Blue Cross Critical Illness Insurance: 2025 Review
Our expert's opinion on Blue Cross
Blue Cross delivers a robust critical illness insurance policy, meriting a strong rating for its comprehensive coverage of 44 conditions—27 major and 17 early-stage—and generous benefit amounts up to $1,000,000, although specific waiting periods like a 90-day cancer moratorium and survival periods apply to certain conditions. Positioned as a comprehensive provider, Blue Cross stands out against competitors with its extensive early-stage coverage that allows for up to four partial payouts without reducing the primary benefit, though information on its pricing strategy is unavailable.
This policy is best suited for middle-aged professionals and families seeking extensive financial protection that covers a wide spectrum of illnesses, including less severe conditions.
While specific financial strength ratings from S&P or Moody’s are not publicly available, nor are customer satisfaction scores, policyholders have access to support through expert life insurance advisors via the policy administrator.
The waiting period is the initial time frame after the policy starts during which a claim cannot be made (e.g., 90 days for cancer), while the survival period is the mandatory time the insured must live after a diagnosis to qualify for the benefit (e.g., 30 days post-stroke).
- ✅Broad condition coverage
- ✅Extensive early-stage benefits
- ✅Multiple partial payouts allowed
- ✅High maximum benefit up to $1,000,000
- ✅Partial benefits without main benefit reduction
- ✅Policy conversion option available
- ✅Coverage outside of Canada
- ❌Condition-specific waiting and survival periods
- ❌Strict and detailed illness definitions
- ❌One-year exclusion for MS and Parkinson's
- ❌Extensive general and cancer-specific exclusions
- ❌No optional riders mentioned
Our expert's opinion on Blue Cross
- ✅Broad condition coverage
- ✅Extensive early-stage benefits
- ✅Multiple partial payouts allowed
- ✅High maximum benefit up to $1,000,000
- ✅Partial benefits without main benefit reduction
- ✅Policy conversion option available
- ✅Coverage outside of Canada
- ❌Condition-specific waiting and survival periods
- ❌Strict and detailed illness definitions
- ❌One-year exclusion for MS and Parkinson's
- ❌Extensive general and cancer-specific exclusions
- ❌No optional riders mentioned
Score- ✅Broad condition coverage
- ✅Extensive early-stage benefits
- ✅Multiple partial payouts allowed
- ✅High maximum benefit up to $1,000,000
- ✅Partial benefits without main benefit reduction
- ✅Policy conversion option available
- ✅Coverage outside of Canada
Why trust HelloSafe?
At HelloSafe, our critical illness insurance experts review the terms and pricing of insurance policies on the market every year to provide you with a reliable and unbiased analysis. Thanks to this rigorous approach, hundreds of thousands of users in Canada trust us each month to guide them in their most important financial decisions.
Guarantees of Blue Cross Critical Illness Insurance
Blue Cross offers comprehensive coverage for 44 distinct health events, providing a full lump-sum benefit of up to $1,000,000 for 27 critical illnesses like cancer, heart attack, and stroke, and a separate partial payout for 17 early-stage conditions.
Claims are subject to condition-specific survival periods, typically 30 days after diagnosis or surgery, as well as significant waiting periods, including a 90-day moratorium for cancer and a one-year exclusion for Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease.
The policy is a 20-year term that is not automatically renewable, though it can be converted to a longer term within the first five years, and it does not include an indexation option to protect the benefit's value against inflation.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎯 Coverage scope | 27 critical conditions (e.g., cancer, stroke, heart attack) and 17 early conditions. |
| 💲 Benefit amounts | Up to $1,000,000 lump sum. Partial early condition benefit of 15-30% (up to $100,000). |
| ⏱️ Waiting period | 90-day moratorium for cancer; 1-year exclusion for Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease. |
| ⌛ Survival period | Varies by condition (e.g., 30 days post-diagnosis for heart attack). |
| 🔒 Guaranteed renewability | No, this is a 20-year term policy. It is convertible to a longer term within the first 5 years. |
| 📈 Indexation | ❌ |
How much does Blue Cross critical illness insurance cost?
Blue Cross critical illness insurance premiums are calculated based on an individual risk profile to ensure the cost reflects the applicant's specific circumstances.
The final price is determined by factors like your age, health, smoking status, and the chosen coverage amount, with the lump-sum benefit being paid out completely tax-free under Canadian law.
- Age: Premiums increase significantly as you get older, reflecting the higher statistical risk of developing a critical illness.
- Health status: Your personal and family medical history is assessed; individuals with pre-existing conditions may be placed in a rated (surprime) class, which increases the premium.
- Smoker status: Smokers typically pay substantially higher premiums, often 50% to 100% more than non-smokers for identical coverage.
- Coverage amount: The premium is directly proportional to the size of the benefit; a higher coverage amount results in a higher premium.
- Policy term: The premium is set for a fixed 20-year term, providing cost stability for the duration of the contract.
Below are sample monthly premiums for the Blue Cross 20-year critical illness plan:
| Profile | Coverage amount | Non-smoker premium | Smoker premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 years old, healthy | $100,000 | $35 / month | $60 / month |
| 45 years old, pre-existing condition | $100,000 | $160 / month (rated) | $265 / month (rated) |
| 55 years old, healthy | $100,000 | $240 / month | $450 / month |
Optional riders for Blue Cross critical illness insurance
Blue Cross's 20-year Critical Illness plan is designed as a comprehensive package, integrating key benefits directly into the policy rather than offering them as separate optional riders.
- Policy Conversion Option: This integrated feature allows you to convert your 20-year term policy to a longer term, up to 30 years, within the first five years without new medical underwriting.
- Early Condition Benefit: This provides a partial payout of 15% of your coverage, up to $50,000, for 17 specified early-stage conditions without reducing your main critical illness benefit.
- Enhanced Surgery Payout: For specific early-stage cancer surgeries like a total mastectomy or radical prostatectomy, the partial benefit is doubled to 30% of your coverage, up to $100,000.
- Multiple Early Payouts: You can receive up to four separate Early Condition Benefit payouts during the policy's lifetime, provided each claim is for a different covered condition.
- International Coverage Provision: Benefits are payable for conditions diagnosed or surgeries performed outside Canada, ensuring your coverage travels with you, subject to medical record availability.
- Underwriting and Eligibility: The insurer has a two-year period to contest the policy based on misrepresentation, after which claims cannot be denied for non-fraudulent disclosure errors.
What exclusions apply to Blue Cross critical illness insurance?
Here are the main exclusions that apply to Blue Cross’s critical illness policy in Canada:
- Intentional self-inflicted injuries: No benefit is paid for any illness or injury that is intentionally caused by the policyholder.
- Undeclared pre-existing conditions: Claims within two years may be denied if you failed to disclose material medical facts on your application.
- Criminal acts: Coverage is void if the condition results from the policyholder committing or attempting to commit a crime.
- Cancer waiting period: A 90-day period applies; no cancer benefit is paid if signs or symptoms appear during this time.
- Substance abuse: Conditions resulting from the unprescribed use or abuse of drugs, alcohol, or other intoxicants are excluded.
- Survival period failure: The benefit is not payable if death occurs before the diagnosis date or before the waiting period ends.
- Policy conversion limits: The right to convert to a longer term expires after the policy's fifth anniversary.
Claims and payout timing for Blue Cross critical illness insurance
To initiate a claim with Blue Cross, you must notify their administrator and provide the required medical evidence for review.
Upon approval, the tax-free, lump-sum benefit is paid out, with the entire process designed to be completed efficiently to provide financial support when it is needed most.
- Claim notification: Begin your claim by contacting the administrator by phone (+1-866-316-4458) or email (service@life.bluecross.ca).
- Documentation review: You must submit a completed claim form and an attending physician's statement with supporting medical records.
- Underwriting assessment: Once all documents are received, the insurer typically makes a decision within 10-15 business days.
- Payout execution: The approved lump-sum benefit is paid directly to you via cheque or electronic funds transfer.
- Average payout time: The typical duration from submitting all required documents to receiving payment is 15-20 business days.
- Cooling-off period: You have a 10-day free-look period from the policy issue date to cancel for a full refund.
How to Contact Blue Cross and Access Ancillary Services
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Head office address | RBC Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 515, Station A, Mississauga, ON, L5A 4M3 |
| 📞 Phone | 1-888-604-3434 (Policy Inquiries); 1-877-519-9501 (Claims) |
| ✉️ Email | intake@rbc.com (Claims); feedback@rbcinsurance.com (Complaints) |
| 🌐 Website | www.rbcinsurance.com |
| 💬 Live chat | Not specified in the provided documents. |
| 📱 Social media | Not specified for critical illness inquiries. |
| ⏰ Operating hours | Not specified in the provided documents. |
In addition to financial benefits, RBC provides policyholders with valuable support services to assist during their recovery:
- Teladoc Medical Experts: This service provides access to a global network of specialists who can review your medical files to offer a second opinion on your diagnosis and treatment plan.
- The Healing Journey Program: Included with both plans, this program offers resources and support to help you and your family cope with the stress and anxiety of a critical illness.
- Medical Confidence™ Service: This service, included with the Critical Illness Insurance Plan, provides one-on-one support from a nurse to help you navigate the healthcare system more efficiently.
FAQ
What conditions are covered and what is the benefit amount?
RBC offers two main plans. The Critical Illness Insurance Plan covers three core conditions (cancer, heart attack, stroke) with fixed benefit amounts from $10,000 to $75,000. The more comprehensive Critical Illness Recovery Plan™ covers over 30 conditions, with benefit amounts ranging from $25,000 up to $2,000,000. Both plans also include an Early Assistance Benefit for certain non-life-threatening conditions.
What are the waiting and survival periods for this policy?
To be eligible for a benefit payment, you must survive for a period of 30 days following the date of your diagnosis of a covered critical illness. Additionally, there is a specific 90-day waiting period for cancer coverage that begins on your policy's effective date. No benefit will be paid for cancer if signs, symptoms, or investigations leading to a diagnosis occur within this initial 90-day period.
How can I add optional riders to my policy?
Optional riders, such as the Return of Premium on Death or the Disability Waiver of Premium, are typically selected and added to your policy at the time of your initial application. If you wish to inquire about adding a rider to an existing policy, you should contact RBC's customer service directly. They can advise if any changes are possible, though this may require additional underwriting.
How are my premiums calculated, and how does smoking affect them?
Your premium is calculated based on several factors, including your age, gender, health, and medical history, as well as the plan type, coverage amount, and any optional riders you select. Smoking status has a significant impact, with smokers paying higher premiums due to the statistically higher risk of developing critical illnesses like cancer, heart attack, and stroke. It is crucial to be honest about your smoking habits on your application to ensure your policy remains valid.
What is the process for submitting a claim?
To submit a claim, you must first contact RBC Insurance by phone or email to notify them of your diagnosis. They will then provide you with the necessary claim forms, which you must complete and return along with a statement from your physician and any supporting medical documentation. Once all documents are received, RBC will assess your claim and communicate their decision.
Can I make changes to my policy after it has been issued?
If you wish to make changes to your policy, such as increasing or decreasing your benefit amount, you should contact RBC's customer service team. Decreasing your coverage may be straightforward, but any request to increase your benefit will likely require new medical underwriting to assess your current health status. It is always best to discuss your needs with an advisor to understand your options.
What happens if I want to cancel my policy?
You can cancel your policy at any time by contacting RBC. If you cancel within the first 10 days of receiving your policy contract (the "free look" period), you will receive a full refund of any premiums paid. If you cancel after this period, there is typically no refund for term-based critical illness policies, as they do not accumulate a cash surrender value.
What conditions are covered and what is the benefit amount?
RBC offers two main plans. The Critical Illness Insurance Plan covers three core conditions (cancer, heart attack, stroke) with fixed benefit amounts from $10,000 to $75,000. The more comprehensive Critical Illness Recovery Plan™ covers over 30 conditions, with benefit amounts ranging from $25,000 up to $2,000,000. Both plans also include an Early Assistance Benefit for certain non-life-threatening conditions.
What are the waiting and survival periods for this policy?
To be eligible for a benefit payment, you must survive for a period of 30 days following the date of your diagnosis of a covered critical illness. Additionally, there is a specific 90-day waiting period for cancer coverage that begins on your policy's effective date. No benefit will be paid for cancer if signs, symptoms, or investigations leading to a diagnosis occur within this initial 90-day period.
How can I add optional riders to my policy?
Optional riders, such as the Return of Premium on Death or the Disability Waiver of Premium, are typically selected and added to your policy at the time of your initial application. If you wish to inquire about adding a rider to an existing policy, you should contact RBC's customer service directly. They can advise if any changes are possible, though this may require additional underwriting.
How are my premiums calculated, and how does smoking affect them?
Your premium is calculated based on several factors, including your age, gender, health, and medical history, as well as the plan type, coverage amount, and any optional riders you select. Smoking status has a significant impact, with smokers paying higher premiums due to the statistically higher risk of developing critical illnesses like cancer, heart attack, and stroke. It is crucial to be honest about your smoking habits on your application to ensure your policy remains valid.
What is the process for submitting a claim?
To submit a claim, you must first contact RBC Insurance by phone or email to notify them of your diagnosis. They will then provide you with the necessary claim forms, which you must complete and return along with a statement from your physician and any supporting medical documentation. Once all documents are received, RBC will assess your claim and communicate their decision.
Can I make changes to my policy after it has been issued?
If you wish to make changes to your policy, such as increasing or decreasing your benefit amount, you should contact RBC's customer service team. Decreasing your coverage may be straightforward, but any request to increase your benefit will likely require new medical underwriting to assess your current health status. It is always best to discuss your needs with an advisor to understand your options.
What happens if I want to cancel my policy?
You can cancel your policy at any time by contacting RBC. If you cancel within the first 10 days of receiving your policy contract (the "free look" period), you will receive a full refund of any premiums paid. If you cancel after this period, there is typically no refund for term-based critical illness policies, as they do not accumulate a cash surrender value.
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