The survival period is the number of days you must survive, following the diagnosis of a covered critical illness, before a benefit is payable. A survival period applies to all covered conditions. There can be a difference in the number of days that need to pass before a person is considered to be "critically ill" according to the definition in the policy.

For example, in the case of coma, you must have been in a state of uninterrupted unconsciousness for at least 96 hours in order to meet the policy definition, and must then wait for the 30-day survival period to pass before being able to qualify for benefits.

The 30-day survival period is the number of days you must survive, following the diagnosis of a covered critical illness, before a benefit is payable.

The 90-day waiting period for cancer means that once the policy is in effect (or reinstated) there is no coverage if diagnosed with cancer during the first 90 days. A diagnosis of cancer must be made 91 days or more after the effective date to be covered under the policy.

If you are diagnosed with cancer during the first 90 days after the effective date or reinstatement date of coverage, the policy will have a permanent exclusion for any future cancer claims but your policy can remain in force.

Contact us for additional details pertaining to our policy's conditions under which a benefit would be payable. When reviewing the claim, we will determine whether the diagnosis and treatment were within Canadian standards. Submission of the complete medical records for our review will assist in the assessment of the claim.

For benefits to be payable, a Return of Premium on Death Rider must be in force on the insured's death. If you have a Return of Premium on Death Rider and die during the survival period or from a condition or event not defined in the policy as a critical illness, we will pay a return of premium on death benefit to you or your estate as long as the coverage is in force and there is no critical illness benefit payable or pending. The return of premium benefit is equal to the sum of all premiums paid for the policy. If death is a result of any of the exclusions listed in the policy, no return of premium on death benefit is payable.

If you are under age 65, become disabled for 90 consecutive days, and are unable to work due to a disability, and have added the Disability Waiver of Premium rider option to your critical illness insurance policy, we will waive the critical illness insurance premiums throughout the period of your disability in accordance to the policy provisions. If the Disability Waiver of Premium rider has not been added, premiums will continue to payable in the event of disability.