Frequently Asked Questions
Adding Surety’s Accident with Critical Illness plan to your Health Insurance or Medical Sharing plan can bring you and your family peace of mind knowing that you have financial protection when you need it the most.
Common Questions about Surety’s Insurance Plans
Click on the plan type to see answers to questions often asked of our agents and customer service group.
Have more questions or need some clarification on the information provided here? Call Surety Life at 1-800-232-3979, or complete the form below or on our contact us page and you will be contacted as soon as possible.
How much does it cost?
Premiums are NOT dependent on age or gender like other traditional plans. Surety’s plan premiums are based on the five benefit levels from $5,000 to $25,000 and whether you want an individual, couple or family coverage. Since you are receiving coverage for both Accident and Critical Illness benefits under one premium you do not have to add premiums together.
| Select Your Benefit | $5,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 | $20,0000 | $25,000 |
| Monthly Rates | |||||
| Individual | $34.44 | $42.34 | $47.46 | $55.86 | $63.84 |
| Individual & Spouse | $62.58 | $78.38 | $89.46 | $104.16 | $119.28 |
| Individual & Dependent(s) | $94.08 | $117.94 | $130.62 | $144.90 | $157.08 |
| Family | $122.22 | $153.98 | $172.62 | $193.20 | $212.52 |
How is the payout for a claim determined?
We do not have restrictive treatment-specific schedule of benefits that fall short of what you actually need to pay your medical bills. We determine what to pay you off of your Health Insurance Explanation of Benefits statement (EOB) after any adjustments or discounts but before your deductible or co-pays. That way you will more often than not have extra cash left over to cover other expenses or do whatever you like with it.
Who gets the money?
Surety Life pays claims directly to you the client! Many hospitals and clinics will give a discount if you pay your balance in full, since we pay you, you can take advantage of these savings. You are free to spend or save as you like.
How does the policy provide a critical illness benefit?
After a 30-day waiting period the benefit pays a lump sum for covered persons diagnosed with Invasive Cancer, Heart Attack or Stroke. The benefit is for each illness and the amount is the maximum benefit selected and is payable per lifetime per insured person. The Accident Benefit starts on day one of the policy.
Can I purchase this plan if I don't have health insurance?
Yes. Though it is always a good idea to have health insurance, however, benefits are paid directly to you regardless of any other insurances you may have.
Is it easy to qualify?
Yes! There are only four simple medical questions to answer. The policy may be issued to qualified persons between the age of 18 and 64. Your children may remain on the policy until their 26th birthday.
Are the benefits separate for the accident and critical illness portions of the plan?
The benefit dollar amount is the same, if you use the Accident benefit it does not affect the full benefit amount for the Critical Illness benefit. And if you are paid for the Critical Illness benefit it does not affect the amount available for the Accident benefit.
Can I buy a policy year-round at any time?
Yes. The Surety Life plan can be added to your current health coverage anytime and is not subject to an open enrollment period.
How much coverage should I choose?
Surety Life provides affordable benefit levels that you can utilize for accidents and critical illness under one premium. The 'Select Your Benefit' chart has all the premium levels so you can choose which one best fits your budget. The policy pays you directly so you can use the money to pay unexpected medical costs or everyday living expenses, so you and your family can focus on healing instead of finances
If my health insurance policy covers medical expenses for an accident or critical illness can I also receive benefits from a Surety policy?
Yes, there is no coordination between Surety Life and other health insurance or Health Share policies.
Can I keep this policy if I drop my health insurance coverage?
Yes. This is a stand-alone policy that you can keep regardless of the status of your medical health insurance
How does the family deductible work?
A covered individual pays a one-time annual $100 deductible, for the Accident benefit only, before benefits are paid. If a spouse and/or children are covered, the total deductible for all covered persons is limited to $200 in a calendar year.
Will the Surety Life plan cover regular doctor visits?
No. Accident and critical illness plans are not designed to provide you with the kind of benefits you might expect to receive through a traditional health insurance plan.
Is there a time limit on how soon I will need to get treatment due to an accident?
Yes. Care must begin within 7 days following an accident. A break, rupture or crack in a bone that can be diagnosed by an x-ray must be diagnosed by a Physician within 14 days after the date of the accident.
Is physical therapy covered?
Yes. Surety Life will pay for a maximum of 10 Physical Therapy visits due to an injury if it was prescribed by a Physician. All Physical Therapy visits must begin within 45 days and be completed within 6 months of the date of the accident.
Will Surety Life cover prescription drugs?
Surety Life will pay for prescription drugs that are administered in a Hospital or an Urgent Care Center during the Initial Care of the injury. Drugs prescribed to be taken or used after the initial care are not covered.
Who should consider a Final Expense Plan?
Those who want to ensure their surviving loved ones are not financially burdened by their death. Planning now can help your family focus on the life you lived and less on your final expenses.
Is a medical exam required to qualify?
No, there are medical qualifying questions that need to be answered to determine eligibility but no exam is needed.
What is a whole life insurance policy?
It’s permanent life insurance. A whole life insurance policy provides coverage for your entire life as long as you pay your monthly premium – compared to term life insurance, which protects you for only a specified period of time.
Why do people choose whole life insurance?
One of the key benefits is having life insurance coverage for your lifetime. You can lock in an affordable premium rate that will never increase for as long as you own the policy, making your payments predictable and easier to plan your budget. Whole life insurance builds cash value over time, providing an extra financial safety net for the unexpected.
Is there flexibility for payments?
Yes, you can choose from Annual, Semi-annual, Quarterly or Monthly. Whatever works best for your budget.
How long is the approval process?
The application process is quick and easy, and coverage can be issued in days, sometimes even on the same day you apply. Once you have been approved, your coverage starts immediately.
How is the death benefit paid out?
The death benefit will be paid to the beneficiary you designate on the policy within 2 months after receipt of proof of death while the policy was in force. If proof of death is filed within 180 days after the date of death, we will add interest to the death benefit from the date of death until the claim is paid.
What is the minimum death benefit that can be applied for?
The minimum death benefit is $5,000 and the maximum is $50,000 for the Level Whole Life Plan and $25,000 for the Graded Whole Life Plan.
What is the difference between the Level and Graded Whole Life Plans?
The Level Plan pays out the full death benefit amount upon the death of the policy holder when the policy is activated. The Graded Plan pays out 30% of the death benefit the first year, 70% the second year and the full benefit amount in the third and following years. Graded benefit whole life policies are specific products made available to people who cannot obtain coverage due to adverse health conditions.
Is there a minimum age restriction for Surety’s Final Expense Plan?
No, anyone can apply for a policy from 0-85 years of age. Anyone under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian apply for a policy.
What is cancer protection insurance?
An insurance policy that pays you cash benefits upon initial diagnosis or First Occurrence of cancer and over the course of treatment. The cash benefits are paid directly to the policy holder and can be used however needed. Typically, one would use it to pay their cost-of-living expenses during treatment and recovery.
How does Surety’s cancer insurance work?
Once your diagnosed with internal, cancer benefits are paid upon initial diagnosis or First Occurrence, the number of days in the Hospital Benefit for Inpatient treatments and the number of days for Outpatient treatments, also a Disability Benefit that will pay up to 2 days of disability for every day you are hospitalized. For instance: Health insurance pays the hospitals and the doctors, where Surety pays you directly, cash benefits to be used however you see fit.
Is cancer insurance worth it?
Cancer can be a very financially devastating disease, even someone with the best health insurance in the world will still experience out of pocket expenses that health insurance won’t cover. This may cause you to have to tap into your savings, and deplete your financial resources that you have worked your whole life to accumulate. So, cancer insurance is piece of mind coverage that hopefully you never have to use. It is a great way to protect your financial well-being in case of an unfortunate diagnosis.
Do I need cancer insurance?
If you have a history of cancer in your family then Cancer insurance is piece of mind coverage. If you can afford losing a large portion of your savings paying for cancer treatments and medical bills, then you may not need cancer insurance, however, if you want to protect your lifestyle and financial resources, then cancer insurance may be for you.
What types of cancer does Surety’s policy cover?
Internal cancer, malignant melanoma, leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease. It also includes carcinoma in situ and any disease that is manifested by the presence of a malignant process that has uncontrolled growth and spread of malignant cells, the invasion of tissue, blood or the lymphatic system.
What types of conditions are not cover?
It does not include premalignant conditions or conditions with malignant potential including myelodysplastic and certain myeloproliferative disorders. Nor does it cover nonmalignant melanoma, moles or any benign neoplasm. See exceptions in the policy on page 4.
How much does cancer insurance cost?
Cancer insurance coverage ranges by age and amount of coverage. Contact us for a customized detailed quote comparison of different levels of coverage and a return of premium option.
Is there a waiting period?
Yes, the waiting period is 30 days from the start date of the policy.
Does Surety offer a return of premium?
Yes, for Surety’s plan there is a graduated scale with a full refund at 25 years. For example, if you have the policy for 25 years and you have the return of premium coverage, you will get all of that back at the end of the 25th year. This return of premium coverage adds more to the cost of the policy per month.
Call Surety Life & Casualty at 1-800-232-3979, or complete the form below and you will be contacted as soon as possible.