Critical Illness Insurance Details
Medical expenses incurred on account of a critical illness can be staggering. Up to 70% of cancer treatment drugs are deemed experimental, and thus are not covered by government plans. You can use the insurance money to bypass hospital line-ups and receive immediate treatment.
Important Statistics
- 1 in 2 heart attack victims are under the age of 65.
- 50,000 Canadians suffer a stroke each year. Sixty percent of all stroke victims will be left with a disability.
- 1 in 3 Canadians will develop a life threatening cancer.
- Alarmingly, Canada has the second highest breast cancer occurrence in the world.
- 132 000 Canadians per year are diagnosed as having cancer.
- 63% of Canadians say that we should be able to buy upgraded medical services
- Many drugs used in the treatment of cancer are considered "experimental" and are therefore NOT covered by provincial medical plans.
- 1 in 4 Canadians will suffer from kidney disease
- The average age of claim on Critical Illness Insurance is 43
List of insurable illnesses
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Coronary Artery Bypass surgery
- Paralysis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Major organ transplant
- Major organ failure on waiting list
- Loss of independence
- Late onset diabetes
- Coma Occupational HIV Infection
- Deafness
- Parkinson's Disease
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Loss of speech
- Kidney failure
- Motor Neuron Disease (ALS)
- Blindness
- Severe burns
- Benign brain tumour
Critical Illness Insurance is available in two forms: basic and comprehensive. Basic insurance covers heart attack, stroke and cancer only. Comprehensive coverage covers heart attack, stroke and cancer, as well as up to 18 of the above illnesses.
History of Critical Illness Insurance
The concept of critical illness insurance was developed by the world famous heart surgeon, Dr. Marius Barnard, who saw a need for a plan that paid a "living benefit" to his patients because they were going to live, not because they were going to die.
To use Dr. Barnard's own words while on a speaking engagement in Victoria, British Columbia (May, 2001)....."One of my patients lived for 28 years with his new heart. You know... he NEVER complained about his health. His only complaint was MONEY! The life insurance 'promise' to financially look after the family when he dies was taken away from him. HE DIDN'T DIE! The promise was no longer true. Times have changed. The old promise is not always enough. Look at critical illness insurance as a NEW or ADDITIONAL PROMISE that you and your family will be looked after when you survive a critical illness."