MetLife Critical Illness Health Insurance

MetLife Gulf, a trusted name in the UAE insurance industry, stands as a beacon of reliability for individuals seeking comprehensive health coverage. Besides standard health insurance plans, it also offers critical illness health insurance.

In this article, we will explore MetLife Critical Illness Health Insurance, an exceptional offering designed to provide financial support and peace of mind in the event of life-altering health conditions.

Let’s explore the wide-ranging benefits and the scope of coverage of plans under this category.

An Overview of Critical Illness

Critical illnesses are classified as life-threatening or catastrophic medical conditions, commonly known as ‘dread diseases’. This category includes ailments such as heart attack, cancer, stroke, coma, multiple sclerosis, and bypass surgery, among others.

What is Critical Illness Insurance?

It is a common misconception that a standard health insurance plan offers complete protection. The reality is that the expenses associated with life-threatening illnesses often exceed the coverage provided by most plans. This is where critical illness insurance cover steps in.

Critical illness health insurance offers extra coverage for medical emergencies like heart attacks, strokes, or cancer. These situations typically involve higher-than-average medical costs — critical illness policies provide cash payouts to bridge the gap when regular health insurance falls short.

Though these policies are reasonably priced, they have limitations and usually cover only specific illnesses or emergencies. Nonetheless, having critical illness insurance can be a crucial supplement to your existing health coverage, providing an added layer of financial security in times of serious medical crises.

General Inclusions of a Critical Illness Health Insurance Plan

Listed below are the critical illnesses generally covered under this type of health insurance -

• Heart attack
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• Kidney failure
• Cancer
• Paralysis
• Major organ transplant
• Stroke

General Exclusions from a Critical Illness Health Insurance Plan

Critical illness health insurance plans don’t offer coverage for diseases resulting from lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking, drugs, or substance abuse. These plans also usually exclude conditions such as HIV, pregnancy, childbirth issues, or congenital diseases resulting in death within 30 days of diagnosis.

Critical Illnesses Typically Covered Under MetLife Critical Illness Health Insurance

Here are the major critical illnesses covered under MetLife Critical Illness Health Insurance -

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Cancer
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Severe burns
• Coronary artery bypass graft
• Benign brain tumors

MetLife Critical Illness Health Insurance Plans

Discussed below are the two major MetLife Critical Illness Health Insurance plans -

Critical Care -

The Critical Care insurance plan ensures that you receive the best possible treatment without draining your savings when faced with a diagnosis of any of the 32 common critical illnesses.

The benefits of this plan include -

• An immediate cash payment of up to USD 500,000 to cover bills and lost income
• The plan covers a wide range of critical illnesses such as hepatitis, stroke, brain tumour, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, cancer, paralysis, and coma, among others.
• Enjoy global coverage regardless of where you are (with the exception of countries under International Sanctions).
• Additionally, you will have access to an exclusive telemedicine service and expert second opinions from renowned medical centres in the USA.

CritiCare -

With CritiCare, you can have peace of mind, knowing you are financially protected if you are ever diagnosed with one of 32 critical illnesses. It covers the costs of treatments and any loss of income that may arise.

Key features include -

• Coverage for 32 critical illnesses, such as stroke, brain tumour, cancer, hepatitis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, paralysis, coma, and more
• Protection of up to USD 200,000 to help replace lost income
• 75% premium return if you don't claim the protection benefit during the policy term
• Worldwide coverage in case you are in a different country

Things to Consider When Buying a Critical Illness Health Insurance Plan

The following are the things to consider when buying a critical illness health insurance plan -

• Honesty with Your Medical History - Make sure that you provide your insurance provider with all the information that they ask for. This is because when you make a claim, your provider will review your medical history. If you are not truthful or accurate in your application or omit something, your claim might be rejected.
• Carefully Read the Policy Wording - Take your time to read and complete the application and understand what is and is not covered. Be aware that definitions and exclusions can differ among insurers. Thus, if you have any doubts, ask your insurance provider, an insurance broker, or a financial adviser for clarification.
• Consider a Premium Waiver - For added financial protection, you can pay extra for a 'waiver of premium' on your policy. It automatically covers your monthly premiums if you can't work due to illness or injury. This cover safeguards the policyholder against policy cancellation for missing a payment, although it is often activated after 6 months of sickness.
• Compare Plans - Finally, make sure to explore better options especially while you are in good health. Keep in mind that you can switch to a different provider or change policies with the same company as well. While doing this, make sure to understand any changes in the new policy and the conditions that they cover. For instance, even with a better deal, you might pay slightly more due to, say, your increased age compared to when you first bought the policy.

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