Willis & Company Support For Ulster Cancer Foundation
Thu 2nd Sep 2010
Gerry McElwee (UCF) & John Bedford (Willis & Co.)
The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) has launched a new campaign to encourage ex-smokers who have stopped smoking for at least a year to check if they are in line to benefit from paying reduced insurance premiums.
The new campaign, entitled Health to Wealth, has been launched in partnership with local financial adviser, Willis & Company Financial Services.
Gerry McElwee, Head of Cancer Prevention, UCF said, “Stopping smoking is the single most important thing anyone can do to improve their health and reduce their future risk of cancer.
“The health benefits of giving up smoking begin within 20 minutes of stopping, with blood pressure returning to normal and these benefits greatly increase over the years. Once a person has been smoke-free for 10 years, their risk of developing lung cancer is half that of a smoker.
“We have been very active in working with people who want to give up smoking. In the past year nearly 700 people have attended our stop smoking clinics with a 57% quit rate at four weeks.
“As well as the health benefits, there is also a positive knock-on effect on their bank balances. People who stop smoking can expect an immediate boost to their disposable income of more than £40 a week or over £2,000 a year – money which was previously spent on cigarettes.
“Our Health to Wealth campaign takes this a step further as we’re now encouraging ex-smokers who stopped over 12 months ago to check if they are in line to benefit from paying reduced insurance premiums.”
For one ex-smoker, Paul Mayne from Ballygowan, the savings were an unexpected bonus. Paul explains, “I started smoking at the age of 16 and had about a 30-a-day habit. I did try to give up smoking a couple of times but when I hit 50 I decided that for the sake of my health, it was time to quit.
“I knew that being a smoker had an impact on my insurance premiums but I never realised quite how much! When I sat down with my financial adviser to review my policies I was pleasantly surprised to find that my premium for income protection reduced from £164 to £70 and other policy premiums halved.
“It was amazing to think that just by giving up and staying off cigarettes, I was able to make such incredible savings.”
John Bedford, Director of Willis & Company (Financial Services) said, “There are many examples where substantial savings have been made as a result of a successful review of existing cover. We would expect to see premiums reduce by around 40% for an ex-smoker in their forties, providing their general health has not changed.
“If you have been smoke-free for more than a year why not call us on 028 9032 9042 quoting ‘Health to Wealth’ to check if you may qualify for reduced premiums. We will take you through a short questionnaire before sourcing a quotation from the whole of the market.
“For every policy placed through Willis & Company (insurance Brokers) as a result of the Health to Wealth campaign, we will make a donation to the Ulster Cancer Foundation.”
It is important to seek independent financial advice before making any decisions on existing arrangements.
· Health Benefits
The health benefits from giving up smoking begin within 20 minutes of stopping, and will greatly increase over the years. After;
20 minutes – Blood pressure returns to normal.
24 hours – Carbon monoxide is eliminated from your body and your lungs start to clear out mucus.
48 hours – No nicotine is left in the body. Taste and smell improves.
72 hours – Breathing becomes easier and your energy levels will increase.
2-12 weeks – Circulation improves making walking and running easier.
3-9 months - Coughs and breathing problems improve as lung function improves by 10%.
5 years – Risk of heart attack falls to half that of a smoker.
10 years – Risk of lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker.
- Financial Benefits
Some of the things that a 20 a day smoker could do with the money they save from stopping:
|
Duration
|
Cost (approx)
|
Treat
|
|
1 day
|
£5.80
|
Rent a DVD or meet a friend for coffee
|
|
1 week
|
£40.60
|
Buy some CD’s or a new top
|
|
1 month
|
£175
|
Go on a shopping spree
|
|
3 months
|
£525
|
Go on holiday
|
|
6 months
|
£1050
|
Redecorate part of your house
|
|
1 year
|
£2,100
|
Buy a second hand car
|
- UCF’s Stop Smoking Clinics are funded by the Public Health Agency (Eastern Area) and are held at the following venues:
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Shankill Health Centre, Tuesday, 2.00 – 6.00pm
Grove Health and Wellbeing Centre, Tuesday, 5.00 – 7.30pm
Clifton Street Surgery, Wednesday, 2.00 – 5.30pm
Carlisle Health and Wellbeing Centre, Thursday 6.00-8.00pm
Ligoniel Health Centre, Friday, 3.30 – 5.30pm
Ulster Cancer Foundation, Wednesday, 7.00 – 9.00pm
Holywood Arches, Tuesday, 2.00 – 5.00pm
South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
Woodbrooke Medical Centre, Stewartstown Road, Thursday, 2.00 - 5.00pm
Regency Health Centre, Newtownards, Thursday, 1.30 – 4.30pm
Donaghadee Health Centre, Thursday, 2.00 – 5.00pm
Bloomfield Surgery, Friday, 1.00 - 4.00pm