We all like to think ‘’nothing’’ will ever happen to me…
- I’m healthy!
- I have enough coverage through work!
- Or, If I get sick… I’ll still work!
We love to think this is true… and for some lucky people, it might be! However, the reality is, a critical illness (CI) can occur at any time and if it does…it may have a crippling effect on the financial security of you and your family.
DID YOU KNOW…
A serious, life-altering illness affects one in three Canadians in their lifetime1
85% of heart attack victims survive2
Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability3
Every 10 minutes, someone is added to the organ donation waiting list4
What is critical illness Insurance?
Critical illness (CI) Insurance was created by South African heart surgeon Dr. Marius Barnard after he witnessed the hardships that directly follow a major illness such as a heart transplant.
Critical illness insurance is coverage protection that provides a tax-free lump sum benefit if the insured is diagnosed with a covered condition as described in their contract. There is usually a waiting period, often 30 days after the medical diagnosis, before the insured can collect the proceeds. An insured must apply and qualify for critical illness coverage.
Certain critical illness plans can also serve double duty as a long-term Care option should you become unable to perform at least two activities of daily living.
How can it be structured?
Much like Term insurance, critical illness can be purchased as a term to meet short-term lifestyle needs, such as protecting income through the working years, or the insured can choose to have their coverage last for life. The amount received as a benefit will depend on the amount of coverage that the insured qualifies for based on a needs analysis. Finding out how much protection is needed and for how long will determine the amount to apply for.
What common features can I add to critical illness Insurance:
Return of premium on surrender or maturity:
Return-of-premium is an optional rider that can pay back the insured’s premium cost if he or she does not make a critical illness claim within a prescribed length of time. To that end, return-of-premium can be structured in one of 3 ways:
- When the policy term expires
- Upon maturity
- Upon death of the insured
Although this feature can be expensive, this may be a good option to consider if you can afford it. By adding this feature, you are protecting yourself however, if you never make a claim and surrender the policy, you would be getting back a defined amount as outlined in the contract that could be used for whatever you choose.
Automatic waiver of premium: A waiver of premium rider protects your policy from lapsing if you become disabled and can no longer pay your policy’s premiums. With this feature, your premiums are waived for the duration of your disability.
ANOTHER THOUGHT….!
Have you thought about how critical illness could help offset the gaps in your disability insurance?
- With disability insurance, there are usually elimination periods where the insured must wait before their benefits kick in(usually 90 days) … CI insurance can help offset this gap!
- There is usually a shortfall between the maximum disability benefit amount and full income replacement…CI insurance can help offset this gap!
Bottom Line!
Critical illness insurance can protect you in a worst-case scenario. It provides a financial safety net if you’re diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. With a staggering statistic of a serious, life-altering illness affecting one in three Canadians in their lifetime… Critical illness coverage should be considered an important piece of your risk management plan!
This Wellington-Altus Insurance Inc., (WAII) insurance newsletter and the information and resources contained within this newsletter is for informational purposes only and must not be taken as or relied upon as legal, accounting, taxation and or financial advice. Many of the issues discussed will vary by province. Any insurance discussions should take place with a WAII licensed insurance representative.
1. Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, “At-a-glance: How Healthy are Canadians? A brief update”, Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada: Research, Policy and Practice. 2018; 38(10): 385–390
2. Mozaffarian et.al, “Short and Long-Term Survival Rates Following Myocardial Infarction and Its Predictive Factors: A Study Using National Registry Data”, Journal of Tehran University Heart Centre. 2021; 16(2): 68–74
3. Tsao et al. “Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2023 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association”, Circulation. 2023; 147: e93–e621
4. Cardin B., Opening Statement, “The Cost of Inaction and the Urgent Need to Reform the U.S. Transplant System”, United States Senate Committee on Finance, Health Care Subcommitte Hearing. 7.20.2023
