Do I Need Critical Illness Insurance?

If you’re a healthy individual, it’s fair to wonder if you really need critical illness insurance. While you may be confident that you’re not going to get seriously ill, there are many advantages to being insured. Understanding what critical illness insurance is and what it has to offer can help you decide if this option is right for your needs. Here are some advantages to getting a critical illness insurance plan.

Critical illness insurance payouts are paid to you

With health insurance, the money goes directly towards paying medical costs. It may not cover all the other expenses you might have to take care of, such as childcare, groceries, and other daily living expenses. If you have a critical illness insurance plan, the money is paid to you, unless assigned otherwise. You’re able to use it however you need to. Additionally, your health insurance may not cover all your medical costs, so you can use the benefits from your critical illness insurance to help pay any outstanding expenses. This advantage is helpful if you don’t have a high amount of savings, or your employer doesn’t offer benefits to cover periods of unemployment due to sickness.

Critical illness insurance can cover diseases in your family history

Critical illness insurance generally covers the most common diseases and conditions people get diagnosed with. Let’s say you have a family history of cancer. You can keep yourself financially protected with a single critical illness insurance plan, or you could even cover your whole family with a family critical illness insurance plan. If there’s a more specific illness in your family history that’s not as common, you can shop around to find a plan that offers the coverage you need.

Critical illness insurance is not expensive

In almost all cases, the cost of critical illness insurance will be lower than what you pay for health insurance. Some factors that will influence the cost include how much coverage you’re seeking, how old you are, and how healthy you are. According to the New York Times, a person in their 40s may only have to pay $25 to $50 a month for critical illness insurance. A critical illness insurance policy as high as $50,000 might only cost $54 to $66 a month¹. You can get a quote from different critical illness insurance companies to find a price that’s most affordable for you.

How to decide if critical illness insurance is right for your needs

One of the most important things to consider when deciding if critical illness insurance is right for you is your finances. If you have a small emergency fund, you may not be able to afford the cost of treating a serious condition. A study found that 62% of bankruptcies were caused by medical bills². A critical illness insurance policy may help you avoid bankruptcy and continue paying your expenses until you can work again. Lastly, if you know there’s a critical medical condition that runs in your family, it’s worth looking into a critical illness plan that pays benefits for that condition. Keep all these advantages in mind to help you decide whether critical illness insurance is right for your needs.

In Arkansas, Policies B71100AR & B7110HAR. In Oklahoma, Policies B71100OK & B7110HOK. In Oregon, Policies B71100OR & B7110HOR. In Pennsylvania, Policies B71100PA & B7110HPA. This is a brief product overview only. Coverage may not be available in all states including but not limited to: ID, NJ, NY & VA. Benefits and/or premiums may vary based on the state and benefit option selected. Riders are available for an additional premium. The policy has limitations, exclusions and pre-existing condition limitations that may affect benefits payable. The policy may contain a waiting period. Refer to the policy for benefit details, definitions, limitations and exclusions. For costs and complete details of the coverage, contact your Aflac insurance agent/producer.

Sources

¹ The New York Times. Insurance for Critical Illness May Add Security, But at a Cost.” Published March 18, 2016.

² The Balance. “Medical Bankruptcy and the Economy.” Published January 20, 2022.

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.

Aflac insurance coverage is underwritten by Aflac. In New York, coverage underwritten by Aflac New York.

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