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What Does Critical Illness Insurance Cover and Who Needs It?

While the name may sound daunting, critical illness insurance coverage can help make all the difference, especially when a life-changing health event takes place. Often, major health events can be both emotionally and financially impactful.

Thankfully, supplemental critical illness insurance works with your primary health insurance plan to help provide additional help. Discover what critical illness insurance helps cover and if critical illness coverage makes sense for you and your family’s needs.

What is critical illness insurance?

Before we begin, it’s important to understand that a critical illness is a major health emergency like a heart attack or stroke.1 Every insurance plan functions differently, but in general, the critical illness insurance plan benefits are designed to help give you and your family support during trying times. It may be beneficial that you get a critical illness plan before a major health event takes place to be able to access benefits.

Aflac’s critical illness insurance pays you lump-sum cash benefits that can be used toward whatever is needed most. That means critical illness can help cover medications, treatment plans, therapy, or everyday expenses, like groceries and rent.

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What does critical illness insurance cover?

Critical illness insurance typically provides coverage for conditions like a heart attack, stroke, or organ failure. It’s crucial that you research what illnesses are explicitly written out in your critical illness plan to ensure you know what is covered by critical illness insurance. Be sure to check out what Aflac critical illness insurance can help with. If you have further questions, chatting with an agent can help provide further clarity.

What critical illness insurance doesn’t cover

It’s also important to understand what isn’t covered by critical illness insurance. Understanding the dos and don’ts of critical illness plans can help you choose which supplemental coverage is best for your needs. For example, Aflac’s cancer insurance may be better suited for those who have received a cancer diagnosis. Although cancer is a major health event, there are special insurance policies designed to help support you through your journey separate from critical illness Insurance.

Another helpful choice is Aflac’s hospital insurance. This kind of supplemental plan is designed to help minimize the costs experienced in the emergency room. Also, it’s not uncommon to have more than one supplemental insurance plans to help with expenses not covered by major medical. Chat with an agent to learn about all of Aflac’s insurance plans and coverage options.

Who needs critical illness insurance?

Here are some individuals who may benefit from getting a critical illness insurance policy:

  • People with a family history of critical illnesses: Individuals with a genetic predisposition to certain critical illnesses, such as a heart attack or stroke, are at higher risk. Critical illness insurance can provide financial support if you develop one of these conditions.

  • Sole income earners: Those who are the primary source of income for their families might need this supplemental plan to ensure that their family’s financial stability is maintained in case of a critical illness.

  • Parents with young children: Parents with dependents may need this insurance to ensure they can continue to provide for their children’s needs, such as education and daily expenses, if they are diagnosed with a critical illness.

  • Older adults: Older individuals, especially those approaching retirement, might need critical illness insurance to help cover medical expenses and support their lifestyle in case of serious health issues.

  • Those seeking peace of mind:

How much critical illness insurance coverage do I need?

Sometimes, there may be different tiers of coverage offered through critical illness insurance. Reading the fine print and understanding the differences between each level can help you decide how much coverage you need. These tiers and the specific regulations from each insurance company will help shape which critical illness insurance option is best for you.

However, it’s important to note that critical illness policies are typically low-cost. Because budget-friendly rates are offered, there can be coverage limitations to consider.2 Researching each critical illness insurance plan carefully can help ensure you know exactly what you're applying for.

How can I get critical illness insurance?

You can purchase critical illness insurance either individually or through your employer if they offer this type of plan. Purchasing an individual policy allows you to tailor the coverage to your specific needs and circumstances, while employer-provided options might offer convenience and potentially lower premiums due to group rates. However, critical illness insurance through your employer may have limited options and might not be as comprehensive as individual policies. To navigate these choices effectively, it’s wise to seek advice from an insurance agent or financial advisor. They can provide insights into the various policies available, help assess your needs, and guide you in selecting the most suitable coverage to ensure financial protection in case of a critical illness.

Get critical illness insurance from Aflac

Now that you better understand what critical illness helps cover, you can make an educated decision surrounding your coverage goals. While we hope you and your family never have to battle a critical illness, having critical illness insurance in place can help make your journey a little bit easier.

Aflac critical illness insurance comes with extensive coverage and reasonable premiums that fit most budgets. To learn more about the plans we offer, start chatting with an agent today.

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