Total Rewards: The Impact of Voluntary Health Benefits

By Vice President Total Rewards Danny Collins

We may have heard the phrase, “it’s better to be prepared than to get ready,” but what exactly does that mean? For some, it may mean creating a home fire escape plan, taking steps toward financial preparedness, or building a disaster kit. For the Bunch family, this meant enrolling in the Critical Care Illness Plan through the Southwest BenefitsPlus Program.

This plan provides a cash benefit of $10,000, $20,000, or $30,000 if a plan member experiences one (or more) of several covered illnesses, including a cancer diagnosis, heart attack, or stroke. The cash benefit is available for any expense—not just medical bills. Sr. Executive Assistant Charity Bunch expresses her gratitude for the Critical Care Illness Plan and shares the impact this healthcare benefit had on her family.

“At the end of 2020, my 15-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a rare disease that caused complete bone marrow failure. It’s fatal within months without major medical intervention. Thankfully, Southwest’s health benefits are amazing and were truly and literally a financial and medical lifesaver.”

Through the Critical Care Illness Plan, the Bunch family took the necessary steps to care for their daughter. Charity shares,

“I signed up for the Critical Care Illness Plan, which covered her bone marrow transplants in February 2021 with her 11-year-old brother as her donor. My husband and I feel that Southwest’s benefits were the saving grace in our lives during the past couple of difficult years. Obviously, Southwest is known for its People, but our health benefit offerings are amazing as well, and we’re forever grateful.”

Southwest offers Employees valuable health benefits like the Critical Care Illness Plan to provide the coverage you need even beyond our core medical and prescription options. During Annual Enrollment and New Hire Onboarding, you can add or change your elected coverages to best fit your situation. Make sure to review the options available to you and your family—including additional benefits such as the Critical Care Illness Plan—as these options can change from year to year. If you want to learn more about the Critical Care Illness Plan and how you can prepare for unexpected healthcare expenses, read more on SWALife >Employee Services >Access Health Benefits (Launch WorkPerks) >Reference Center >Reference Center >Critical Illness or call MetLife at (888) 275-0865.