Critical Illness Insurance helps provide financial support if diagnosed with a covered critical illness.

If you’re diagnosed with a critical illness like a heart attack or stroke, your life can change quickly. In addition to the emotional and physical toll, there may be strain on your personal finances. That’s because while a major medical plan may pay for some of the costs associated with treatment, out-of-pocket expenses like co-pays and deductibles can still put a strain on your savings.

• HELPS PROTECT YOUR FINANCES FROM AN ILLNESS. When you, your spouse or child is diagnosed with a covered condition, you can receive a cash benefit to help pay unexpected costs not covered by your health plan.
• HELPS COVER RELATED EXPENSES. While health plans may cover direct costs associated with a critical illness, you can use your benefit to help with related expenses like lost income, childcare, travel to and from treatment, deductibles and co-pays.
• PAYS CASH BENEFITS DIRECTLY TO YOU. Critical Illness insurance can be used however you want, and it pays in addition to any other coverage you may already have.

What’s more, all family members on your plan are eligible for a wellness-screening benefit, also paid directly to you once each year per covered person.

Dealing with a critical illness can be costly to you in 2 ways:

• Medical bills. It’s not unusual for a critical illness to result in out-of-pocket expenses. It starts with the usual, deductibles and copays, but it doesn’t end there. You might decide to go to a doctor or facility that’s “out of network.” You might decide to get a second opinion or type of treatment that isn’t covered at all. When your health is at stake, it's important to feel like you have control and choices.  
• Lost income. Treatment and focus on recovery may require extra time away from work. That can impact the paycheck your family may rely on to keep everything on track. Or you might discover you have added expenses because you need more help around the house, extra childcare, or additional lodging near treatment. These costs can subtract from your wages or savings. 

The advantage of this coverage is simple: you can use your critical illness benefit any way you choose. You can use it to help pay for medical expenses like deductibles and copays, as well as any non-medical expenses. You can also use this money to help pay daily living expenses such as grocery bills, mortgage payments, childcare, and transportation – all of which can be an added worry if you lose income while you’re out of work.

Access to this benefit helps you have more control over your finances and ultimately your health care options, too. Less stress about money and added peace of mind are both great ways to support your recovery.

These are the periods when you are eligible to enroll for Critical Illness Insurance:

1. Within your new hire enrollment period
2. If you have a qualifying life event (you get married, have a baby, etc.)
3. During your employer’s annual enrollment

Check with your employer’s human resources/benefits team for specifics about these timeframes.

Keep in mind: If you enroll during these timeframes, you have what is called "guaranteed issue," which means you may qualify for coverage without answering health questions. You must have coverage in place before a covered critical illness occurs in order to be eligible to collect the benefit when you need it.