Disability/Critical Illness Insurance | 20 and recently disabled

[sunnyd71]

I am currently unable to work due to an unknown illness. It has now been 6 weeks since I became ill. I was wondering, since I have not been diagnosed yet, would I be able to buy critical illness insurance now?

I do not know if the insurance will help since I don't know what is wrong yet, but am unsure if this would still be considered a preexisting condition.

Alternatively, I was thinking of buying disability insurance once I return to work in case this ever happens again. If I fall ill for the same problem once again, would the insurer say it is a preexisting condition?

I am only 20 years old and was working at a co-op job when I became ill. I am unsure if these insurance policies require a medical questionnaire since I am so young. I currently have health coverage through school but that doesn't include any disability. If my condition is something permanent I believe I can only receive EI for 15 weeks and after that I am out of luck. I did not earn enough in the past few years working part-time to pay into the CPP so I don't think I am eligible. I have received a refund for my CPP contributions each of the last 4 years.

Any help answering my questions or clearing up the situation is greatly appreciated. I am trying to research myself but due to the condition I have severe difficulties seeing so reading is nearly impossible for more than 10 minutes at a time. I don't want to lie or pull any tricks to get money. I only want to get what I am entitled to. Thanks again.

[ynot]

No. You would have to disclose that you are presently ill, failure to do so would likely result in your coverage being canceled and any costs falling back to you.

[pitz]

I am currently unable to work due to an unknown illness. It has now been 6 weeks since I became ill. I was wondering, since I have not been diagnosed yet, would I be able to buy critical illness insurance now?


You would have to disclose your condition on your application and/or coverage would be denied based on a pre-existing condition.

Just because a formal diagnosis of your condition has not been made is not grounds for ommission. If you knew, or ought to have known of an illness afflicting you, you are deemed to have (had) the obligation to disclose it.

Basically the penalty for non-disclosure of material facts is recission -- the insurer hands you the money you paid in premiums back, and walks away.


I do not know if the insurance will help since I don't know what is wrong yet, but am unsure if this would still be considered a preexisting condition.


It definitely would be considered a pre-existing condition.


Alternatively, I was thinking of buying disability insurance once I return to work in case this ever happens again. If I fall ill for the same problem once again, would the insurer say it is a preexisting condition?


Absolutely. Theres no way around it. You have an obligation to disclose *everything*, even if you didn't seek formal medical treatment for it.


I am only 20 years old and was working at a co-op job when I became ill. I am unsure if these insurance policies require a medical questionnaire since I am so young. I currently have health


With insurance, you have an obligation to disclose material facts, even if there is no explicit medical questionnaire to fill out. Being afflicted with mystery illnesses, obviously, is a material fact.

Insurance contracts are governed by a legal doctrine known as uberrima fides (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uberrima_fides), or translated from Latin, "utmost faith".

You cannot expect to be insured against a mystery illness you have already suffered, if you do not provide a positive disclosure of the illness suffered up-front, even if there is no 'medical questionarre' per se.



Any help answering my questions or clearing up the situation is greatly appreciated. I am trying to research myself but due to the condition I have severe difficulties seeing so reading is nearly impossible for more than 10 minutes at a time. I don't want to lie or pull any tricks to get money. I only want to get what I am entitled to. Thanks again.

I would suggest that your provincial government might have some disability support programs, but it isn't reasonable to expect that a private insurer will cover you against conditions that you already are suffering.

[sunnyd71]

Thank you both very much. I had suspected that was the case but wanted to confirm. I guess that private insurance is ruled out for me in this case.

Does anyone know if I would be eligible for CPP benefits if this is a long term illness even though I have never had a high enough income to pay into the CPP? Are there any other support programs in Ontario? I am lucky enough to have been able to move back in with my parents to reduce my expenses but this of course is an undue hardship on them.

[granite_grrl]

Alternatively, I was thinking of buying disability insurance once I return to work in case this ever happens again. If I fall ill for the same problem once again, would the insurer say it is a preexisting condition?

I can't comment on the variety of insurance policies out there, but I tried to put disability insurance on our mortgage last year and I was turned down.

Summer 2006 I had a really bad accident and was on short term disability for almost 6 months. I had broken a number of bones, but those were the worst of my injuries (there were some big bones that required a lot of healing time). Besides for maybe wanting to remove some of those rods and pins in the future I am healing well and there will be no real long term problems for me.

I think I was turned down because I had been in the hospital in the last 6 months (when we had applied) and when they asked if I was going to have my hardware removed I told them it was too early to tell, but it was always a possibility.

It still kinda pisses me off. Try to get the insurance, be honest, but it'll be impossible to know if they'll accept you or not and for what reasons.

[Just Confused]

Unfortunately, you are in a bind. To give you some food for thought, just be thankful you are in Canada where there are some programs to provide health care (as imperfect as they may be) when you have no where else to turn.

[gerbil]

TRY THIS LINK (http://www.infogo.gov.on.ca/infogo/searchDirectory.do?actionType=searchservice&infoType=service&locale=en)

Not really sure where to go to but I'm sure if you do a search.
The can redirect you to the right area.

good luck.

[sunnyd71]

Thanks I'll take a look.

I am really glad I'm in Canada instead of the U.S. while going through this. The tests that I've done in the last month would have cost 10k+ even with insurance through co-payment in the states. I've received unbelievably great care at the hospital. Credit Valley in Mississauga if you are wondering, by far the best managed hospital I've ever been to!