UnitedHealthcare’s Critical Illness Plan Gives Consumers Added Financial Protection While Managing A Severe Illness

• Plan provides lump-sum payments in three benefit categories – cancer, cardiovascular and other critical illnesses – covering 13 different illnesses/injuries  

UnitedHealthcare is now offering Critical Illness Protection Plans that provide plan participants managing critical illnesses cash payments that can be used to cover any expenses needed, such as out-of-pocket medical costs and daily living expenses, or even to offset loss of income.

The Critical Illness Protection Plan is designed to give consumers who are facing critical illness financial peace of mind by providing a lump-sum benefit payout upon diagnosis for 13 different illnesses, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases, as well as for critical injuries resulting in paralysis, major organ failure or severe brain damage.

The plan is available to employers with more than 50 employees, and employers can choose from four different plan options with consumer coverage levels ranging from $5,000 to $100,000.

The benefit provides payout upon diagnosis within each of the three covered categories: cancer; cardiovascular and “other critical illness,” including severe brain damage; or major organ failure.  Payment in one category does not terminate the policy, so individuals have the financial protection to manage multiple critical illnesses.

“The Critical Illness Protection Plan is designed to provide added financial security so employees and their families can focus on healing and getting better rather than worrying about paying their bills,” said Diane Souza, CEO of UnitedHealthcare’s Specialty Benefits business.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one American experiences a coronary event every 25 seconds, and nearly 1.6 million Americans are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society.

The Critical Illness Protection Plan is currently available in 45 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

 About UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 650,000 physicians and care professionals and 5,000 hospitals nationwide. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 38 million people and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.