Income protection is the ideal policy for cancer survivors whose stoma limits their ability to work.
This is according to Phil Jeynes, director of corporate strategy at Reassured (pictured), who spoke at an event organised by the Income Protection Task Force (IPTF) about his recovery from colon cancer.
Back in March, Health & Protection told Jeynes’ story about how a virtual GP diagnosis and rapid NHS cancer care proved critical in him subsequently getting the all-clear.
And it would be a subject Jeynes would return to the following month at Health & Protection’s inaugural Protection Forum where he spoke about the importance of insurance companies contacting their customers more frequently and at least sending out an annual statement.
But attendees may remember Jeynes spoke from the stage while fitted with a stoma.
Reflecting on his experience with his stoma, Jeynes told guests at IPTF’s event at Zurich’s City of London offices that while he was lucky to be able to return to work swiftly, not all occupations are so fortunate.
Speaking to Health & Protection this morning, Jeynes said: “My experience with the stoma was I found, particularly in the early months with it, quite difficult to manage because it’s a big change to your digestive system.
“And therefore, I was very, very low on energy, not getting enough calories, quite dehydrated and dizzy every time I stood up.
“So that was inconvenient for me, but it didn’t stop me doing my job because it’s a sedentary job. I can do it at a desk from home over Teams and the all the rest of it.”
But Jeynes explained that this may not have been the case if his job involved any sort of driving or manual work.
“I mean there’s no way I could have gone up a ladder if I’m feeling light headed every time I stand,” Jeynes said.
“There’s no way I could have operated any tools or machinery from a health and safety perspective while I’m low on energy and in danger of fainting.
“So I think in that instance, it’s not hard to imagine that there are a whole heap of jobs where I wouldn’t have been back to work – maybe even now.
“I’m not completely back to normal now – but certainly, for the initial few months and clearly in those instances, income protection would be the ideal policy.”