausea medication, surgical procedures, blood/plasma/platelets/immunoglobulins, private full-time nursing services, experimental treatments, prostheses and bone marrow and stem cell donation and transplant.
• Transportation and lodging benefits — coverage for a traveling companion as well as the patient.
• Surgical procedures benefits — coverage for surgical procedures, anesthesia, second medical opinions, reconstructive surgery, prostheses/artificial limbs and outpatient surgical center procedures.
• Extended care benefits — payment for skilled nursing care, family care, hospice and home health care services.
• Initial diagnosis benefits — riders that pay a one-time benefit when the insured and or covered dependent children receive an initial diagnosis of cancer.

Some other attractive features to look for in today's cancer plans include waiver of premium, health savings account compliancy, composite rate pricing and portability.

Also read: Selling cancer insurance