Frequently asked questions

Critical illness insurance works to complement your medical coverage—and pays in addition to what your medical plan may or may not cover. It’s coverage that provides financial support when you or a loved one becomes seriously ill. Upon diagnosis, it provides you with a lump-sum payment of $10,000, $20,000 or $30,000 in initial benefits. The total benefit amount available is 5 times that of the initial benefit amount, which is $50,000, $100,000 or $150,000, in the event that you or a loved one experience more than one covered condition. The payment you receive is yours to spend however you like.

If you meet the group policy and certificate requirements, critical illness insurance provides you with a lump-sum payment upon diagnosis of these conditions:

  • Full Benefit Cancer1
  • Stroke2
  • Alzheimer’s Disease4
  • Partial Benefit Cancer1
  • Kidney Failure
  • Major Organ Transplant
  • Heart Attack
  • Coronary Artery Bypass Graft3
  • 22 Listed Conditions5 (see your Outline of Coverage for details)

Your plan pays an additional benefit (Recurrence Benefit) if a medical condition reoccurs for: a Heart Attack, Stroke, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, Full Benefit Cancer, and Partial Benefit Cancer. A recurrence benefit is only available if the initial benefit has already been paid for the covered condition. And there is a benefit suspension period (or waiting period) between recurrences.6

Yes, you can enroll both yourself and your eligible family members.7 All you need to do is enroll during the enrollment period and be actively at work.

One of the hardest parts of managing illnesses like Cancer, Heart Attack, or Stroke is providing the support and comfort your family needs beyond the cost of care. Even the best medical and disability income plans can leave you with extra expenses to pay or services that just aren’t covered. Things like medical plan deductibles and copays, or extra costs for out-of-network care. And if you’re out of work because of a disability, it might be that only some of your income is protected. The average family spends thousands of dollars in times of critical illness and recovery.8 Many people aren’t prepared to handle these extra costs, so having this extra financial support when the time comes may mean less worry for you and your family. 

Yes. Your critical illness coverage is guaranteed,9 regardless of your health. You just need to be actively at work to be covered. There are no medical exams to take and no health questions to answer, so the whole process might be easier than you first thought.

Yes. Early detection of a serious illness is important to your recovery. We provide you with an extra $50 annual benefit per calendar year on top of your total benefit amount when you see your physician for eligible health screenings or prevention measures.10

It’s easy to pay premiums through payroll deductions, so you never have to worry about writing a check or missing payments. 

Critical illness insurance may cost less than you think. It’s designed to be an economical way to supplement your health care and disability plans. For detailed information on plan cost: 

  1. Call (877) 755-7480, Ext. 2001, 7/9-7/27, M-F 8:00 am - 8:00 pm EDT; or 
  2. Go to the self-service enrollment platform by clicking on the ‘enroll’ tab.

Benefits will be paid directly to you, not to the doctors, hospitals or any other health care providers. There’s no need to work it around any other any other insurance you may have. Benefits are paid no matter what your other insurance plans may cover.

Yes. This coverage is portable, meaning you can take it wherever you go. Your coverage will only end if you stop paying your premium or if your employer offers you similar coverage with a different insurance carrier.11

1 Please review the Disclosure Statement or Outline of Coverage/Disclosure Document for specific information about cancer benefits. Not all types of cancer are covered. Some cancers are covered at less than the Initial Benefit Amount. For NH-sitused cases and NH residents, there is an initial benefit of $100 for All Other Cancer.

2 In certain states, the Covered Condition is Severe Stroke.

3 In NJ-sitused cases, the Covered Condition is Coronary Artery Disease.

4 Please review the Outline of Coverage for specific information about Alzheimer’s disease.

5 MetLife Critical Illness Insurance will pay 25% of the Initial Benefit Amount when a covered person is diagnosed with one of the 22 Listed Conditions. A Covered Person may only receive one benefit payment of a Listed Condition in his/her lifetime. The Listed Conditions are: Addison’s disease (adrenal hypofunction); amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease); cerebrospinal meningitis (bacterial); cerebral palsy; cystic fibrosis; diphtheria; encephalitis; Huntington’s disease (Huntington’s chorea); Legionnaire’s disease; malaria; multiple sclerosis (definitive diagnosis); muscular dystrophy; myasthenia gravis; necrotizing fasciitis; osteomyelitis; poliomyelitis; rabies; sickle cell anemia (excluding sickle cell trait); systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); systemic sclerosis (scleroderma); tetanus; and tuberculosis.

6 We will not pay a Recurrence Benefit for a Covered Condition that Recurs during a Benefit Suspension Period. We will not pay a Recurrence Benefit for either a Full Benefit Cancer or a Partial Benefit Cancer unless the Covered Person has not had symptoms of or been treated for the Full Benefit Cancer or Partial Benefit Cancer for which we paid an Initial Benefit during the Benefit Suspension Period.

7 Eligible Family Members means all persons eligible for coverage as defined in the Certificate.

8 MetLife Accident and Critical Illness Impact Study, October 2013.

9 Coverage is guaranteed provided (1) the employee is actively at work and (2) dependents are not subject to medical restrictions as set forth on the enrollment form and in the Certificate. Some states require the insured to have medical coverage. Additional restrictions apply to dependents serving in the armed forces or living overseas. [For CA-sitused cases, coverage is guaranteed provided (1) the employee is performing all of the usual and customary duties of your job at the employer’s place of business or at an alternate place approved by your employer (2) dependents are not subject to medical restrictions as set forth on the enrollment form and in the Certificate.]

10 The Health Screening Benefit is not available in all states. See your certificate for any applicable waiting periods. There is a separate mammogram benefit for MT residents and for cases sitused in CA and MT.

11 Eligibility for portability through the Continuation of Insurance with Premium Payment provision may be subject to certain eligibility requirements and limitations. For more information, contact your MetLife representative.

METLIFE’S CRITICAL ILLNESS INSURANCE (CII) IS A LIMITED BENEFIT GROUP INSURANCE POLICY. Like most group accident and health insurance policies, MetLife’s CII policies contain certain exclusions, limitations and terms for keeping them in force. Product features and availability may vary by state. In most plans, there is a preexisting condition exclusion. In most states, after a covered condition occurs there is a benefit suspension period during which most plans do not pay recurrence benefits. Attained Age rates are based on 5-year age bands and will increase when a Covered Person reaches a new age band. A more detailed description of the benefits, limitations, and exclusions applicable can be found in the applicable Disclosure Statement or Outline of Coverage/Disclosure Document available at time of enrollment. For complete details of coverage and availability, please refer to the group policy form GPNP07-CI or GPNP09-CI, or contact MetLife for more information. Benefits are underwritten by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, New York.

MetLife’s Critical Illness Insurance is not intended to be a substitute for Medical Coverage providing benefits for medical treatment, including hospital, surgical and medical expenses. MetLife’s Critical Illness Insurance does not provide reimbursement for such expenses.