Ontario Group Critical Illness Insurance

Relieving the financial burden of critical illness with the right employee plans

Chances are you know someone affected by a critical illness such as cancer, heart attack or stroke. Facing such a diagnosis can be frightening and stressful. Critical Illness Insurance will help relieve the financial burden that also comes with an unexpected illness. The insurance pays a lump-sum cash benefit when a covered person is diagnosed with a covered illness.

The benefits can be used how the insured person sees fit: whether it be to help pay for non-covered medical expenses such as making medical-related home alterations; to seek treatment at a specialty care facility; to participate in clinical trials; and much more. Or, you can use the cash benefit to help cover other payments such as mortgage or rent, utility bills, child care, hospital parking and/or other daily living expenses. Knowing that the cash benefit can help cover some of the out-of-pocket expenses related to an unexpected critical illness helps receive a lot of the stress.

Advantages of group critical illness for employers:

• No direct impact to a company’s bottom line.
• Voluntary benefits are generally employee-paid and you can offer your employees the chance to enrol in extra protection at affordable rates; or there are employer-paid options available as well.
• Your benefit advisor does all the work, from communications to enrolment to administration (all we need from your team are the enrolment dates).
• Enhances your current benefits program.
• Voluntary benefits offer advantages such as preferred underwriting, guaranteed issue and affordable, group rates.
• Helps protect your employee’s personal finances against life’s unexpected moments.
• Improves employee satisfaction – a strong benefits package aids in attracting and retaining quality employees in today’s competitive workforce and shows you care about protecting their health and financial wellbeing.

Comprehensive critical illness coverage includes:

There are many advantages to this unique offer for groups. For only a few dollars a month, they can protect themselves and their families in the event of a critical illness. There is also the option to choose a set amount payment, tax free (i.e. $10,000, $15,000, $20,000 or more).

Other product information:

• No pre-existing condition clause.*
• No minimum survival period.
• Coverage is guaranteed issue (meaning there are NO medical exams or tests to take) up to $30,000.
• Coverage is fully portable (meaning you can take it with you) if you leave your place of employment.
• No benefit waiting periods, except where there is a recurrence of cancer and length of coma.
• You can add a rider to cover your spouse/common-law for an additional cost.
• Dependent children receive 50% of your chosen coverage at no additional cost.
• Multiple events are payable (separated by 90 days).

To review our CI product offer further, please contact us.

*NOTES: The employee is currently undergoing treatment for a critical illness (such as cancer), or has been diagnosed and will be starting treatment during the enrolment period. In order to receive a CI benefit payment, you must be cancer-free or treatment-free for 12 consecutive months when enrolling. However, employees that have had a treated critical illness before enrolment are eligible for immediate coverage. For example: “John” had a heart attack two years ago. He is on regular prescriptions and signs up for the CI plan. Six months later, “John” has another heart attack. The critical illness claim will be payable.

How Ontario group critical illness insurance supports employees

Unlike many other benefits, group critical illness insurance gives employees flexibility in how they use their lump-sum payment. Once a covered diagnosis is confirmed, the funds are theirs to allocate in the way that best supports their recovery and financial well-being.

Support for medical recovery

Employees may choose to use their benefit for expenses directly tied to treatment and recovery, such as:

• Out-of-pocket medications, specialty drugs, or experimental treatments not fully covered by provincial healthcare.
• Travel costs to access medical care within or outside Ontario.
• Homecare services, including nursing, physiotherapy, or rehabilitation support.
• Accessibility modifications for the home or vehicle to maintain independence.
• Mental health and counselling services for themselves or their family members.

Relief for everyday living expenses

Critical illness doesn’t just affect health – it disrupts daily life. Employees can also use their benefit for:

• Rent or mortgage payments to keep their household stable.
• Loan or credit card obligations that don’t pause during recovery.
• Utility bills, groceries, and other essential living costs.
• Childcare or household assistance to help manage responsibilities during treatment.

Helping employees focus on healing, not finances

This flexibility ensures that employees can focus on recovery without the added stress of financial strain. By offering group critical illness coverage, employers provide meaningful support that goes beyond the workplace – helping staff and their families during life’s most challenging moments.

Why partner with Acera Benefits

At Acera Insurance, we understand the challenges employers face in supporting their teams. As an independent, employee-owned brokerage, we partner with a wide range of leading insurance providers to design group critical illness plans that fit your organization’s goals and budget.

Our benefits advisors take the time to explain your options clearly, provide ongoing support, and advocate for you and your employees when it matters most. We believe benefits should be about people first. We create programs that help employers care for their staff during life’s most difficult moments.

A critical illness can impact not only health but also financial well-being. With the right group plan in place, your employees can focus on recovery knowing they and their families have financial protection when they need it most.