The Canada Life Assurance Co. today announced enhancements to its LifeAdvance critical illness insurance product. The product now features protection against four new covered conditions and a new premium payback.

LifeAdvance now offers four new covered conditions: aortic surgery, heart valve replacement, loss of independent existence and illness assist, which provides a lump sum benefit of up to $10,000 if the client is diagnosed with any of a select number of pre-determined conditions. The product now offers more covered conditions than any other critical illness insurance product in the market today.

“As one of the first major carriers of critical illness insurance in the Canadian market, we are proud to continue the tradition of offering our clients a comprehensive critical illness insurance product focused on their needs,” said Joe Wellman, assistant vice-president of living benefits, individual division.

“With the recent enhancements to LifeAdvance, we’re the first carrier to offer clients 10 and 20-year options for Return of Premium on Withdrawal on a Term 75 plan,” he added

Enhancements also include re-defining covered conditions and opening up claim jurisdictions from Canada only to encompass the United States and any other jurisdiction that Canada Life finds acceptable to better meet the needs of clients who travel outside the country.

The product now also offers a new Premium Payback at Withdrawal Request or Expiry Benefit on Term to 75 and Premium Payback at Withdrawal Request Benefit on Term to 100 LifeAdvance plans. These new benefits mean that clients have the option to refund and receive some or all of their paid premiums upon cancellation of their LifeAdvance policy.

LifeAdannce pays clients a lump sum cash benefit amount of $25,000 to $2,000,000, usually 30 days after the diagnosis of any of the 23 covered conditions. Canada Life also offers the Premier Value discount through LifeAdvance where clients will receive a 10% premium discount if a policy is purchased with three or more co-workers or professional colleagues.