Dread Disease Cover

Dread disease cover - also called critical illness cover - pays out a tax-free lump sum to you if you are diagnosed with a dread disease such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and others, as specified in your policy document. This money can be used for medical and rehabilitation expenses, living expenses, or whatever you and your family need, so that you don’t have to worry about your finances while you are in treatment and recovery. Visit our FAQ page to find out more about how 1Life Dread Disease Cover policies work.

A dread disease, also called a critical illness, is severe. Your critical illness cover covers you for illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular and heart disease, stroke and organ failure as well as a range of neurological and gastroenterological conditions. These are set out in the 1Life policy book. Dread diseases can affect your ability to earn a living, and can be costly to treat, which is why critical illness insurance is so important. Learn more about dread disease insurance.

A dread disease, or critical illness, can be financially devastating. The cost of the medical treatment and ongoing rehabilitation might not be covered in full by your medical aid. In addition, you might be unable to work during or after treatment. That’s why cover for critical diseases is essential. The pay-out from your dread disease insurance can be used to replace lost income, and to cover medical expenses, so that you and your family don’t need to worry about your money and you can focus on your recovery. Give yourself and your family the financial protection you need against serious illness and get a dread disease cover quote today.

Your dread disease cover policy will pay a percentage of your cover amount if you are diagnosed with a dread disease as listed in the 1Life policy book. Depending on the severity of your illness, 25% - 100% of your sum assured will be paid out. For example, if you are diagnosed with Stage 1 cancer, 25% of your sum assured could be paid out. However, if you are diagnosed with Stage 4 then 100% could be paid out.

Your premium is based on your specific risk profile, including:

• Age – younger people pay a lower premium because they are less likely to be diagnosed with a dread disease.
• Health – we take into account any current health conditions or a history of illness, that might mean you are more at risk of a critical illness.
• Lifestyle – if you smoke, for example, your risk of developing a smoking-related illness is higher, which means that your premiums might be higher too.

Once 1Life has received all of the documentation needed to assess the claim, it may be paid out within 10 working days. In some cases, additional specific documents are needed for a particular claim, and this will be communicated during the assessment process. We understand that you rely on your dread disease cover for your family’s financial security, and we try to pay out your claim as promptly as possible.

Yes, there is an age limit for this cover. You can qualify for dread disease cover and critical illness cover at any time from 18 to 59 and you will be covered for the rest of your life so long as your premiums and policy are up to date.

No, there is no waiting period that applies to dread disease cover and critical illness cover. There is however a “survival period”. This means that the lump sum will only be paid if the life assured survives for at least 28 days from the date of diagnosis.