To help provide relief for California policyholders residing in Imperial County affected by the August Monsoon Storm, Aflac will provide a premium grace period starting Aug. 24, 2025, and ending April 27, 2026. This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims and leniency for any other action required under the policy. Aflac will provide a replacement copy of the policy upon request by the policyholder.
For Network Dental and Vision Members:
This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims; relaxation of prior authorization, precertification, and referral requirements; access to appropriate out-of-network providers due to unavailability on in-network providers or the members’ displacement; and leniency for any other action required under the certificate. A replacement copy of the certificate will be provided upon request by the certificate holder. Affected members should contact Aflac Benefit Solutions (formerly Argus Dental and Vision) at 855-819-1873, Option 1, for assistance.
To help provide relief for California policyholders residing in Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz Counties affected by the November storm, Aflac will provide a premium grace period starting Nov. 13, 2025, and ending June 16, 2026. This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims and leniency for any other action required under the policy. Aflac will provide a replacement copy of the policy upon request by the policyholder.
For Network Dental and Vision Members:
This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims; relaxation of prior authorization, precertification, and referral requirements; access to appropriate out-of-network providers due to unavailability on in-network providers or the members’ displacement; and leniency for any other action required under the certificate. A replacement copy of the certificate will be provided upon request by the certificate holder. Affected members should contact Aflac Benefit Solutions (formerly Argus Dental and Vision) at 855-819-1873, Option 1, for assistance.
To help provide relief for California policyholders residing in Mendocino, Sonoma and Ventura Counties affected by the December storms, Aflac will provide a premium grace period starting Dec. 16, 2025, and ending June 16, 2026. This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims and leniency for any other action required under the policy. Aflac will provide a replacement copy of the policy upon request by the policyholder.
For Network Dental and Vision Members:
This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims; relaxation of prior authorization, precertification, and referral requirements; access to appropriate out-of-network providers due to unavailability on in-network providers or the members’ displacement; and leniency for any other action required under the certificate. A replacement copy of the certificate will be provided upon request by the certificate holder. Affected members should contact Aflac Benefit Solutions (formerly Argus Dental and Vision) at 855-819-1873, Option 1, for assistance.
To help provide relief for California policyholders residing in Humboldt County affected by the Arcata Fire, Aflac will provide a premium grace period starting Jan. 2, 2026, and ending June 16, 2026. This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims and leniency for any other action required under the policy. Aflac will provide a replacement copy of the policy upon request by the policyholder.
For Network Dental and Vision Members:
This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims; relaxation of prior authorization, precertification, and referral requirements; access to appropriate out-of-network providers due to unavailability on in-network providers or the members’ displacement; and leniency for any other action required under the certificate. A replacement copy of the certificate will be provided upon request by the certificate holder. Affected members should contact Aflac Benefit Solutions (formerly Argus Dental and Vision) at 855-819-1873, Option 1, for assistance.
To help provide relief for Georgia policyholders impacted by recent winter storms in the counties* listed below, Aflac will provide a premium grace period starting April 18, 2026, and ending June 17, 2026. This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims and leniency for any other action required under the policy. Aflac will provide a replacement copy of the policy upon request by the policyholder.
For Network Dental and Vision Members:
This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims; relaxation of prior authorization, precertification, and referral requirements; access to appropriate out-of-network providers due to unavailability on in-network providers or the members’ displacement; and leniency for any other action required under the certificate. A replacement copy of the certificate will be provided upon request by the certificate holder. Affected members should contact Aflac Benefit Solutions (formerly Argus Dental and Vision) at 855-819-1873, Option 1, for assistance.
*Impacted Georgia counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Chattahoochee, Clay, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Crawford, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Glynn, Grady, Harris, Houston, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Lee, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, Macon, Marion, McDuffie, McIntosh, Miller, Mitchell, Montgomery, Muscogee, Peach, Pierce, Pulaski, Quitman, Randolph, Richmond, Screven, Schley, Seminole, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Tattnall, Taylor, Telfair, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, Wilcox, Wilkinson, and Worth Counties
Update regarding June 2025 security incident. View notification
The high school years are a pivotal time in life — getting more involved in school activities, learning to drive, going to prom, choosing post-graduation plans, preparing for adulthood and so much more. For Katie Rutherford, it was also about surviving.
As a sophomore in high school, Katie was very active, singing in the chorus and playing soccer, basketball and softball. Then, one day, she noticed a hard bump on her chin. It continued to grow to the point that it affected her ability to talk and eat. Knowing something wasn’t normal, she went to the ER at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to find answers. After many tests, including an ultrasound and biopsy, she was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer that develops in muscle tissue. And it had spread to the lymph nodes.
“Honestly, I was in shock and went immediately into survival mode,” said Katie. “I worried about my parents and how they would juggle the stress and anxiety ahead while caring not just for me, but for my two siblings as well.”
Following the diagnosis, Katie immediately met with an oncologist to discuss options and began treatment in 2017 — 48 rounds of chemotherapy and 27 rounds of radiation. Katie’s parents shaved their own heads in solidarity as she went through treatment.
“Every time I went in for an appointment — though the treatment made me feel horrible — everyone at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center made me feel cared for,” said Katie. “They truly changed my life for the better.”
Her care team also included in-home tutors, who made sure she could graduate on time. And, to be sure she didn’t miss out on one of the most coveted teenage milestones, Katie’s family and friends planned a big party for her 16th birthday, surrounding her with lots of love and support — a day that Katie says was one of the best of her life.
In 2018, Katie completed treatment and got to mark the end of this journey by ringing the bell, a long-standing symbolic gesture of celebration and hope.
Katie just celebrated her 7th anniversary of ringing the cancer bell in February, and in the seven years since that moment, Katie went to college, majored in public relations and landed an internship with the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and, after graduation, joined the team full time as program coordinator for the foundation.
“I wanted to find a way to use my talents to give back to the community that poured so much into me, and as luck would have it, the perfect opportunity opened up at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center,” said Katie. “Every day is special here, and it’s such an honor to get to build relationships with the patients, families and caregivers and show them there is so much hope for life beyond the bell.”
Learn more about the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta — including volunteer and donation opportunities — by visiting www.choa.org/jointhefight.
Aflac WWHQ |1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999
Z2500200 EXP 4/26
