Apply for CATCA Safe Landing critical illness insurance today!

Don't let your income and your family's financial security be the victims of a life-threatening critical illness. Enrol in CATCA's Safe Landing critical illness insurance program today.

Just print, complete and sign the application form now. Then, send it to:

CATCA Safe Landing critical illness insurance
c/o Coughlin & Associates Ltd.
Box 3517, Station C
Ottawa, ON   K1Y 4H5

CATCA Safe Landing critical illness insurance application
(PDF 466 KB)

Limitations, exclusions and definitions

Limitations

Cancer limitation. There is a waiting period for cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) claims. No benefit is paid if an insured person is diagnosed within the first 90 days after the effective date of the insurance or the effective date of the last reinstatement of the policy. Within this exclusion period, there shall be no coverage for cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ if a diagnosis of either DCIS or any other type of cancer, whether included or excluded in the contract, is made or if any symptoms or medical problems manifest themselves which, or the persistence or recurrence of which, subsequently results in an investigation leading to the diagnosis of cancer or DCIS. In the event of any such diagnosis, the policy will remain in force but cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ will no longer be considered an insured condition, except for a subsequent diagnosis of unrelated cancer.

Single sum benefit will be paid upon diagnosis of a covered illness or injury and survival after 30 days (365 days for paralysis, and a 90-day waiting period for cancer applies).

Exclusions

The policy does not provide benefits for any claim caused directly or indirectly by or resulting from any one of the following:

• intentionally self-inflicted injury, suicide or any attempt there at, whether sane or insane;

• declared or undeclared war or any act thereof;

• for injury or sickness, other than one of the specified coverages, even though such injury or sickness may have been complicated by one of the specified coverages;

• a complication of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection or any variance thereof including AIDS and AIDS Related Complex;

• the use, existence or escape of nuclear weapons, material or ionizing radiation from or contamination by radioactivity from any nuclear fuel or waste from the combustion of nuclear fuel;

• the commission or attempted commission by the insured person of any act that, if adjudicated by a court, would be an illegal act under the laws of the jurisdiction where the act was committed;

• misuse of medication or the abuse of drugs or intoxicants; and/or

• any pre-existing medical condition, except where coverage has been in effect for a period of 24 consecutive months following the insured person’s effective date of coverage.

90-day DCIS, Early stage prostate cancer (T1a or T1b) treatment and cancer exclusion

The DCIS, early stage prostate cancer (T1a or T1b) treatment and cancer exclusion period is 90 days from the later of:

a) the effective date, or;

b) the date of the last reinstatement of the policy.

Within this exclusion period, there shall be no coverage for DCIS, early stage prostate cancer (T1a or T1b) treatment or cancer if a diagnosis of DCIS or any type of cancer is made, or the insured person undergoes Early stage prostate cancer (T1a or T1b) treatment, whether included or excluded under this contract, is made or if any symptoms or medical problems manifest themselves which, or the persistence or recurrence of which, subsequently results in an investigation leading to the diagnosis of cancer. In the event of any such diagnosis the policy will remain in force but cancer will no longer be considered an insured condition, except for a subsequent diagnosis of an unrelated cancer.

Definitions

Alzheimer’s disease: means the diagnosis that the insured has Alzheimer’s disease, which is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain. The diagnosis must be supported by medical evidence that the insured exhibits the loss of intellectual capacity resulting in impairment of their memory and judgement, which results in a significant reduction in their mental and social functioning, such that they require permanent daily personal supervision for the activities of daily living. All other dementing organic brain disorders and psychiatric illnesses are excluded from this insured condition definition. A physician who is certified as either a neurologist or a psychiatrist must confirm diagnosis in writing.

Aorta surgery: means surgery to the aorta that is medically required to treat disease of the aorta and that involves the excision and surgical replacement of the diseased aorta with a graft. The aortic surgery must be performed on the prior written advice of a physician certified as a cardiovascular surgeon. Aorta includes the thoracic and abdominal aorta but does not include any of the branches of the aorta.

Benign brain tumor: means a benign neoplasm in the brain or meninges with histologic confirmation. Cysts granulomas, malformations of intracranial arteries or veins, and tumours or lesions of the pituitary are specifically excluded. The diagnosis must be confirmed neuro-radiologically by a specialist trained in the interpretation of radiological investigations.

Blindness: means the total and irrecoverable loss of sight in both eyes due to injury or sickness. Corrected visual acuity must be 20/200 or less in both eyes and the field of vision must be less than 20 degrees in both eyes. A physician certified in ophthalmology, must clinically confirm the diagnosis in writing.

Cancer: means a malignant tumor characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of malignant cells and invasion of tissue. This includes leukemia, Hodgkin’s Disease and invasive melanoma but does not include:

a) carcinoma in situ;

b) Kaposi’s Sarcoma or other AIDS related cancers and cancer in the presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV);

c) skin cancer or melanoma that is not invasive and has not exceeded .75 millimetres in depth; d) prostate cancer diagnosed as T1 N0 M0 or equivalent staging.

e) a recurrence or metastasis of a cancer which was originally diagnosed prior to the effective date of coverage.

A physician certified as an oncologist must confirm diagnosis in writing.

Coma: means the insured has been in a state of unconsciousness for a continuous period of at least 96 hours, during which external stimulation produced no more than primitive avoidance reflexes. A physician who is certified as a neurologist must confirm diagnosis in writing.

Coronary artery by-pass surgery: means surgery performed by a physician who is certified as a cardiovascular surgeon to correct narrowing or blockage of one or more coronary arteries with bypass grafts. Non-surgical techniques such as balloon angioplasty, laser relief of an obstruction, or other intra-arterial techniques will not be considered to be a covered critical illness.

DCIS: means the diagnosis by a licensed physician, of the presence of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast, as confirmed by biopsy. A physician certified as an oncologist must confirm the diagnosis in writing.

Subject to the terms, conditions and other provisions of this policy, the company will pay the insured person 20 per cent of the principal sum up to a maximum of $20,000 if, while insured, the insured person is diagnosed with DCIS and the insured person survives 30 days thereafter.

Deafness: means the diagnosis of permanent loss of hearing in both of the insured’s ears, with an auditory threshold of more than 90 decibels in each ear. A physician, who is certified as an otolaryngologist must confirm diagnosis in writing.

Dismemberment: means a definite diagnosis of the complete severance of two or more limbs at or above the wrist or ankle joint as the result of an accident or medically required amputation. The diagnosis of loss of limbs must be made by a specialist.

Early stage prostate cancer (T1a or T1b) treatment: means the diagnosis must be made by a specialist. No benefit will be payable unless the specialist has recommended one of the following treatments:

• prostate surgery;

• radiation therapy;

• chemotherapy;

• hormone therapy.

Subject to the terms, conditions and other provisions of this policy, the company will pay the insured person 20 per cent of the principal sum up to a maximum of $20,000 if, while insured, the insured person undergoes early stage prostate cancer (T1a or T1b) treatment and the insured person survives 30 days thereafter.

Heart attack: means a definite diagnosis of the death of heart muscle due to obstruction of blood flow that results in the rise and fall of biochemical cardiac markers to levels considered diagnostic of myocardial infarction, with at least one of the following:

a) heart attack symptoms; or

b) new electrocardiogram (ECG) changes consistent with a heart attack; or

c) development of new Q waves during or immediately following an intra-arterial cardiac procedure including, but not limited to, coronary angiography and coronary angioplasty.

The diagnosis of heart attack must be made by a specialist.

Exclusions: No benefit will be payable under this condition for:

A) elevated biochemical cardiac markers with a:

(i) Troponin level of less than 1

(ii) CK-Mb level of less than 4, or

B) ECG changes suggesting a prior myocardial infarction, which do not meet the heart attack definition as described above.

Heart valve replacement: means undergoing surgery to replace any heart valve with either a natural or mechanical valve. The surgery must be determined to be medically necessary by a specialist. Exclusion: No benefit will be payable under this condition for heart valve repair.

Loss of independence: means the definitive diagnosis by a licensed physician of either:

1. Being totally and permanently unable to perform, by oneself, at least two of the six activities of daily living; or,

2. Cognitive impairment.

A mental or nervous disorder without a demonstrable organic cause is not covered.

Loss of independence must persist for at least 90 days from the date of the diagnosis.

Loss of speech: means the definite diagnosis of the total and irreversible loss of the ability to speak as the result of physical injury or disease, for a period of at least 180 days. The diagnosis of loss of speech must be made by a specialist.

Major organ failure: means the irreversible failure of the entire heart, entire liver, entire pancreas (pancreatic islet cell transplants are excluded), both lungs, both kidneys or bone marrow, in which the affected organ is unresponsive to any treatment and for which the insured is medically required to become enrolled in a recognized Canadian transplant program to become the recipient of a heart, a liver, a pancreas, a lung, or a kidney or to receive a bone marrow transplant.

Major organ transplant: means a definite diagnosis of the irreversible failure of the heart, both lungs, liver, both kidneys or bone marrow, and transplantation must be medically necessary. To qualify under major organ transplant, the insured person must undergo a transplantation procedure as the recipient of a heart, lung, liver, kidney or bone marrow, and limited to these entities. The diagnosis of the major organ failure must be made by a specialist.

Motor neuron disease: means a definite diagnosis of one of the following:

• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease); (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis means unequivocal diagnosis of ALS resulting in the inability to perform three of the six activities of daily living without assistance. A physician who is certified as a neurologist must confirm diagnosis in writing.)

• primary lateral sclerosis;

• progressive spinal muscular atrophy;

• progressive bulbar palsy;

• pseudo bulbar palsy.

The diagnosis of motor neuron disease must be made by a specialist.

Multiple sclerosis: means the unequivocal written diagnosis by a physician who is certified as a neurologist confirming at least one of the following:

• two or more separate clinical attacks, confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the nervous system, showing multiple lesions of demyelination; or

• well-defined neurological abnormalities lasting more than six months, confirmed by MRI imaging of the nervous system, showing multiple lesions of demyelination; or

• a single attack, confirmed by repeated MRI imaging of the nervous system, which shows multiple lesions of demyelination which have developed at intervals at least one month apart.

Non-smoker: A non-smoker means someone who has not used cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, a pipe, chewing tobacco or any products that are nicotine based (patches, chewing gum, etc.) during at least 12 months prior to the date of enrolment.

Occupational HIV infection: means a definite diagnosis of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) resulting from accidental injury during the course of the insured person’s normal occupation, which exposed the person to HIV contaminated body fluids. The accidental injury leading to the infection must have occurred after the later of the effective date of the policy, the effective date of last reinstatement of the policy, or the insured person’s effective date of coverage.

Payment under this condition requires satisfaction of all of the following:

a) the accidental injury must be reported to the insurer within 14 days of the accidental injury;

b) a serum HIV test must be taken within 14 days of the accidental injury and the result must be negative;

c) a serum HIV test must be taken between 90 days and 180 days after the accidental injury and the result must be positive;

d) all HIV tests must be performed by a duly licensed laboratory in Canada or the United States of America;

e) the accidental injury must be reported, investigated, and documented in accordance with current Canadian or United States of America workplace guidelines.

The diagnosis of occupational HIV infection must be made by a specialist.

Exclusions: No benefit will be payable under this condition if:

• the insured person has elected not to take any available licensed vaccine offering protection against HIV; or,

• a licensed cure for HIV infection is available prior to the accidental injury; or,

• HIV infection has occurred as a result of non-accidental injury including, but not limited to, sexual transmission and intravenous (IV) drug use.

Paralysis: means the total and irrecoverable loss of function of two or more limbs through neurological damage due to injury or sickness, provided such loss of function continually lasts for 365 consecutive days and such loss of function is thereafter determined on evidence satisfactory to ACE INA Life Insurance to be permanent. A physician certified as a neurologist must confirm diagnosis in writing.

Parkinson’s disease: means unequivocal diagnosis of primary idiopathic Parkinson’s disease resulting in the inability to perform three of the six activities of daily living without assistance. Diagnosis should show signs of progressive impairment and must be confirmed in writing by a physician who is certified as a neurologist.

Second event benefit: If the insured person is diagnosed with either of the following:

Category of conditions

A. Cancer, or

B. Cardiovascular condition (defined as heart attack, stroke, coronary artery bypass, undergoes aorta surgery or heart valve replacement)

for which the principal sum has been paid and the insured person is thereafter considered (by the treating physician) fully recovered and not actively receiving treatment and has returned to work for a period of at least 90 days and is then diagnosed with another insured condition, the second event benefit payable will be equal to the principal sum (less any partial payment benefit paid after the first principal sum was fully paid). The second event benefit is subject to the insured person surviving 30 days after the diagnosis of such insured condition. An insured spouse is considered eligible for a second event 90 days after the required treatment has finished and they have survived 30 days after the diagnosis of such insured condition.

In order to be considered an eligible second event condition, the first event and the second event cannot fall into the same category of conditions.

The second event benefit is payable only once. Payment of the second event benefit will represent full and final discharge of all claims under the second event benefit. Following payment of the second event benefit, coverage under this policy will terminate.

Severe burns: means the insured person has third degree burns covering at least 20 per cent of the surface area of their body. A physician who is certified as a plastic surgeon must confirm diagnosis of this condition in writing.

Stroke: means that the insured person has suffered a cerebrovascular incident, excluding transient ischemic attack (TIA), producing infarction of brain tissue due to thrombosis, hemorrhage from an intracranial vessel or embolization caused by an extracranial source. There must be evidence of permanent neurological deficit persisting for 30 consecutive days, supported by evidence that the deficit is resulting from the stroke, confirmed in writing by a physician who is certified as a neurologist.

Disclaimer

For ease of reference it contains a brief description only and does not mention every provision of the contract issued. Please remember that rights and obligations are determined in accordance with the contract and not this site.

ACE INA Life Insurance

The ACE INA Life Insurance Company underwrites CATCA Safe Landing critical illness insurance coverage.

ACE INA Insurance and ACE INA Life Insurance are members of the ACE Group. The ACE Group is one of the world’s largest multiline property and casualty insurers. With operations in 53 countries, ACE provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. The company is distinguished by its broad product and service capabilities, exceptional financial strength, underwriting and claims handling expertise and local operations globally.

ACE Limited, the parent company of the ACE Group, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACE) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. The ACE Group maintains executive offices in Zurich, Bermuda and New York, among other locations, and employs 19,000 people worldwide. More information can be found at www.acegroup.com.

The company’s Canadian headquarters are based in Toronto.