Critical Illness Insurance Covers Costs from Heart Ailments

As American Heart Month comes to a close, now may be the time to review one's life insurance coverage. One major insurance company offered advice for planning ahead.

"The prevalence of ailments like heart disease, cancer, major organ transplants and kidney disease, coupled with high survival rates, underscore the value of critical illness insurance," said Barry Petruzzi, second vice president of group benefits at the insurer.

Critical illness insurance can be used to pay for expenses not usually covered by medical insurance, according to the report. These can include medical deductibles, co-payments, alternative medicine costs and more. It will also cover costs for extra childcare during the recovery period.

If a spouse needs to take time off to help out during recovery, critical illness insurance can help cover costs incurred. It can also be combined with other kinds of medical insurance. Consumers should ensure that their policy covers the appropriate illnesses, and find out what happens if they are hospitalized for an illness not covered, according to the report.

Heart disease is the number one killer among women, according to the American Heart Association. About 1.2 million Americans suffered first or recurrent coronary attacks in 2007. Eating well, quitting smoking and exercising may reduce the risk of such attacks.

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