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Critical Illness

What Is Critical Illness Insurance?

Pay for out-of-pocket expenses, without breaking the bank, if you or a family member are diagnosed with a covered serious illness.

Fill the Gap 

Health insurance can cover many of the medical expenses related to a serious illness. But it doesn't cover everything. When it comes to co-pays, deductibles, loss of income, child care and even travel expenses, Group Critical Illness insurance can help fill that financial gap with a safety net of coverage for you and your family. 

How Critical Illness Insurance Works

1. You or your family members are diagnosed

Health insurance covers some costs but you’re left with a lot of unplanned expenses. 

2. Simply file a claim

Once approved, The Standard sends a lump sum benefit check directly to you. You get to decide how to spend that money.

3. Afford what you need to recover

Use your benefits to support your recovery, treatments, medical bills, groceries, bills, childcare – whatever you need.

Benefits Designed for Big Bills

Count on benefits when you’re faced with a major health challenge. 

Make Early Detection Easier

Get a benefit for getting routine health screenings1 including cholesterol checks, mental health assessments, and testing for COVID-19.2

Cover a Wide Range of Diagnoses

Get coverage for up to 20 serious illnesses, plus 21 childhood illnesses. Covers seven serious illnesses in New York.

Get Paid Directly

Receive a lump sum benefit paid directly to you, not medical providers.

Rely on a Safety Net

Get help paying for expenses not covered by medical insurance.

Explore How Coverage Helps

Read how real customers used Critical Illness coverage.

Cancer

Shayna beat cancer, but not without a lot of unexpected costs. These included copays, coinsurance, deductibles, hair prosthetics, travel to specialists and alternative treatments. Not only was Shayna also out of work, her husband missed work and wages to care for her.

Benefits from Shayna's Critical Illness insurance helped to cover these expenses and give her family financial support when they needed it most. Her plan also gave her access to Health Advocacy Select*, a service that provided expert assistance to help navigate her diagnosis and treatment options.

Shayna used her insurance benefit to help pay for:

  • Medical insurance deductible
  • Out-of-pocket expenses for six months
  • Alternative treatments and diets not covered by her medical plan
  • Transportation to medical appointments and treatments
  • Lodging near her treatment facility
  • Her husband's lost wages

* When we approve a Critical Illness claim, we’ll send the employee information about Health Advocacy Select. This service is provided through an arrangement with Health Advocate™, a leading health advocacy and assistance company. Health Advocate is not affiliated with The Standard or any insurance or third-party provider, and does not replace health insurance coverage, provide medical care or recommend treatment. Eligibility varies by state

Example is for illustrative purposes. Eligibility for benefits and amounts shown in this example may vary from any policy your employer may offer and may vary based upon your individual circumstances, policy definitions, waiting periods, exclusions and limitations. Eligibility for Health Advocacy Select varies by state.

Heart Attack

When Meghan's husband had a heart attack, he was hospitalized and out of work for months. Thankfully, Meghan’s Critical Illness insurance for her spouse helped them to pay his deductible, copays, out-of-pocket medical expenses and even regular monthly bills while he recovered. It even paid for specialists that helped her husband improve his overall health and manage his stress.

Because Meghan’s plan included Health Advocacy Select*, they also received the personal support of an expert who helped locate alternate resources and manage out-of-pocket expenses.

Meghan used her insurance benefit to help pay for:

  • Medical insurance deductibles
  • Prescription copays and coinsurance
  • Sessions with a wellness specialist
  • Lost wages

* When we approve a Critical Illness claim, we’ll send the employee information about Health Advocacy Select. This service is provided through an arrangement with Health Advocate™, a leading health advocacy and assistance company. Health Advocate is not affiliated with The Standard or any insurance or third-party provider, and does not replace health insurance coverage, provide medical care or recommend treatment. Eligibility varies by state.

Example is for illustrative purposes. Eligibility for benefits and amounts shown in this example may vary from any policy your employer may offer and may vary based upon your individual circumstances, policy definitions, waiting periods, exclusions and limitations. Eligibility for Health Advocacy Select varies by state.

Congenital Illness

Mateo’s son was born with a developmental abnormality called spina bifida. This non-life-threatening condition requires a lot of special care, including specialist visits, surgeries and assistive devices.

Fortunately, Mateo's Critical Illness insurance paid a child disease benefit equal to 50% of the coverage amount he chose for himself. This money helped to pay for many of the unexpected costs of his son’s care.

Because Mateo’s plan also included Health Advocacy Select, he received the one-on-one support of an expert.* Together, they sought the best treatments for his baby's diagnosis and helped Mateo build a care plan he could feel confident about.

Mateo used the insurance benefit to help pay for:

  • Medical insurance deductibles
  • Specialist copays for six visits
  • Coinsurance for two surgeries
  • Assistive devices

* When we approve a Critical Illness claim, we’ll send the employee information about Health Advocacy Select. This service is provided through an arrangement with Health Advocate™, a leading health advocacy and assistance company. Health Advocate is not affiliated with The Standard or any insurance or third-party provider, and does not replace health insurance coverage, provide medical care or recommend treatment. Eligibility varies by state

Example is for illustrative purposes. Eligibility for benefits and amounts shown in this example may vary from any policy your employer may offer and may vary based upon your individual circumstances, policy definitions, waiting periods, exclusions and limitations. Eligibility for Health Advocacy Select varies by state.

Advanced Alzheimer's Disease

As Steven's husband progressed into the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease, caring for him got more expensive. Steven now had to manage his husband’s failing health as well as the financial burden of copays, prescriptions and therapies not covered by medical insurance. Eventually, he also had to hire in-home help.

Fortunately, Steven had purchased Critical Illness insurance for his spouse. The benefits from this coverage helped to pay the growing costs of his husband’s care. Their plan also included Health Advocacy Select.* This service provided them with a personal expert to help find and schedule appointments with the right doctors and specialists. With that added support, Steven took comfort in being able to focus on adjusting their lives to care for his husband.

Steven used his insurance benefit to help pay for:

  • Doctor visit copays
  • Prescription copays
  • Safety-related home modifications
  • In-home caregiver for 20 hours per week

* When we approve a Critical Illness claim, we’ll send the employee information about Health Advocacy Select. This service is provided through an arrangement with Health Advocate™, a leading health advocacy and assistance company. Health Advocate is not affiliated with The Standard or any insurance or third-party provider, and does not replace health insurance coverage, provide medical care or recommend treatment. Eligibility varies by state.

Example is for illustrative purposes. Eligibility for benefits and amounts shown in this example may vary from any policy your employer may offer and may vary based upon your individual circumstances, policy definitions, waiting periods, exclusions and limitations. Eligibility for Health Advocacy Select varies by state.

Video: Learn the How and Why

Learn how Critical Illness insurance can help your family. Watch this short video.

Find More Ways to Protect Your Income

Don’t let an accident hurt family finances. If your employer offers it, Accident insurance pays cash benefits to you directly, for whatever you need.

Any hospital stay can leave you with out-of-pocket expenses not covered by health insurance. If your employer offers it, Hospital Indemnity insurance benefits can help you pay the bills, so you can focus on feeling better. 

Interested in Enrolling?

Talk to your human resource representative about adding The Standard's Critical Illness insurance to your benefits.
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