Major and severe burns can often be fatal but as a result of treatment developed over the last six decades the prognosis these days, especially in the young, can be particularly heartening. Despite these treatment improvements four percent of burns sufferers in the United States are still expected to succumb to their injuries each year, with the majority of these dying en route to hospital. For this reason it is important that when taking out your life insurance you include trauma insurance that covers you against financial hardship resulting from such an occurrence, should it unfortunately happen to yourself.
A severe or major burn can result from injury to the flesh caused by extreme heat, electricity, friction, radiation, light or chemicals. The majority of burns are restricted to the skin but on occasions muscle, blood vessels and even bone can be damaged. Competent first aid treatment is imperative in an out-of-hospital situation but severe and major burn injuries will require highly specialised treatment in a burns centre of a hospital. Treatment normally takes the form of removing any dead tissue, applying dressings, administering large amounts of intravenous fluids, administering antibiotics and skin grafting.
Coverage for Burns
Once the policy is issued the cover is provided to you anywhere in the world whether you are living in Australia or not.
Term life insurance with additional trauma cover can provide your loved ones with financial protection should you happen to be diagnosed with severe and major burn injuries but were fortunate enough not to have died as a result of the damage sustained, as well as that of losing you should the injuries prove fatal. Once the policy is issued the cover is provided to you anywhere in the world whether you are living in Australia or not, even when you are traveling inside Australia or overseas.
It is often difficult for doctors to accurately determine the depth of major burn injuries especially in the case of what is known as second degree burns. Such injury may continue to evolve over time and progress to a third degree burn even following the correct initial treatment. this is why it is important to distinguish between a superficial thickness burn and a partial thickness burn. A superficial thickness burn will often heal spontaneously whereas a partial thickness burn will most likely require surgical excision and skin grafting to effect proper recovery.
As medical trauma conditions vary from life insurance company to life insurance company it is imperative that you know exactly what it is you are covered for.
Life insurance companies will insure you against financial loss resulting from severe and major burn injuries, whether the injuries prove to be fatal or not, through their trauma insurance cover that can be added to your original life insurance policy for a small additional premium. It is important however that you read the trauma insurance definitions to make certain that your cover is included as you want it to be, as different life insurance companies define each condition differently. As medical trauma conditions vary from life insurance company to life insurance company it is imperative that you know exactly what it is you are covered for, so read the fine print before accepting the cover as it may prove important in the event of you having to make a claim sometime into the future.
Burns to the body can be classified by the type of injury sustained e.g. friction, heat, electricity, radiation, chemicals, light etc. as well as their depth, extent and associated injuries. Burns in Australia are currently described according to the depth of the injury to the dermis such as; first degree, second degree, third degree and fourth degree. This system of describing such injuries was first used by French barber-surgeon Ambrose Pare and remains in use to this day.
Burns are a common occurrence that are quite painful and often result in disfigurement and disability, especially when treatment such as amputation is required. Permanent scarring is quite common and complications in the form of shock, infection, multiple organ dysfunction, electrolyte imbalance and respiratory distress is often experienced.
The amount of cover is paid out in either a lump sum or a partial payment.
Trauma insurance is designed by life insurance companies to protect you, or your loved ones, against financial loss resulting from major and severe burns. It is sometimes referred to as critical illness insurance and in the event of a successful claim being made the amount of cover is paid out in either a lump sum or a partial payment, depending upon the terms and conditions outlined in your policy document. If you find you are in the unfortunate position of having to make such a claim, it can be made after 14 days of experiencing the traumatic event, although this time requirement can differ between insurance companies.