A history of critical illness? Reinsuring is no dream! First-of-its-kind¹ Critical Illness Series with simplified underwriting² to fill coverage gaps

No one can understand the importance of critical illness protection better than someone who has experienced a critical illness. However, for people with a history of critical illness, applying for critical illness insurance again often means facing the dilemma of being declined for cover.​ ​Generally speaking, even if an application is not directly declined, it is still very difficult to obtain underwriting approval. The application process is lengthy and time-consuming, and there may also be exclusions that limit the protection obtained.

Now, people with a history of critical illness may no longer need to worry about being declined for cover, nor feel helpless and at a loss.

FWD Hong Kong (hereinafter referred to as “FWD”) believes that a past history of critical illness should not be an obstacle to obtaining protection. It has therefore launched Hong Kong’s first¹ Critical Illness EasyGo Series³, designed for people with different health conditions. Whether you have recovered from cancer, or are living with heart disease or stroke, you can apply for “Critical Illness EasyGo — Cancer Care” (abbreviated as “Cancer Care”) or “Critical Illness EasyGo — Heart Care” (abbreviated as “Heart Care”). The underwriting process is simple² and no medical examination is required. As long as the insured passes as few as two health underwriting questions, cover can be arranged, providing lifelong critical illness protection. Even if the insured unfortunately suffers a specified critical illness again in the future, this can help ease the financial burden on the insured and their family.  

Medical advances have led to continual improvements in cancer recovery and survival rates. Taking prostate cancer, the third most common cancer among men in Hong Kong, as an example, the five-year relative survival rate for Stage I and II exceeds 97%⁵; for breast cancer, the most common cancer among women in Hong Kong⁶, the five-year relative survival rates for Stage I and II are 99.3% and 94.6% respectively⁵. The five-year relative survival rates for Stage I and II colorectal cancer are also 95.7% and 87.3% respectively⁵, while those for thyroid cancer at Stage I and II also exceed 95%⁵. This means that being diagnosed with cancer does not necessarily mean there is no way forward. There are many survivors who have overcome the illness and started afresh, living lives no different from anyone else’s. However, for those battling cancer, obtaining insurance coverage again is generally fraught with difficulty.

「癌護您」 is specially designed to meet the needs of cancer survivors, offering coverage for 62 critical illnesses, including cancer, as well as a safeguard for 53 specified illnesses, enabling cancer survivors to face critical illness with greater peace of mind. Data show that even after cancer treatment, there remains a risk of recurrence. For example, the recurrence rate of ovarian cancer is about 85%⁷, and the recurrence rate of bladder cancer after bladder removal is about 50%⁷. The risk of cardiovascular disease among cancer survivors is also 42% higher than that of people without cancer⁸; therefore, cancer survivors have an urgent need for critical illness protection. In addition to coverage for cancer, carcinoma in situ or early-stage cancer of specified organs, acute myocardial infarction and stroke, 「癌護您」 also provides protection for organs that have previously been affected by cancer.                

Life is unpredictable. If the insured is diagnosed with an unknown/undefined illness, and their health deteriorates due to injury to the extent that it has a more serious impact on their daily life, and the specified conditions are met, 「癌護您」 will provide the Living Benefit⁹, with coverage of up to an additional 100% of the original sum insured, easing the insured’s financial pressure and accompanying them through difficult times.

As a whole-life critical illness protection plan, 「癌護您」 has a savings component. Once the insured has paid premiums for a specified period (10, 15, 20 or 25 years, depending on the age at application), they can enjoy lifelong protection. If there is a need for cash, before 100% of the policy’s original sum insured has been paid out in full, the insured may, upon surrendering the policy, receive an amount equal to the guaranteed cash value (from the 3rd policy anniversary) plus special bonus (from the 5th policy anniversary, if any)¹⁰.

Winnie, who works in advertising, began to show warning signs due to her busy workload and irregular meals. At the age of 36, she was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. Fortunately, after two years of treatment, she had made a full recovery. Through this ordeal, Winnie came to deeply appreciate the importance of critical illness protection. However, she was rejected when she tried to apply for critical illness plans with several insurance companies, until at the age of 40 she learned about 「癌護您 」, which offers simplified underwriting² and accepts applications from cancer survivors. She then took out a policy with a sum insured of US$50,000 and a premium payment term of 25 years, and obtained lifelong critical illness protection. 

Between the ages of 55 and 71, Winnie made four claims for carcinoma in situ of the cervix, intensive care unit admission due to an unknown illness, acute myocardial infarction, and other conditions, receiving a total of US$100,000 in compensation^​11​ (200% of the original insured amount), plus special bonus (if any)¹⁰, enabling her to focus on treatment and rehabilitation.  

​​​*The above case is for illustrative purposes only and assumes that: 1) all premiums due have been paid in full, 2) there are no outstanding amounts under the policy, 3) the underwriting requirements and the definitions and claim requirements of the benefits are met, and 4) the original insured amount of the basic plan remains unchanged throughout the coverage period.​​ 

The number of diagnosed heart disease cases in Hong Kong has been on the rise^​12​, and people with cardiovascular disease are 13% more likely to develop cancer than those without cardiovascular disease^​13​; many patients battling cardiovascular disease hope to obtain critical illness cover.

「心護您」 is designed specifically for patients with heart disease or stroke, and provides cover for 26 critical illnesses, including cancer, as well as 23 special illnesses: including carcinoma in situ of specified organs (such as carcinoma in situ of the breast, cervix, lung, colon and rectum), early stage cancer of specified organs (such as chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, early stage cancer of the prostate and thyroid), and other illnesses such as diabetes.  

「心護您」 is, like 「癌護您」, a whole-life critical illness plan with a savings element, providing critical illness benefits¹⁴, special illness benefits¹⁴, life protection benefits⁹ and enhanced major medical care benefits¹⁴, helping the insured face health challenges with peace of mind.  

「癌護您」 and 「心護您」 enable cancer survivors, as well as patients with heart disease or stroke, to once again feel the reassurance of being protected, while also receiving comprehensive support through FWD Care.

When the insured person encounters health issues and feels helpless, FWD Care’s "Critical Illness Protection Plan - Premium Elite Medical Management Team"¹⁵ can connect the insured person with a top-tier specialist medical network team and link them to a number of leading network hospitals across the Asia-Pacific region, helping the insured person choose the most suitable doctor and hospital¹⁶ for timely treatment.

Traditional insurance services generally only meet customers’ financial needs, whereas FWD aims to provide dedicated assistance to customers and their families. The recovery support service under FWD Care¹⁷ is fully followed up by a registered dedicated rehabilitation nurse¹⁸ throughout the six-month service period, and covers a range of support services addressing health, emotional and practical daily living needs¹⁹. After the initial consultation with a clinical psychologist or cardiology specialist, the dedicated rehabilitation nurse will agree and arrange suitable support services with eligible customers, devising a personalised rehabilitation plan and providing dedicated assistance throughout the recovery journey.      

In addition, to further support the insured person’s health, FWD has specially partnered with the Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital Group to provide eligible insured persons who take out 「癌護您」 and 「心護您」 during the promotion period with a free nutritional consultation in the second policy year²⁰, helping insured persons with a history of critical illness improve their nutritional status, control symptoms, and regain their health.   

In addition to the two plans above that are designed for people with a history of serious illness, another plan, 「危疾優易保— 摯護您」, further lowers the health condition requirements^​21​, offering simplified underwriting for applications and accepting applicants with mild chronic conditions (such as well-controlled high blood pressure and cholesterol levels). This plan provides cover for 62 critical illnesses and also sets out protection for 65 special illnesses, including 12 illness benefits specifically designed for children, offering broader coverage. 

For applications successfully submitted on an annual premium basis on or before 31 December 2024:
-「危疾優易保— 摯護您」, enjoy a total premium discount of 36% in the second and third policy years;
-「危疾優易保 — 癌護您」／「危疾優易保 — 心護您」, enjoy a 2-month premium discount in the second policy year.
Act now to save on premiums while securing protection. Offer is subject to terms and conditions.  

Notes:

1. “Critical Illness Easy Protect — Love You More”: As compared with critical illness insurance offered by major insurers in Hong Kong as at 30 June 2024, FWD Life Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited, a limited company incorporated in Bermuda (“FWD”/“FWD Hong Kong”), was the first insurer in Hong Kong to launch a whole life critical illness protection plan (participating life insurance) with special benefits for babies, wellness management services, and simplified underwriting coverage including special disease benefits.  

“Critical Illness Easy Protect — Cancer Care” / “Critical Illness Easy Protect — Heart Care”: As compared with critical illness insurance offered by major insurers in Hong Kong as at 30 September 2024, FWD was the first insurer in Hong Kong to launch a whole life critical illness protection plan (participating life insurance) with special disease benefits, life protection benefits and extended major medical care benefits for cancer survivors or patients with heart disease or stroke, under simplified underwriting.

​​2. Provided the life assured passes the underwriting questions, they may be insured under “Critical Illness Easy Protect — Cancer Care” or “Critical Illness Easy Protect — Heart Care”. For underwriting requirements, terms and conditions, please refer to the full set of underwriting questions. When responding to FWD’s underwriting questions, you or the life assured must disclose all material facts. Failure to disclose, or incorrect disclosure of, any material fact may affect the risk assessment. FWD may charge the difference in premiums and interest and any additional levy payable, refund the relevant premium difference and premium levy without interest, or render this policy void from the date of issue, as the case may be.     ​​

​​3. The Critical Illness Easy Protect series includes: “Critical Illness Easy Protect — Cancer Care”, “Critical Illness Easy Protect — Heart Care” and “Critical Illness Easy Protect — Love You More”.​

​​4​. Source: Cancer Fund https://www.cancer-fund.org/prostate-cancer/

5. Source: Hong Kong Cancer Online Resource Centre, “Common Cancers in Hong Kong”.

6. Source: Centre for Health Protection https://www.chp.gov.hk/tc/healthtopics/content/25/53.html

​​7​. Source: Journal article “Cancer Recurrence Statistics” by Cancer Therapy Advisor, 30 November 2018. Cancer recurrence rates vary depending on the type of cancer, the individual circumstances of the patient and the treatment method used. The data is for reference only.

8. Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology, July 2022

9. This additional benefit amount will not be deducted from the existing insured amount. This benefit will only be paid once under this policy. This benefit will automatically terminate on a policy anniversary immediately before the life assured’s 86th birthday. This benefit is subject to the following conditions: 1. If FWD is required to pay both (i) the Critical Illness Benefit and (ii) the Life Protection Benefit for the same condition, FWD will not pay the Life Protection Benefit. 2. If a Critical Illness Benefit claim has previously been paid for an illness or injury, FWD will not pay the Life Protection Benefit for the same illness or injury.          

10. When the policy has been in force for 5 years or more, the Special Bonus (a non-guaranteed amount) may be paid upon payment of the Critical Illness Benefit, Death Benefit, Surrender Value or Maturity Benefit under this policy, or if the policy lapses and is not reinstated within the one-year reinstatement period, upon expiry of that reinstatement period. A pro-rata non-guaranteed Special Bonus (if any) may also be paid upon payment of the Special Disease Benefit, and any subsequent non-guaranteed Special Bonus payable (if any) will be reduced correspondingly on a pro-rata basis. The non-guaranteed Special Bonus may be paid until the total claims paid under the policy for the Critical Illness Benefit and/or Special Disease Benefit reaches 100% of the original insured amount.

​​11​. The US$100,000 compensation includes: Special Disease Benefit: 20% of the original insured amount in advance (US$10,000); Life Protection Benefit: an additional 50% of the original insured amount (US$25,000); Critical Illness Benefit: 100% of the current insured amount (US$40,000); Extended Major Medical Care Benefit: an additional 50% of the original insured amount (US$25,000)

​​​12. Source: HKSAR Government Press Release, September 2022​ https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202209/29/P2022092800591.htm​

​​13​. Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology, August 2023

​​14​. Subject to the relevant terms and conditions. Please refer to the product brochure and policy provisions for details.

15. Premier Elite currently is provided by a third-party service provider, UMP Healthcare Group (“UMP”), its medical network team and Parkway Pantai Group (“Parkway”) in Singapore. FWD makes no representation, warranty or undertaking as to the provision or quality of the services. FWD accepts no responsibility or legal liability whatsoever for the services, advice, treatment, negligence, omissions or acts of omission of such third-party service providers. This service is not part of the policy terms or coverage. FWD reserves the right to withdraw or adjust this service at any time without prior notice and at its absolute discretion. This service is only applicable in the Pan-Asia region. The hotline number for Premier Elite is (Hong Kong) (852) 8120 9066 and the Mainland China toll-free number is 400 9303078. Please refer to the accompanying FWD Professional Health Support Service brochure for details. FWD does not provide any medical advice. Customers should seek professional advice from healthcare professionals on their own.

​​16​. “Hospital” refers to a series of network hospitals in the Pan-Asia region that provide medical opinions and treatment under this service. For details of the list of network hospitals in the Pan-Asia region, please call the service hotline at (852) 3123 3123.

​​​17. FWD Care Rehabilitation Support Service (“this Service”) is arranged by FWD and provided by a third-party service provider, and is not included in the policy content or coverage of the designated individual life insurance products. FWD has the right to replace any service provider, withdraw or adjust this Service at any time without prior notice. FWD makes no representation, warranty or undertaking as to the provision or quality of the services. FWD accepts no responsibility or legal liability whatsoever for the services, advice, treatment, negligence, omissions or acts of omission of such third-party service providers. The information, procedures and arrangements relating to this Service set out herein are for reference only. This Service is only available in Hong Kong.​​

​​​18. The dedicated rehabilitation nurse will make every effort to arrange support services, but cannot guarantee their availability, which is subject to whether service providers are able to provide such services. The dedicated rehabilitation nurse and service providers will, at their sole discretion, determine the type and frequency of support services available according to the circumstances of the case. Any disputes relating to the dedicated rehabilitation nurse and the support services provided by service providers shall be resolved between the eligible customer and the third-party service provider.​​

​​19. ​​Eligible customers should seek independent advice from their doctor as to whether any medical services provided under this Service are appropriate. The dedicated rehabilitation nurse under this Service is a healthcare professional employed by the third-party service provider, not an employee or representative of FWD, and FWD will not be responsible or liable for any act, negligence or omission on their part.​

20​​. Includes one initial nutrition assessment and consultation and one follow-up consultation. This service is provided by the third-party service provider Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital (“HKSH”) and is only available in Hong Kong. FWD is only responsible for issuing the voucher and is not the provider of this service, while HKSH is not an employee, agent or representative of FWD. FWD makes no representation, warranty or undertaking as to the provision or quality of the services. FWD accepts no responsibility or legal liability whatsoever for the services, advice, treatment, negligence, omissions or acts of omission of HKSH. FWD reserves the right to replace any such service provider, or to cease and/or suspend providing such service without prior notice. HKSH reserves the final right to determine whether to provide the service to the life assured.  

​​21​. Even if the life assured has a chronic illness, they may still be covered under “Critical Illness Easy Protect — Love You More” provided that they pass the underwriting questions. For underwriting requirements, terms and conditions, please refer to the full set of underwriting questions. The simplified underwriting process is subject to factors including, but not limited to, the original insured amount for all policies of “Critical Illness Easy Protect — Love You More” under the applicable age band of the life assured, additional optional benefits or attachable riders, and is subject to FWD’s underwriting guidelines, rules and requirements in force at the time. The application may require full underwriting, which may involve loadings or exclusions.  

​​​​​​Disclaimer

1. This advertisement material is sponsored by FWD and is for general reference only. The above product information does not include the full policy provisions and is subject to the relevant plan’s terms and conditions. For details of the above product features, coverage benefits, full terms, exclusions and key product risks, please refer to the FWD website, the relevant product brochure and the policy provisions. Any promotional offers or marketing materials should be read in conjunction with the relevant product brochure. Customers must successfully complete the financial needs analysis to determine whether the recommended insurance product meets their insurance needs.
2. Last updated: 22 November 2024.  

This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.