Covered conditions, limitations & exclusions

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Download list of covered conditions
 

These are all covered conditions.

You, your spouse and children will only be covered for those included in the insurance plan you have selected.

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Aortic surgery

is defined as the undergoing of surgery for disease of the aorta requiring excision and surgical replacement of any part of the diseased aorta with a graft. Aorta means the thoracic and abdominal aorta but not its branches. The surgery must be determined to be medically necessary by a specialist.

Exclusion: No benefit will be payable under this covered condition for angioplasty, intra-arterial procedures, percutaneous trans-catheter procedures or non-surgical procedures.
Aplastic anemia

is defined as a definite diagnosis of a chronic persistent bone marrow failure, confirmed by biopsy, which results in anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia requiring blood product transfusion, and treatment with at least one of the following:

  1. marrow stimulating agents;
  2. immunosuppressive agents;
  3. bone marrow transplantation.

The diagnosis of aplastic anemia must be made by a specialist.
Autism
is defined as an organic defect in brain development characterized by failure to develop communicative language or other forms of social communication, with the diagnosis confirmed by a specialist before the third birthday of the child.
Bacterial meningitis

is defined as a definite diagnosis of meningitis, confirmed by cerebrospinal fluid showing growth of pathogenic bacteria in culture, resulting in neurological deficit(s) documented for at least 90 days from the date of diagnosis. The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis must be made by a specialist.

Exclusion: No benefit will be payable under this condition for viral meningitis.
Benign brain tumour

is defined as a definite diagnosis of a non-malignant tumour located in the cranial vault and limited to the brain, meninges, cranial nerves or pituitary gland. The tumour must require surgical or radiation treatment or cause irreversible objective neurological deficit(s). The diagnosis of benign brain tumour must be made by a specialist.

Exclusion: No benefit will be payable under this covered condition if, within the first 90 days following the later of:

  1. the effective date of coverage, or
  2. the date of the last reinstatement of the insured person’s coverage, the insured person has any of the following:
    1. signs, symptoms, evidence or investigations that lead to a diagnosis of benign brain tumour (covered or excluded under the policy), regardless of when the diagnosis is made; or
    2. a diagnosis of benign brain tumour (covered or excluded under the policy).

      3. Medical information about the diagnosis and any signs, symptoms or investigations leading to the diagnosis must be reported to the Insurer within 6 months of the date of the diagnosis. If this information is not provided within this period, the insurer has the right to deny any claim for benign brain tumour or any covered condition caused by any benign brain tumour or its treatment.

      Exclusion: No benefit will be payable under this covered condition for pituitary adenomas less than 10 mm.
    Blindness

    is defined as a definite diagnosis of the total and irreversible loss of vision in both eyes, evidenced by:

    1. the corrected visual acuity being 20/200 or less in both eyes; or
    2. the field of vision being less than 20 degrees in both eyes.

    The diagnosis of blindness must be made by a specialist.
    Cancer (life-threatening)
    is defined as a definite diagnosis of a tumour, which must be characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of malignant cells and the invasion of tissue. Types of cancer include carcinoma, melanoma, leukemia, lymphoma, and sarcoma. The diagnosis of cancer (life-threatening) must be made by a specialist.

    Exclusion: no benefit will be payable under this covered condition if, within the first 90 days following the later of (i) the effective date of coverage or (ii) the date of the last reinstatement of the insured person’s coverage, the insured person has any of the following:

    • signs, symptoms or investigations that lead to a diagnosis of cancer (life-threatening) or cancer (non-life-threatening) (covered or excluded under the policy), regardless of when the diagnosis is made; or
    • a diagnosis of cancer (life-threatening) or cancer (non-life-threatening) (covered or excluded under the policy).

    Medical information about the diagnosis and any signs, symptoms or investigations leading to the diagnosis must be reported to the insurer within 6 months of the date of diagnosis. If this information is not provided within this period, the insurer has the right to deny any claim for cancer (life-threatening) or cancer (non-life-threatening) or any covered condition caused by any cancer (life-threatening) or cancer (non-life-threatening) or its treatment.

    No benefit will be payable for the following:

    1. lesions described as benign, pre-malignant, uncertain, borderline, non-invasive, carcinoma in-situ (Tis), or tumours classified as Ta;
    2. malignant melanoma skin cancer that is less than or equal to 1.0 mm in thickness, unless it is ulcerated or is accompanied by lymph node or distant metastasis;
    3. any non-melanoma skin cancer, without lymph node or distant metastasis;
    4. prostate cancer classified as T1a or T1b, without lymph node or distant metastasis;
    5. papillary thyroid cancer or follicular thyroid cancer, or both, that is less than or equal to 2.0 cm in greatest diameter and classified as T1, without lymph node or distant metastasis;
    6. chronic lymphocytic leukemia classified less than Rai stage 1; or
    7. malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) and malignant carcinoid tumours, classified less than AJCC Stage 2.

    For purposes of the policy, the terms Tis, Ta, T1a, T1b, T1 and AJCC Stage 2 are to be applied as defined in the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) cancer staging manual, 7th Edition, 2010.

    For purposes of the policy, the term Rai staging is to be applied as set out in KR Rai, A Sawitsky, EP Cronkite, AD Chanana, RN Levy and BS Pasternack: Clinical staging of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood 46:219, 1975
    Cancer (non-life-threatening)

    includes:

    1. Ductal carcinoma in situ of breast, which is defined as the diagnosis of non-life-threatening ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast, confirmed by biopsy.
    2. Early stage lymphocytic leukemia, which is defined as the diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia classified less than Rai stage 1.
    3. Early stage thyroid cancer, which is defined as the diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer or follicular thyroid cancer, or both, that is less than or equal to 2.0 cm in greatest diameter and classified as T1, without lymph node or distant metastasis.
    4. GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumour), which is defined as the diagnosis of malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) and malignant carcinoid tumours, classified less than AJCC stage 2.
    5. Stage A (T1a or T1b) prostate cancer, which is defined as the diagnosis of prostate cancer classified as T1a or T1b, without lymph node or distant metastasis.
    6. Stage 1A malignant melanoma, which is defined as the diagnosis of malignant melanoma skin cancer that is less than or equal to 1.0 mm in thickness, unless it is ulcerated or is accompanied by lymph node or distant metastasis.

    Exclusion: No benefit will be payable under this covered condition if, within the first 90 days following the later of:

    1. the effective date of coverage, or
    2. the date of the last reinstatement of coverage, the insured person has any of the following:
      1. signs, symptoms or investigations that lead to a diagnosis of cancer (life-threatening) or cancer (non-life-threatening) (covered or excluded under the policy), regardless of when the diagnosis is made; or
      2. a diagnosis of cancer (life-threatening) or cancer (non-life-threatening) (covered or excluded under the policy).
      Cerebral palsy
      is defined as a definitive diagnosis of cerebral palsy, a non-progressive neurological defect characterized by spasticity and incoordination of movements.
      Coma

      is defined as a definite diagnosis of a state of unconsciousness with no reaction to external stimuli or response to internal needs for a continuous period of at least 96 hours, and for which period the Glasgow coma score must be 4 or less. The diagnosis of coma must be made by a specialist.

      Exclusion: No benefit will be payable under this covered condition for:

      1. a medically induced coma;
      2. a coma which results directly from alcohol or drug use; or
      3. a diagnosis of brain death.
      Congenital heart disease

      is defined as any one or more diagnosis(es) from the following lists of heart conditions that are covered conditions:

      List A

      • Atresia of any heart valve
      • Coarctation of the aorta
      • Double inlet ventricle
      • Double outlet left ventricle
      • Ebstein's anomaly
      • Eisenmenger syndrome
      • Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
      • Hypoplastic right ventricle
      • Single ventricle
      • Tetralogy of fallot
      • Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection
      • Transposition of the great vessels
      • Truncus arteriosus

      The covered conditions described in list A will be covered commencing from the date of birth. The diagnosis of any of the covered conditions in list A must be made by a specialist who is a qualified pediatric cardiologist, and supported by appropriate cardiac imaging.

      List B

      • Aortic stenosis
      • Atrial septal defect
      • Discrete subvalvular aortic stenosis
      • Pulmonary stenosis
      • Ventricular septal defect

      The covered conditions described in list B will be covered only when open heart surgery is performed for correction of the covered condition following the date of birth. The diagnosis of any of the covered conditions in this list B must be made by a specialist who is a qualified pediatric cardiologist, and supported by appropriate cardiac imaging. The surgery must be recommended by a specialist who is a qualified pediatric cardiologist and performed by a specialist who is a cardiac surgeon in Canada.

      List B exclusion: Trans-catheter procedures such as balloon valvuloplasty or percutaneous atrial septal defect closure are excluded.

      General congenital heart disease exclusion: All other congenital cardiac conditions not specifically described in list A or list B are not covered conditions and are excluded.
      Coronary angioplasty
      is defined as the undergoing of an interventional procedure to unblock or widen a coronary artery that supplies blood to the heart to allow an uninterrupted flow of blood. The procedure must be determined to be medically necessary by a specialist.
      Coronary artery bypass surgery

      is defined as the undergoing of heart surgery to correct narrowing or blockage of one or more coronary arteries with bypass graft(s). The surgery must be determined to be medically necessary by a specialist.

      Exclusion: No benefit will be payable under this covered condition for angioplasty, intra-arterial procedures, percutaneous trans-catheter procedures or non-surgical procedures.
      Cystic fibrosis
      is defined as a definitive diagnosis of cystic fibrosis with evidence of chronic lung disease and pancreatic insufficiency.
      Deafness
      is defined as a definite diagnosis of the total and irreversible loss of hearing in both ears, with an auditory threshold of 90 decibels or greater within the speech threshold of 500 to 3,000 hertz. The diagnosis of deafness must be made by a specialist.
      Dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease)

      is defined as a definite diagnosis of dementia, which must be characterized by a progressive deterioration of memory and at least one of the following areas of cognitive function:

      1. aphasia (a disorder of speech);
      2. apraxia (difficulty performing familiar tasks);
      3. agnosia (difficulty recognizing objects); or
      4. disturbance in executive functioning (e.g. inability to think abstractly and to plan, initiate, sequence, monitor, and stop complex behaviour), which is affecting daily life.

      The insured person must exhibit:

      1. dementia of at least moderate severity, which must be evidenced by a Mini Mental State Exam of 20/30 or less, or equivalent score on another generally medically accepted test or tests of cognitive function; and
      2. evidence of progressive worsening in cognitive and daily functioning either by serial cognitive tests or by history over at least a 6-month period.

      The diagnosis of dementia must be made by a specialist.

      For the purposes of the policy, reference to the Mini Mental State Exam is to Folstein MF, Folsten SE, McHugh PR, Journal of Psychiatric Research 1975;12(3):189.

      Exclusion: No benefit will be payable under this covered condition for affective or schizophrenic disorders, or delirium.
      Down syndrome
      is defined as a definitive diagnosis of Down Syndrome, confirmed by a physician specialist with expertise in the specialty normally designated to assess and manage Down Syndrome.
      Heart attack

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

      1. heart attack symptoms;
      2. new electrocardiogram (ECG) changes consistent with a heart attack; or
      3. 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.

      Exclusion: No benefit will be payable under this covered condition for:

      1. elevated biochemical cardiac markers as a result of an intra-arterial cardiac procedure including, but not limited to, coronary angiography and coronary angioplasty, in the absence of new Q waves;
      2. ECG changes suggesting a prior myocardial infarction, which do not meet the heart attack definition as described above; or
      3. diagnosis or working diagnosis of heart attack without the supporting cardiac-biochemical markers diagnostic of myocardial infarction and new ECG changes consistent with a heart attack as defined in the policy.
      Heart valve replacement or repair

      is defined as the undergoing of surgery to replace any heart valve with either a natural or mechanical valve or to repair heart valve defects or abnormalities. The surgery must be determined to be medically necessary by a specialist.

      Exclusion: No benefit will be payable under this covered condition for angioplasty, intra-arterial procedures, percutaneous trans-catheter procedures or non-surgical procedures.
      Kidney failure
      is defined as a definite diagnosis of chronic irreversible failure of both kidneys to function, as a result of which regular haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or renal transplantation is initiated. The date of diagnosis is the date of the insured person’s initiation into the transplant program. The diagnosis of kidney failure must be made by a specialist.
      Loss of independent existence
      is defined as a definite diagnosis of the total and permanent inability to perform, by oneself, at least 2 of the following 6 activities of daily living for a continuous period of at least 90 days with no reasonable chance of recovery. The diagnosis of loss of independent existence must be made by a specialist.
      Loss of limbs
      is defined as 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.
      Loss of speech

      is defined as a definite diagnosis of the total and irreversible loss of the ability to speak for a period of at least 180 days as the result of physical Injury or sickness. The diagnosis of loss of speech must be made by a specialist.

      Exclusion: No benefit will be payable under this covered condition for all psychiatric-related causes.
      Major organ failure on waiting list
      is defined as 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 Failure on Waiting List, the Insured Person must become enrolled as the recipient in a recognized transplant centre in Canada or the United States of America that performs the required form of transplant Surgery. For the purpose of the Survival Period, the Date of Diagnosis is the date of the Insured Person’s enrolment in the transplant centre. The Diagnosis of the major organ failure must be made by a specialist.
      Major organ transplant
      is defined as 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
      is defined as a definite diagnosis of one of the following: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), primary lateral sclerosis, progressive spinal muscular atrophy, progressive bulbar palsy, or pseudo bulbar palsy, and is limited to these conditions. The diagnosis of motor neuron disease must be made by a specialist.
      Multiple sclerosis

      is defined as a definite diagnosis of at least one of the following:

      1. two or more separate clinical attacks, confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), of the nervous system showing multiple lesions of demyelination;
      2. well-defined neurological abnormalities lasting more than 6 months, confirmed by MRI imaging of the nervous system showing multiple lesions of demyelination; or
      3. 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.

      The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis must be made by a specialist.
      Muscular dystrophy
      is defined as a definitive diagnosis of muscular dystrophy, characterized by well-defined neurological abnormalities, confirmed by electromyography and muscle biopsy.
      Occupational HIV infection

      is defined as a definite diagnosis of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) resulting from an accident causing Injury during the course of the insured person’s normal occupation which exposed the insured person to HIV-contaminated body fluids.

      The injury from accident leading to the infection must have occurred after the later of the effective date of coverage or the effective date of the last reinstatement of the insured person’s coverage.

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

      1. the injury from accident must be reported to the insurer within 14 days of the accident causing the injury;
      2. a serum HIV test must be taken within 14 days of the injury from accident and the result must be negative;
      3. a serum HIV test must be taken between 90 days and 180 days after the accidental Injury from accident and the result must be positive;
      4. all HIV tests must be performed by a duly licensed laboratory in Canada or the United States of America; and
      5. the injury from accident must have been 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.

      Exclusion: No benefit will be payable under this covered condition if:

      1. the insured person has elected not to take any available licensed vaccine offering protection against HIV;
      2. a licensed cure for HIV infection has become available prior to the injury from accident; or
      3. HIV infection has occurred as a result of any Injury not from accident including, but not limited to, sexual transmission and intravenous (IV) drug use.
      Paralysis
      is defined as a definite diagnosis of the total loss of muscle function of two or more limbs for a period of at least 90 days following the precipitating event as a result of injury or sickness to the nerve supply of those limbs. The diagnosis of paralysis must be made by a specialist.
      Parkinson's disease and specified atypical parkinsonian disorders

      Parkinson’s disease is defined as a definite diagnosis of primary Parkinson’s disease, a permanent neurologic condition which must be characterized by bradykinesia (slowness of movement) and at least one of: muscular rigidity or rest tremor. The insured person must exhibit objective signs of progressive deterioration in function for at least one year, for which the treating neurologist has recommended dopaminergic medication or other generally medically accepted equivalent treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

      Specified atypical parkinsonian disorders are defined as a definite diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, or multiple system atrophy.

      The diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease or a specified atypical parkinsonian disorder must be made by a specialist who is a neurologist.

      Exclusions: No benefit will be payable under this covered condition if, within the first year following the later of: (i) the effective date of coverage or (ii) the date of the last reinstatement of the insured person’s coverage, the insured person has any of the following:

      1. signs, symptoms or investigations that lead to a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, a specified atypical parkinsonian disorder or any other type of parkinsonism, regardless of when the diagnosis is made; or
      2. a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, a specified atypical parkinsonian disorder or any other type of parkinsonism.

      Medical information about the diagnosis and any signs, symptoms or investigations leading to the diagnosis must be reported to the insurer within 6 months of the date of the diagnosis. If this information is not provided within this period, the insurer has the right to deny any claim for Parkinson’s disease, specified atypical parkinsonian disorders or any covered condition caused by Parkinson’s disease or specified atypical parkinsonian disorders or its treatment.

      Exclusion: No benefit will be payable under this covered condition for any other type of parkinsonism.
      Severe burns
      is defined as a definite diagnosis of third-degree burns over at least 20% of the body surface. The diagnosis of severe burns must be made by a specialist.
      Stroke (cerebrovascular accident)

      is defined as a definite diagnosis of an acute cerebrovascular event caused by intracranial thrombosis or haemorrhage, or embolism from an extra-cranial source, with:

      1. acute onset of new neurological symptoms, and
      2. new objective neurological deficits on clinical examination, persisting for more than 30 days following the date of diagnosis. These new symptoms and deficits must be corroborated by diagnostic imaging testing. The diagnosis of stroke must be made by a specialist.

      Exclusion: No benefit will be payable under this covered condition for:

      1. transient ischaemic attacks;
      2. intracerebral vascular events due to trauma; or
      3. lacunar infarcts which do not meet the definition of stroke as described above.
      Type 1 diabetes mellitus (juvenile diabetes)
      is defined as the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus, characterized by absolute insulin deficiency and continuous dependence on exogenous insulin for survival. The diagnosis must be made by a specialist who is a qualified pediatrician or endocrinologist licensed and practising in Canada, and there must be evidence of dependence on insulin for a minimum of 3 months.
      Full definitions and benefit provisions can be found in the policy and all coverage is subject to the terms and conditions of the policy

      PARACHUTE Critical Illness Insurance uses the 2013 Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association’s Benchmark Definitions for our covered conditions. These were developed with input from doctors to create a consistent standard and improve consistency among insurance products in Canada.

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