The Insurance Doctor is in the house!
Critical illness insurance helps you to survive financially
while physically recovering from a serious illness!
While health care insurance will cover a portion of the direct costs
associated with a critical illness, these plans typically require
payment of deductibles, coinsurance and/or co-pays, which can
range from $2,000 to $10,000 or more in out-of-pocket costs to you
before the plan provides 100% coverage.
If you elect out-of-network care from a specialist or nationally-recognized hospital, you may face significant additional expense, plus the cost of travel and lodging.
In addition, indirect expenses associated with recuperating from a critical illness, such as modifications to a home or vehicle, child care expenses and convalescent care, may not be covered.
It is important for you to know what your health care plan will and will not cover before a critical illness strikes.
A single critical illness could consume the assets you’ve worked a
lifetime to accumulate.
Ask yourself…if you suffered a critical illness and were out of commission for three to six months, would you be able to survive financially? If the answer is no, there is a potential remedy:
A Potential Solution Using Critical Illness Insurance:
Critical illness insurance is a source of funds you can use to help cover the indirect costs that arise when a serious illness strikes. By providing money when you need it most, upon diagnosis of a serious illness (as defined in the policy), critical illness insurance can help
Critical illness insurance pays you a lump sum of money upon diagnosis of a covered condition. This money is yours to use for any purpose, with no restrictions. For example, critical illness insurance proceeds can be used to pay:
• Mortgage or rent payments, as well as any other bills you may have;
• Health insurance deductibles, coinsurance and/or co-payments;
• The costs of receiving out-of-network medical treatment, including
possible travel and lodging expenses;
• Treatments not covered by traditional health insurance;
• Child care expenses during treatment or hospitalization;
• Modifications to your home or vehicle; and/or
• Shorter-term home health care.
Since the premiums paid for critical illness insurance are not tax deductible, the benefits are considered as income and are received 100% free of income tax.
How Critical Illness Insurance Works:
In evaluating a critical illness insurance policy, you need answers to these questions:
What Is Covered?
Critical illness insurance pays benefits upon the diagnosis of specified illnesses. A basic policy should cover at least heart attack, stroke and life-threatening cancer.
A more comprehensive policy should also include other serious conditions, such as renal failure, multiple sclerosis, coronary artery disease, advanced Alzheimer's Disease and major organ transplant.
What Is the Benefit Amount?
The benefit amount is selected at the time the policy is purchased and, generally
speaking, can range from $10,000 to $100,000 or more.
The benefit amount is paid in a lump sum upon diagnosis of a critical illness covered by the policy. Since the premium paid increases as the benefit amount increases, it is important to evaluate your other sources of funds available in the event of a serious illness in order to more accurately determine the critical illness insurance benefit amount that is right for you.
When Is the Benefit Paid?
The critical illness insurance benefit is paid to you in a lump sum upon diagnosis of a critical illness covered by the policy. Some critical illness insurance policies pay a partial benefit, such as 25% of the maximum benefit, on the occurrence of certain specified treatments, such as coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery.
The policy usually terminates upon payment of 100% of the benefit.
Does the Policy Have an Elimination or Qualification Period?
Some policies require that for benefits to be payable, the policy must be in effect for a stated period of time, such as 90 days, before diagnosis of a covered critical illness is made.
Critical Illness Insurance Checklist:
In purchasing critical illness insurance, it is important to select coverage that matches your needs and preferences. As you evaluate various policy features and benefits, however, keep in mind that the choices you make can affect the premiums you pay and the benefits you are entitled to receive.
Covered Illnesses
What serious illnesses are covered by the policy?
Benefit Amount
What is the lump sum amount payable upon diagnosis of a
covered critical illness? Is the benefit amount payable in a
single lump sum, or in specified percentages or amounts? If
the benefit is payable in specified percentages or amounts,
does the premium decrease accordingly?
Elimination Period
Is the benefit payable immediately after diagnosis of a covered critical illness? If not, how long must the policy be in effect before benefits become available?
Guaranteed Renewable
Can you renew the coverage for life, so long as you pay the
premiums when due?
Premium Increases
Under what circumstances can the insurance company
increase the premiums?
Death Benefit
Does the policy provide any kind of death benefit if you die without receiving any benefits?
Optional Coverages
Are there any optional coverages available, such as inflation protection or an accidental death benefit? Since optional coverages generally require payment of an additional premium, carefully evaluate the value of any optional
coverages to you and your personal situation.
For information on starting your own Critical Illness Plan contact Duaine Owings with Plan To Win Insurance Agency toll-free at: 800-559-8777 or email to:duaineowings@gmail.com
