Look around you or lean over to ask your colleague in the next cubicle- everyone, everywhere is suffering from an illness of some kind.

It doesn’t have to be earth-shattering like cancer. Rather, a disease like diabetes- which calls for daily watchfulness and care- is very commonplace and an accepted part of our lifestyle.

Anyone can guess the primary reason- stress- and it’s present in generous amounts. The resulting diagnosis can cripple anyone’s financial situation and put the entire family under more stress. Hence, in such a scenario, do you know what your no. 1 responsibility is?

Look into critical illness insurance plans and get your family and yourself secured with a health insurance plan.

What is Critical Illness Insurance Cover and why do you need it?

Critical Illness Insurance Cover provides a sense of protection and safety should any critical illnesses befall upon you. If you are diagnosed with any one of them, you are paid a lump sum amount which might be in addition to your other health coverage plans.

Aviva Health Secure is one such plan that provides cover against 12 such Critical Illnesses:

1. First heart attack- of specified severity
2. Stroke resulting in permanent symptoms
3. Cancer of specified severity
4. Kidney failure requiring regular dialysis
5. Major organ/ bone marrow transplant
6. Open chest CABG
7. Benign brain tumor
8. Open heart replacement
9. Motor neuron disease with permanent symptoms
10. Multiple scSlerosis with persisting symptoms
11. Coma of specified severity
12. Permanent paralysis of limbs

At Aviva, the Critical Illness and Disability Rider which is available to add-on with our Term Insurance Covers like Aviva  i-Life Total. This rider covers you against 16 critical diseases and Permanant Total Disability caused by an illness/accident:

1. First Heart Attack – of Specified Severity
2. Open Heart Replacement or Repair of Heart Valves
3. Open Chest CABG
4. Major surgery of the Aorta
5. Stroke resulting in Permanent Symptoms
6. Cancer of Specified Severity    
7. Kidney failure requiring regular dialysis
8. Major Organ/Bone Marrow Transplant
9. Benign brain tumour
10. Deafness
11. Motor Neurone disease with permanent symptoms
12. Multiple Sclerosis with persisting symptoms
13. Coma of specified severity
14. End stage liver disease
15. End stage lung failure
16. Aplastic Anaemia

Different critical insurance plans cover different illnesses. It is a good idea to go through the list and also the conditions for each disease when coverage would be provided.

No matter the particular disease, each one of them is not only life-threatening but also calls for tonnes of money. The treatment is ongoing and expensive. The medicines are little-heard of and costly. Visits to the doctor are frequent. On top of that, if you are an earning member, you will not be working and your income will be cut-off. All of these can cause a serious dent in your savings. But the good news is that this does not have to become a reality.

Through the lump sump received through this health insurance plan, combined with other coverage schemes, you can breathe a sigh of relief and focus on the thing that truly matters- restoring your health to perfection.

How does it work?

Let’s assume you are 30 years old today. You pay ayearly premium of INR 2,220 for a 20-year term towards 20 lakhs sum assured under the Critical Illness Rider. During the term, if you are diagnosed with any of the 12 critical illnesses, you will get the amount of the entire sum assured

Easy-breezy.

Now, here is how you go about claiming your Critical Illness Cover with Aviva Health Insurance:

First, the critical illness needs to be confirmed by a registered medical practitioner, including a relevant specialist acceptable to the company. Full details about the same can be found here.

You are required to file a claim with the required documents within 90 days from the date of diagnosis. You will be eligible for the lump sum amount provided you have survived at least 30 days after the diagnosis of the critical illness.

Moreover, you can purchase the plan online, making it unnecessary to spend time visiting and commuting.

Which factors determine the price of Critical Illness Coverage?

The following factors will play a role in the coverage you receive:

• Your age
• Your general health
• The amount of lump sum you would like to receive
• If you purchased this health insurance plan in combination with other insurance plans

What Does Critical Illness Lump Sum Cash Pay For?

Apart from the obvious, critical illness coverage can also help with the following:

• A mediclaim might just reimburse your hospitalization costs. But, a critical illness insurance cover will cover other expenses like the cost of medicines, consultation fees, etc
• In addition, if you have any pending EMIs, the critical illness coverage can help to deal with those, too
• You can pay bills including those of living expenses and mortgage
• Pay for home care and rehabilitation costs
• Pay for the deductible in your health insurance plan to avoid medical debt

Please note, however, that in the case of death, surrender, or maturity, no amount would be payable.

The diagnosis of critical illnesses can leave anyone helpless, despairing, and struggling financially. But, it doesn’t have to be so. With critical illness plans, policyholders can take concrete steps to take control of their health, safety, and future. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones, too.

Critical Illness and Disability Rider: UIN 122B019V01

AN Sep 28/19

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