Early Critical Illness VS Critical Illness Coverage – Are They The Same and Why You Need Both

Early Critical Illness VS Critical Illness Coverage - Are They The Same and Why You Need Both

Last Updated on by Tree of Wealth

The prevalence of cancer in Singapore has been steadily rising in the past few years. As a matter of fact, roughly 36 people are diagnosed with a certain type of cancer every day all over the country. The good news in all this is that with modern medical technologies, the survival and recovery rates have also been increasing over the years as well. However, modern and advanced medical treatments can get pretty expensive, and not everyone has the financial means to be able to afford the needed treatments and recover from their illnesses.

This is where you can get the most of early-stage critical illness policies. This newer type of insurance policy is very similar to critical illness policies, but how exactly do they differ from one another? And will it benefit you to get both?

The differences: Critical Illness (CI) vs Early Stage CI

Critical illness insurance by and large pays out a lump sum in the circumstance that the policy-holder is diagnosed with one of the critical illnesses that is covered by the policy. You can view the list and definition of all 37 critical illnesses here. Take note that benefits are only paid when the policyholder suffers from a condition that meets the standard definition of the illness.

Early critical illness cover aims to cover the hole in cases where the CI policyholder is diagnosed with a critical illness but the illness is not at the “stage” where the traditional CI policy can cover for it. With this, these insurance policies generally include:

  • Early stage critical illness payout
  • Allowing multiple claims after relapse
  • Offering cash benefits and/or regular health check ups
  • Waiver of further premiums at the occurrence of a successful claim
  • A death benefit lump sum
  • May provide coverage for only specific types of critical illness, such as cancer

It’s good to note that these plans generally come as a rider policy or as standalone plans. The benefits of these policies are usually capped at a lower level as the payout for this type of insurance is expected to be more recurrent.

As explained above, a person that is diagnosed with a critical illness in its early stage would be able to have a considerable form of financial protection if the person has an early stage critical illness insurance policy. This is a very important insurance to have in the event that you are diagnosed with a critical illness at an early stage, you would have an overall better chance of recovery- as during your medical treatments, you may be unable to come to work, causing a loss of regular income, but having this insurance policy would give you an additional financial assistance so you can focus on getting better. The payout you receive with this policy can greatly help finance the medical treatments you’ll need to fully recover from the illness that you’re diagnosed with, without draining all of your life’s savings.

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How Much Coverage Do You Need?

Ideally, you should get a CI plan with a coverage that goes over your annual income 3 to 4 times over. The reason for this is that on average, the life expectancy in the event of a late-stage CI is about 4 years. With that in mind, an insurance policy that can cover your daily expenses while fully resting in the said duration without forcing yourself to go to work to earn extra money for treatment and other necessities.

In contrast to the CI plan, an early stage CI should be able to cover up to a year of your annual income to help shoulder the expenses for medical treatments and an income substitute while you rest and recover.

Is an Early CI Coverage necessary for you?

Pros: There are many advantages of getting an early stage CI policy as a companion to your life insurance or CI policy especially in today’s world where advanced medical technologies and modern equipment available have higher chances of detecting critical illnesses at its early stages. With better chances of early detection also comes a better chance of proper treatment and better recovery, and having an early stage CI policy could help cover some, if not all, the expenses of your treatment as well as your daily expenses.

In some cases, multiple claims can also assist you in the event of any relapses after a previous recovery from an illness. In contrast to traditional critical illness plans which lapses after one claim, the possibility of insurance claims with the early stage CI policy is much higher.

Claims for an early stage CI policy also tends to be easier as modern medical technologies makes it easier and more accurately detect critical illnesses during its early phases, paired with a more health conscious practice of getting regular screenings and health checkups.

Another pro of getting an early stage CI plan is its vast coverage of medical conditions in contrast to the standard 37 critical illnesses covered by its traditional counterpart. For example, Tokio Marine’s TM EarlyCare covers 117 medical conditions that include the standard 36 Critical illnesses of various severities, 9 special conditions, and 9 juvenile conditions.

An early stage CI plan may be extremely relevant for self-employed individuals as their earnings typically come in on a daily basis, without the privilege of any employment benefits like medical leave or company issued insurance. Self-employed individuals are more susceptible to running out of money while undergoing treatment and during recovery periods.

Cons: In reality, the only con of getting an early stage CI is the higher premiums you need to pay compared to a traditional CI plan, this is due to the higher probability of claims across the board. Some people may argue that you can get sufficient coverage if you have enough hospitalization and medical insurance, making it look like an early stage CI plan is more of a “want” than a necessity.

Are you still unsure if you need a CI or an early stage CI plan? Contact us for a free consultation by simply filling in the form below!

How to get your early stage CI quotes

To ensure that you get the best-suited early critical illness plan for your needs, it’s always wise to compare the available options in the market. If you have any doubts about the suitability of these plans, please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.

Our team of seasoned Financial Advisors is here to provide you with transparent and straightforward guidance on the features and benefits of our early critical illness plans. You won’t be under any obligation to enroll, so you can make a well-informed decision about your health without any undue pressure.

Reach out to us today to discover more about our early critical illness solutions and how they can help you accomplish your health objectives!

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