Life insurance policies, and especially term insurance plans, are typically easy to obtain for healthy individuals who have no pre-existing medical conditions or diseases.
However, getting a life insurance policy may be a little more challenging if you or someone you are buying the policy for already has a serious illness. This is due to the terms and conditions that the majority of insurance service providers have regarding life insurance for those who have a critical illness.Therefore, before diving into our main discussion, let us look at some general eligibility criteria.
What are the eligibility criteria for getting Term Insurance?It is best to verify that you match the requirements set forth for a
term insurance plan's eligibility before applying. While qualifying criteria for term insurance plans might vary between plans and insurers, there are a few universal general requirements:
- The term insurance plan's policyholder, or purchaser, must be an Indian national. NRIs (Non-Residential Indians) and PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin) can also invest in term insurance plans provided by Indian life insurance companies.
- For the majority of insurers, a medical examination is required before they issue the term insurance. To calculate the premium amounts the policyholder will be required to pay, the insurer uses this information to keep track of any medical issues and the risk factors connected to them. You can estimate this amount by using an online Term Insurance Calculator.
- In general, smokers pay a higher premium for term insurance than non-smokers. This is because smoking has been shown to increase a person's risk of health problems significantly.
- The policyholder must submit the correct documentation to complete the term insurance application.
So, is it possible for someone who has a critical illness to purchase term insurance?
Yes, in some circumstances. Any applicant who has a pre-existing critical illness may be able to purchase term insurance if they meet the conditions outlined by the insurer.
Additionally, because there is a higher chance that the insured person may pass away during the policy's term, this risk is notably higher for those who have a critical disease. So, most insurance firms have set guidelines and criteria for providing a protective life cover to individuals with a critical illness.
Some of the things that must be kept in mind while purchasing life insurance for someone with a critical illness are:
- Prior to purchasing life insurance, you must inform your insurer that you have a serious illness. Failing to provide this information could later render your beneficiaries’ claim invalid. Most insurers typically need information like this when you get life insurance.
- The day your critical illness was initially diagnosed
- The severity of the condition or the degree of the disease
- The type of medical care you received (or are currently receiving)
- If you have been diagnosed with a critical illness like cancer, heart disease, or stroke, the premium for life insurance will likely be higher. This is because there is a greater likelihood that the insurer will be required to pay out the death benefits. Therefore, insurance firms charge a higher premium on policies issued to people with a critical illness to compensate for this increased risk.
- The majority of insurers will impose a waiting period that you must pass before buying a life insurance policy if you have a history of any critical illness. For instance, if you've recently suffered a heart attack, you might not be able to purchase a life insurance policy until six months have passed since the attack. Some insurers may increase this time frame to three years. In a similar vein, when it comes to diseases like cancer, insurers could demand that you go through a certain amount of time in remission in order to qualify.
- Typically, there is a significant likelihood that you may qualify for lower premium ratesif you have been reclassified as healthy after having experienced a critical illness.
Note that in some cases, when an individual has a critical illness before purchasing a term insurance policy, the insurer may reject or postpone the application since the condition is pre-existing.
Since getting life cover after being diagnosed with a critical illness is not always a viable option, getting a critical illness rider is advised at the time of purchasing the policy so that you can cover yourself for this scenario.
What is the Critical Illness Rider?A critical illness rider offers financial support during a potential medical emergency. It might also pay for rehabilitation expenses if you are diagnosed with any of the covered illnesses. Heart attack and cancer are two of the main illnesses frequently covered by a term plan's critical illness rider.
When a policyholder purchases a critical illness rider, they are promised a lump sum payment if they are diagnosed with one of the critical illnesses covered under the policy. According to the terms and conditions of the policy, a person may also use the money for costs other than hospitalization. But it's important to carefully review the coverage details before choosing a rider.
While opting for the critical illness rider, make sure to keep the following in mind:
1. Carefully review the list of illnesses that the policy covers
2. Subject to the policy's terms and conditions, the policyholder may receive benefits upon being diagnosed with the listed illness
3. After the policyholder's passing, the beneficiaries will get the death benefit
When a policyholder doesn't have enough money, having supplemental coverage for medical emergencies is helpful. In times of necessity, it is preferable to be ready with a critical illness rider because it can be difficult to purchase life cover later on if at all you get diagnosed with a critical illness.
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