Critical Illness Insurance
- Agile Financial Services
- Nov 22, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 28, 2023

Critical Illness
Critical Illness Definition
Critical Illness Insurance pays a lump sum cash amount when you have one of 26 life threatening illnesses. Critical Illness was first invented by heart surgeon Dr Marius Barnard. And was first introduced in South Africa in 1982 and in Canada in 1996. Critical Illness has tremendous flexibility because there are no restrictions on how you spend the lump sum cash you receive as a benefit when you make a claim. You do not have to get approval for expenditures, provide receipts or spend money on medical expenses. You choose how you want to spend the money having treatment in another country, buying necessary treatments or drugs, make modifications to your house.
Main features of a Critical Illness policy
30 Day Benefit Claim Waiting Period: CI will pay the sum insured upon first diagnosis of a Critical Illness condition. In order for the Sum Insured to be paid, you must survive for a period of 30 days following the first diagnosis of your Critical Illness condition
Coverage from $10,000 to $3,000,000 and up to 26 conditions
Options to cover 1, 3, 5, 7 or 8 of the most frequent critical illnesses that account for over 85% of all claims; cancer, heart attack and stoke
Apply for coverage between ages 18 to 65
Add critical illness coverage to a term life policy as a rider
Critical Illness term
Term 10
Term 75 (some with limited pay)
Term 100
Disability Waiver of Premium Rider: Many policies allow you to add payment of your CI premium if you are disabled and can’t work. Insuring your insurance policies can sometimes make sense.
Return of Premium on Death Rider: Most policies will return the premiums paid from the policy date to the date of death when you die. The maximum amount returned is usually limited to the sum Insured
Return of Premium on Surrender Option Rider: This feature provides you (the Insured) the option to surrender coverage on the 10th-15th or 20th -25th policy anniversary and receive a 100% return of annual premiums paid. You have the option to surrender a portion of coverage and receive a proportionate return of premium. This rider is expensive and can double your monthly premiums. Its worth considering to both as a way to save and have insurance. Critical Illness Insurance coverage for the the following conditions is included in most CI policies:
Alzheimer’s Disease
Aortic Surgery
Aplastic Anemia
Bacterial Meningitis
Benign Brain Tumour
Blindness
Coma
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Deafness
Heart Attack
Heart Valve Replacement
Kidney Failure
Life-Threatening Cancer
Loss of Limbs
Loss of Speech
Major Organ Transplant on Waiting List
Major Organ Transplant
Motor Neuron Disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Occupational HIV Infection
Paralysis
Parkinson’s Disease
Severe Burns
Stroke
Living Benefits - Critical Illness Insurance
Replace your income and capital if you become ill and need additional medical treatment
What is Critical Illness Insurance?
CI or Critical illness provides a lump sum or partial payment when your life is threatened then become ill with any one of the biggest critical illnesses: heart attack, stroke and cancer account for 85% of CI claims. Cancer claims account for the single largest claims category
Critical Illness Insurance Quote
Call us to discuss how to buy the best policy and compare critical illness quotes for the following companies:
Critical Illness Manulife
Critical Illness Sun Life
Critical Illness RBC
Critical Illness Canada Protection Plan, CPP
Critical Illness Canada Life
Critical Illness Assumption Life
Critical Illness BMO
Critical Illness Empire life
Critical Illness Equitable
Critical Illness Industrial Alliance
Critical Illness Foresters
Critical Illness Humania
Critical Illness Beneva
Critical Illness Ivari
Critical Illness Desjardins
Sun Critical Illness Insurance Example
coverage in amounts from $25,000 to $3 million for adults and for
$25,000 to $1 million for children
8 illnesses eligible for partial-benefit payout covers eight forms of cancer
each partial payout illness in this list is eligible for a benefit payment equal to 15% of the critical illness insurance coverage amount, to a maximum of $50,000 per illness.
one claim per illness, to a maximum of 4 partial payments.
your Sun Life Critical Illness Insurance policy remains in place and the partial payment does not reduce the total coverage amount you chose
Is Critical Illness worth it?
Yes, you can always add CI to your term life policy. Claims we've submitted were paid out within 10 days. Return of premium is works really well if you submit notice 60 days prior to the anniversary date. You can set up critical illness policies to provide optimal life insurance coverage providing a pretty good safety net. Lump sum cash payments are made while you are alive at a time when you really need it the most
How does Critical Illness work?
Decide how much coverage you need
Examine all the policy options that are available
Obtain quotes to evaluate costs and benefits
Apply for CI policy
Submit a claim if needed; collect digital copies of the diagnostic files from your doctors, ask your doctors to complete the claim form
If you have the return of premium rider submit a 1 or 2 page claim for return of premium
Best Critical Illness Insurance in Canada
Each life insurance company offers a slightly different angle in the policy contract design. Its worth some time to discuss option that are available. To go shopping with us. The list of 15 Critical Illness insurance companies are the best in Canada. We work with these companies.
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