A living Benefit: Critical Illness Insurance; Do I need It?

 

1. Do I need it?
2. Isn’t it expensive?
3. Is it too complex and confusing?
4. What about the underwriting?

Let’s examine each of these four questions.

 1. Do you actually feel no need for this product?

Research tells us 77% Canadians are concerned with lifestyle and health costs if they became critically ill.  A further 84% were concerned with the government’s ability to fund the current healthcare system.  Those concerns are not unfounded.  A survey from 2014 found that 41% of retirees retired because of personal health.

Just like life insurance, critical illness coverage is likely suitable for people under age 65 (CI coverage is often cost-prohibitive after that age).  CI coverage can help anyone whose illness would cause financial liabilities (e.g., debt, bills) for a spouse or dependent.  Often, the money is used to replace lost income when disability coverage doesn’t pay out, which can happen if the insured’s condition is not severe enough to satisfy a doctor’s opinion of someone’s inability to work for a sustained period.  CI simply pays out upon diagnosis of specific illnesses.  Also, single people who don’t see a need life insurance could benefit from CI coverage as they could use the payout to replace lost income and pay for caregiving services.

2. Is critical illness expensive?

Every person who qualifies for CI insurance should own at least enough to cover a year of lifestyle expenses (salary).  This would give most people up to a year of expense coverage to allow them to make choices that focus on recovery from illness.  A 35-year-old Female non-smoker can buy $100,000 10 – year term  for around $35 per month.

There are various ways to set up your CI policy depending on what you want out of the product.  If you want the product to cover you short term while your family is young and you are concerned about the cost, the 10-year term coverage is a good option.  There are options that allow you to keep the coverage over a longer period, and there is even an option to return all of your premiums if you do not use coverage after a specified period of time.  When looking at this coverage it can be built to fit your needs and wants with regards to cost.

Cheap and expensive are relative terms.

What impact would $100,000 of protection have on your finances?  If you had to withdraw $100,000 from your RRSP, it could cost up to $150,000  before tax, depending on your marginal tax rate.  That $150,000 could have been worth $300,000 or more at retirement, depending on time and growth rates.  Remember that $35.00 a month for 10-year Critical Illness coverage could have change that equation in your favor.

3. Is CI too complex to understand?

The product which was originally designed by a doctor in South Africa to aid patients in paying for treatment upon diagnosis of a life-altering illness.  This idea is somehow deemed to be more complex than any other insurance product on the market.  I think it’s all about understanding why you need this coverage.

Let me ask you these two questions below:

Do you know someone that is close to you that is healthy?

What if they went to the doctor because they have not been feeling well for a little while. But it’s nothing that resonates as a major illness. Remember they live a healthy life and they are healthy.

After a brief consultation with the doctor, blood work and diagnostic tests are ordered. The results come back and the doctor office calls your healthy friend to set up an appointment. During this appointment, the doctor informs them that they now have a Life-Altering Illness.

But they were healthy… how is this possible?  A critical Illness does not pick or choose!

If they don’t have Critical Illness coverage how would they fund the treatment and recovery they will require?

All of a sudden this coverage does not seem very complicated to understand.  As we know life altering Illnesses can happen to anyone and has happened too often amongst our friends and families.

4. Is critical illness insurance hard to qualify for?

Anyone who has a family history of hereditary issues will have a tougher time qualifying.  That is not to say you will not qualify, there is a rating system in place to provide coverage if you are deemed high risk.  The majority of people who apply will qualify for standard offers if they are healthy.

You need to take a holistic, risk management approach and determine all risks so that illness protection and a life insurance plan work together.

The banks are the number one writers of this coverage for their Mortgages and Lines of Credit products.  What you need to know is it always cheaper when dealing directly with an insurance company.  Put the money back in your pocket!  A good Financial Planner will help you find money you have been spending unknowingly or unwillingly. This is just one example of you spending money unknowingly – find an advisor start saving now.

As always if you have any questions regarding Living Benefits Insurance, Financial Security or Financial Planning please contact us at Henley Financial and Wealth Management.

You may also contact us at the following Info@henleyfinancial.ca