Aflac has introduced to help consumers mitigate costs of their health plans. BenExtend combines accident, hospital indemnity and critical illness. The intention is to give employers another option to help manage costs while helping employees manage out-of-pocket expenses. The plan will be available to businesses with 100 or more eligible employees.

"Simply put, BenExtend provides a next-level benefits strategy because it acts as a solution first and a product second," Stephanie Shields, vice president of Product Innovation and Marketing at Aflac said in a press release. "BenExtend answers the call of our broker partners and employers who seek to offer benefits that adapt to evolving employee lifestyles while also containing costs."

Features of the plan include:

• Health advocacy and bill negotiation service

• High, middle and low options are available to accommodate a variety of client benefits budgets

• Insureds can enroll in coverage regardless of their health status with no underwriting questions

• No waiting period for benefits to be paid

• Designed with health savings account (HSA) compatibility in mind