A term insurance plan gives your loved ones a payout if you pass away during the policy period. It is an essential safety net, but it does not provide any direct support if you suffer a life-threatening illness and survive.
Health insurance, on the other hand, typically helps with hospital bills and medical procedures, but falls short of income replacement or covering the numerous hidden expenses associated with recovery. These gaps can put heavy pressure on your savings and long-term goals.
Now, when you add a critical illness add-on to your existing term insurance, you create a bridge between these two needs. This rider pays a lump sum once a covered illness is diagnosed. The money is flexible, meaning you can use it for anything from daily household expenses to repaying debts or funding better treatment options.
Consider a young entrepreneur running a small business. Even with health insurance, a diagnosis like cancer or another major illness brings more than just hospital bills, it can impact business loan repayments, employee salaries, and daily living expenses. A critical illness rider provides a lump-sum benefit that can cover these costs, easing financial pressure and allowing the entrepreneur to focus on recovery without the stress of returning to work prematurely.
Families with children, those with home loans, or single-income households can also benefit in similar ways. The payout can help maintain school fees, pay rent, or handle caregiving costs while the primary earner recovers. Combining term insurance with a critical illness rider is about strengthening your financial resilience. It ensures that your family has both protection if you are no longer there and support if you face a serious health challenge while still alive.