Health Insurance

Why Should the Self-employed Choose Critical Illness Insurance Coverage?

By Juhi Walia
19 October 2022, 5:41 PM

A critical illness can drastically alter the lives of patients and their family members. It is not just a financially challenging moment but also an emotionally challenging one. When combined with critical illness insurance, excellent emotional support can help someone through difficult situations and emerge as a strong survivor. Therefore, self-employed individuals should put more effort into acquiring a quality health insurance plan than those protected by employer-sponsored group insurance. The steps a self-employed individual might take to select a critical illness health insurance plan are explained in this article.

Self-employed people need proper insurance because they lose income if they become seriously ill. Furthermore, if they are the only provider for their family, things will only get worse. They may become deeply in debt and have to support their family while also paying rising daily expenses.

A critical illness insurance policy for the self-employed provides a particular sum assured to the policyholder if they are diagnosed with one of the serious illnesses covered by the policy. Given the escalating expense of medical care, such a condition may be expensive to treat. A critical illness insurance policy can assist with the financial burden of receiving medical care for the illness. Compared to a standard health insurance policy, this insurance is more flexible. Upon diagnosis, a predetermined lump sum of money is given to the policyholder.

Types of The Critical Illness Policy

One can select from two different plans: A standalone policy or a rider in conjunction with a fundamental health plan. When purchasing critical illness coverage, you should get a standalone critical illness policy rather than a rider on top of a primary health plan. This is because a standalone critical illness policy offers more excellent coverage and covers various illnesses. The critical illness coverage purchased as a rider also expires simultaneously with the base health plan.

A critical illness insurance policy offers financial support if the policyholder contracts one of the illnesses stated in their plan or has a specific occurrence, such as severe burns, a stroke, a handicap, a serious head injury, etc. A critical illness is a painful condition that can drastically disrupt a person's daily existence. Such a sickness significantly influences daily tasks, like earning a living.

Deciding on The Appropriate Cover - It is crucial to pick a plan to offer the best financial solution when necessary. You may choose the best critical illness plan with the aid of the list of recommendations below:

Decide How Much Insurance Coverage You'll Need - A critical illness health insurance plan may offer varying sums assured depending on your needs. As a result, you must know how much money you will need to survive if you get a severe ailment.

Family Members Dependent on You - The number of dependents will influence your choice of the sum assured for the plan. The more dependents you have, the bigger your critical illness policy's sum assured should be.

Age - A critical illness plan's availability is based on the covered person's age. Some insurance providers do not provide this coverage to those over 60. While others provide perpetual renewal, don't forget to verify the entry age before purchasing this insurance plan.

The Assured Sum - You should check the sum assured before choosing a plan and compare it to the cost of treating significant illnesses, because most serious diseases are expensive.

Financial Condition - The price of critical illness insurance plans is justified by a straightforward rationale. The cost of the insurance coverage will increase as the sum assured increases. Before completing the payment, you should consider your financial situation and the necessity of purchasing this insurance.

Think About the Plan's Terms and Conditions - An insurance policy is a binding agreement between you and the insurance provider. You will be protected by the insurance policy subject to the terms and conditions stated therein, so you should be aware of them. If any parts of the insurance are unclear to you, don't hesitate to contact the insurer. 

Critical Illness Cover for a Self-employed Person: Key Features and Benefits

Critical illness insurance could be advantageous for someone with a history of diseases like cancer or heart issues in their family. Comparing policies from other insurers makes it possible to purchase this health plan online at a lower cost. The main advantages and characteristics of a critical illness plan are as follows:

High Sum Assured- Depending on your plan, the critical illness cover's sum assured ranges from INR 1 lakh to INR 1 crore. If the disease is so severe that the policyholder cannot work, this sum may serve as an income replacement.

Total Payout - Upon the diagnosis of one of the listed critical illnesses, the policy's entire sum assured is paid out all at once.

Multiple Critical Diseases Covered- This kind of health insurance covers a wide range of critical illnesses. A critical illness insurance plan offers comprehensive protection against a variety of illnesses.

Coverage for Accidental Death or Disability - A critical illness plan includes protection from accidental death or incapacity and disease coverage. This has additional benefits but is similar to a term insurance plan.

Survival Period- The typical survival period for health insurance companies is 30 days. For the plan's benefit, a person must be alive throughout this period following a critical illness diagnosis.

Pre-existing Conditions- Critical illness insurance typically excludes coverage for existing medical conditions.

Conclusion

Anyone who works for himself will understand that a steady income is not always certain. To safeguard your loved ones in a medically connected financial emergency, it is therefore even more crucial that you obtain critical illness insurance.

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FAQs
1. What makes health insurance crucial?

Health insurance is crucial because it covers your financial liability in a medical emergency. You are covered by insurance for extended hospital stays, daycare operations, ambulance costs, etc. Furthermore, features like daily hospital cash let you get financial advantages for everyday use while in the hospital.

2. To whom will the critical illness policy be advantageous?

An insurance policy for critical illnesses protects the insured from fatal critical illnesses like cancer, heart attacks, renal failure, etc. This critical illness plan offers a lump sum amount of coverage that can pay for expensive medical costs associated with critical illnesses covered by the insurance policy.

3. What health insurance policies should a self-employed individual include in their portfolio?

A self-employed person should consider including senior citizen health insurance, a family floater plan to cover dependents, a critical illness plan, and individual health insurance in their portfolio.

4. Can you claim a critical illness multiple times?

Only one claim may be made for the same disease throughout the policy period.

5. How is the sum promised affected if I survive past the survival period?

If the policyholder survives the survival time, they may file a health insurance claim for the sum assured. The assured sum will be reimbursed, and you can use it to treat your disease.

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