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Critical Illness Coverage

Get financial protection in the event that you or your family get diagnosed with any of the 36 covered conditions, like cancer or heart attack.

Critical Illness Coverage

Get financial protection in the event that you or your family get diagnosed with any of the 36 covered conditions, like cancer or heart attack.

Coverage that can help you during a major illness diagnosis

So you can focus on your recovery, Critical Illness coverage can help you with unforeseen expenses not covered by government programs like:

  • Loss of Income due to time to recover or care for a loved one
  • Travel and accommodations for treatments
  • Alternative treatments and experimental drugs
  • Adaptive equipment or home modifications
  • Child care expenses

What makes Critical Illness coverage unique?

Tax-free benefit

You get a tax-free, lump sum payment to help pay unexpected costs or protect your hard-earned savings during your recovery – used however you want.

Flexible coverage amount

Unlike disability insurance, this benefit is not dependent on your income. You decide the amount of protection you purchase based on your budget and needs.

No medical questions*

During a limited period called ‘Open Enrolment’ certain coverage amounts are available without answering any medical questions. Ask your group administrator about the terms of your Open Enrolment.

*during Open Enrolment – Open Enrolment is a limited time period where certain coverage amounts are available without the need to answer medical questions. The timing for Open Enrolment is dependent on your organization’s agreement with Blue Cross Life or for new employees - is available during the first 30 days of employment.

Everyone is at risk of developing a critical illness, but are you prepared?

Health outcomes are improving for many critical illnesses, but recovery can be an expensive and time-consuming process. With coverage of up to 36 conditions, Critical Illness Insurance can help reduce financial stress and support your family in your time of need.

†Covered conditions are based on definitions commonly used in the insurance industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting coverage for critical illness depends on a variety of factors. The risk of being diagnosed with a critical illness increases with age. To manage this risk, your premiums change when you enter a new age band. After age 30, age bands are in 5-year increments (i.e. 30-34, 35-39 and so on). We’ll always advise you when there is a change to your premium.

When thinking about how much coverage you need, you should consider income that you will lose if you are not working and still be able to cover the debts that you have while making sure you are comfortable and supported as you recover.

All types of insurance are meant to protect you against unknown risks. If you are diagnosed with a covered critical illness within the first two years of your coverage, no benefit will be paid if this illness is related to a pre-existing condition.

A pre-existing condition is a condition for which, during the two years before your coverage, you a) had a medical consultation; b) were prescribed or were taking medication; or c) received treatment, including diagnostic measures, for any symptom of medical problem that led to the diagnosis of or treatment for the covered condition.

If you are diagnosed with an eligible condition within two years of being insured and your pre-existing condition has been deemed unrelated, your claim would be accepted, assuming all other terms of the policy were met.

If you are diagnosed with an eligible condition after being insured for two years or more, the pre-existing condition limitation no longer applies, regardless of the treatment you received prior to obtaining coverage.

Note that there is no coverage for cancer for 90 days after securing new coverage, or for Parkinson’s Disease, specified Atypical Parkinsonian disorders and/or Multiple Sclerosis for one year after securing new coverage.

For more information on pre-existing conditions consult the Coverage Details.

Disability insurance and Critical Illness insurance work together to make sure you are financially supported during a major illness diagnosis.

  • Disability insurance is partly income replacement which is given to you because you cannot work. Usually there is a waiting period and coverage ends at 65.
  • Critical Illness insurance can supplement your disability benefits by providing a tax-free pay-out with little to no waiting period as soon as you are diagnosed with a critical illness with coverage available for life.

These FAQ's provides summary information about the Protection Plus Benefits available to you. Additional exclusions and limitations may apply to your unique circumstances. The rights of all insured persons are governed solely by the policy.

Protect your family when they need it most

By getting covered you can continue to take care of your family even in the case of a major illness, injury, or death.

Protect your family when they need it most

By getting covered you can continue to take care of your family even in the case of a major illness, injury, or death.

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TM Trademark of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans, an association of independent Blue Cross Plans.Used under license by Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada.

Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada underwrites all life and disability benefits.

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