Monday, April 14, 2008

What Is Catastrophic Illness Insurance?

A catastrophic illness can, even with full medical insurance, destroy a family savings. The high deductibles and expenses associated with diseases such as cancer, heart attacks and stroke can quickly drain savings accounts and retirement accounts, and it is difficult to pay for the care they need. Catastrophic health insurance can help cover the medical expenses needed and to provide the necessary funds for the care.

Many diseases catastrophic policies are specific to a particular disease. There are policies that will pay benefits if you are diagnosed with cancer, a heart attack or stroke, or need long-term care because of age or disability. None of these policies will cover you for the conditions that were pre-existing, but they can be very valuable if you are ever diagnosed with a disease covered.

What is the probability that you will need a catastrophic illness coverage? Your chances of being diagnosed with cancer before the age of 60 is about six times higher than the risk of dying before age 60. You are more likely to need a cancer assurance that the life insurance - but far more people wear it. Approximately 60% of those who reach age 65 will eventually require long-term care - but less than 10% of us have insurance that will cover the costs.

The benefits of a catastrophic illness policy can be used to cover expenses that are not normally covered by medical insurance policies. Those who can be included in the cost of home care, or the conversion of a home to make it wheelchair accessible. They can pay for alternative and complementary treatments that traditional insurance policies will not cover, including nutritional advice, massage therapy and complementary medical treatments. A catastrophic illness policy may cover the cost of treatments or experimental treatments such as organ transplants that are only partially covered by health insurance policies typical.

What is the importance of critical or catastrophic health insurance? According to Dr. Marius Barnard, brother of Christian Barnard who performed the first successful heart transplant, 37% of the homes in Canada are the result of heart attacks, strokes and cancer. In contrast, less than 7% of the house are the result of the death of a family. The settlement of a catastrophic illness policy could save your home, and save your family years of debt to repay the bills associated with your disease.

There are many different types and configurations of a catastrophic illness. Some can be bought, like any political life. Others offer term cover for a term not exceeding ten years. There are policies that will return the full premium paid, if you do not make a claim against them before the age of 65. Some insurers even offer a referral service as part of their package of critical illness insurance.

Pricing and review on policies catastrophic illness varies from one insurer from politics and policy. Some policies cover only a declared disease. Others can cover up to thirty possible diagnoses, with a schedule of benefits for each diagnosis. Obviously, the cost varies according to benefits and conditions covered. To learn more about catastrophic illness coverage and the coverage of long-term care, talk to an insurance agent.

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