Highlights
Critical Illness Insurance: Lump Sum Benefits paid to you.
Critical illness insurance provides a lump sum amount of tax-free cash to be used, as you desire. The check is issued in your name as soon as you are first diagnosed with the covered illness that is covered under the policy contract. For example, Guaranteed Trust Life Insurance Company offers an individual critical illness policy for residents of most states that pay $10,000 to $250,000 with no medical exam.
No exam Critical illness insurance coverage typically run from $10,000 to $250,000, anything over will usually require an exam.
When buying an individual policy for up to $250,000, you will likely have a phone interview from the insurer's underwriting department but no blood test or medical exam is required. However applications over $ 250,000 will require a para med exam, blood test and also a urine test.
Each contract includes a list of covered illnesses, exclusions and elimination period and the cost like all insurances is lower when purchased at a younger age. Most critical illness policies are issued for a minimum of two years and a maximum of 20 to 25 years. If you are over age 65, most insurers will not sell you a policy. If you purchase a policy in your early 60s, the cost will be steep.
This coverage sounds simple, but you must understand exactly what you are paying for and exactly what is covered.
Critical illness insurance is not meant to replace health, life or disability insurance. Instead, it’s purpose is payment for illness and treatments not covered by traditional insurance or for any other expenses you want to spend the cash on. Critical illness is difficult enough to handle, you don’t need rising financial worries to add to the illness.
Before buying critical illness insurance, find a licensed agent you trust and get quotes. Take the time and ask your agent to walk you through the policy features, advantages and benefits so you know how to access the benefits should you need them.
A family history of a certain illness may be excluded from the policy. Most policies are priced based on age, gender and family history. Understand the pre-existing limitation clause so there are no surprises. Ask; that if you satisfy the claim requirements, when will you get paid?
An important consideration is the Insurance Company’s claims paying history.
Life can change in a heartbeat and an unanticipated critical illness could dramatically change your life. No one has immunity from life's risks. Thanks to the medical advances, if a critical illness like a heart attack, stroke or other serious illness strikes, you'll probably survive but, recovery comes at a price. If you had to take an extended leave from your work or if you couldn't return to your job because of physical limitations, your bills would pile up while your income decreased. Critical Illness Insurance payments can ease the burden!
Compute your insurance needs against your ability to pay for it. Check against an insurance company’s list for covered illnesses.