Benefits Ontario (Canada) 1.866.856.6799

You might be looking for Blue Cross short-term disability.

If you need to find information related to short-term disability as part of your company’s group benefit plan, please check with your personnel or benefit department at work.

If you are looking to acquire disability coverage, you might want to look at Blue Cross Tangible Disability, which offers fairly low waiting periods before you can collect.

You can leave your name and number too, and we’d be happy to talk with you about your options.

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Here is a handy search site for looking for health professionals in Ontario, Canada.

For medical and dental insurance, please fill out some information, and we’d be happy to assist you.

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The Ontario Blue Cross mortgage plan is an excellent disability plan as a stand alone.

Life insurance is not required to get at the disability insurance, and the benefit period can be up to the amortization of the mortgage. Normally plans limit to 12 to 24 months, but not the Blue Cross mortgage plan!

How would this be integrated into a disability program?

Well, here is how I would look at this option as an addition to a disability program.

Let’s say you are an employee, and you do not pay the full premium for the disability insurance at work. This means the benefit would be taxable. Let’s also assume the benefit is 66.7% of your usual pay.

Therefore, after tax, your paycheque is cut in half. Doing the math, would this leave you short an amount approximately equal to the mortgage payment or a good portion? If the answer is ‘yes’ then the mortgage plan should be considered, as a means to bring you back to pre disability earnings.

For details on the plan, please click Brochure Mortgage Plan.

Another nice feature is that only one of the two borrowers is required to apply, not both if not required. So, if a spouse has adequate coverage elsewhere, but the other does not, we can fill the gap for the spouse without proper disability coverage. Saving money with this plan is possible because of it’s flexibility.

Many mortgage plans at the banks will:

• force you to take the life insurance to get at the disability option
• cover off only 12 to 24 months of payments not the full term
• have other long waiting periods and other restrictions
• have limited underwriting leaving you wondering if you are ‘truly’ insured

With the Blue Cross Mortgage plan, leave those worried behind! You are fully underwritten up front to alleviate worry, and can have full coverage for a lengthy disability. With bank plans only covering off 24 months, you might as well start packing, as often the plan gives you time to readjust, but not stay in your home.

Insurance planning is all about ‘being okay’ financially if you become disabled, or if you should die. Looking at income before and after a disability is the only sure way to determine if your plan is adequate.

Sound too good to be true? I knew you would think that. So, here’s the contract wording so you can fine-tooth comb it to ensure it is what we say it is!

Please call us at 1.866.856.6799 to discuss this further.

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Tangible is a tremendously flexible product line.

Personally used most for disability insurance purposes, there are life insurance, and critical illness components as well, in alternative forms. For the purposes of this discussion, we willl concentrate on the disability hybrid product.

The disability hybrid effectively turns the disablility insurance into a long term care plan at retirement. The coverage then can be with you for life, but only payable for 20 years, or age 65, whichever comes later.

One of the big issues today, are seniors looking into long term care coverage to avoid the potential devastation it can create for a couple’s pension plan. If say the husband needs to be put in a nursing home at some point, the government will tap into the pension to cover the costs, leaving the spouse in questionable financial shape.

The ‘anti -erosion’ factor is attractive. What often is not attractive, is trying to buy this coverage at an older age, and when health issues have become an issue. Then, it may be a question of either being unaffordable, or unattainable due to poor health.

With the Blue Cross Tangible disability plan, certain occupations otherwise not looked at favorably by some other insurers, are in fact in great shape with this plan.

The scenario of the 40 something professional or business owner not requiring a guaranteed increase with age fits nicely. And, being able to see old age a little easier, the long term care feature is a nice bonus, seemlessly not adding to the monthly cost.

Here is the Tangible Brochure, and for the technically minded looking to dig deep, here is the Tangible contract.

Note that the option is there in the critical area – to extend coverage to age 65 for an “own occupation” definition.

Unlike many group insurance plans that restrict “own occupation” to 24 months, the Tangible plan will ensure your current income is protected should you not be able to perform your job!

Call us or use the contact form on the sidebar to fill out a request… 1.866.856.6799

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Were you looking for Blue Cross Tangible Disability Plans? – - click here!

Blue Cross in Ontario offers comprehensive medical and dental coverage, “Blue Choice” is a great choice for several reasons, if it fits your needs. Here are the details:

• Available for purchase  up to age 75
• Current ODA Fee Guide
• Year 1 – 70% Basic, $750 per calendar year
• Year 2 – 75% Basic, $1,000 per calendar year
• Year 3 – 80% Basic, $1,250 per calendar year including 50% Major Restorative, up to $500/calendar year

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How to decide which Benefit Plan may be right for you    

Note regarding Blue Cross Ontario:

We are an experienced and authorized BLUE CROSS Brokers, located in Ontario and Alberta, able to offer the full line of benefit plans and other unique products and quality solutions through our specialists in Ontario and Alberta. Blue Cross in Ontario utilizes the broker force to bring you good benefit advice, and the quoted cost is the same through a qualified Blue Cross Broker.

Blue Cross Service Issues on existing plans outside our office:

If you have been trying to reach Blue Cross directly for service issues on existing plans you have purchased elsewhere, please call our local or long distance numbers, or email us and we will be happy to direct you to the appropriate department. If however, you have lost your agent or would like us to service your plan, you have come to the right place!. We are driven to present to you all the appropriate solutions to your benefit needs.

‘Why should I speak with a Broker and not directly with each insurer?’

Let’s try to avoid the bungled ‘bundle’!

How are benefit plans like TV services? Have you ever frowned at your cable TV or satellite TV provider because the only way you can get the channels you want is in a bundle with other channels you don’t want? This adds to your cost, and the likelihood you will not cost-effectively cover your needs. Your money is best kept in your pocket, and you should buy the best combination of coverage that makes the most sense, with the least amount of wasted money.

We know the market, the company plans, and we know how to help you sort it out!

Why should you pay more for the coverage you need than you have to? 

Insurers market only the plans they offer, and they bundle their products. They also don’t take a very important aspect into consideration – YOUR HEALTH!

You should be shown plans that give you higher drug limits when you are in exceptional health. Don’t accept low limit plans that the insurer is at low risk for.

We are not tied or biased by one company, and can suggest solutions based on what you need. This saves you time, and does not waste money!

And, why shouldn’t you be exposed to all the options in the benefit market that make sense. Benefits you need may not be exactly the same as your neighbor, and trying to find the right plan is difficult to say the least.  We continually monitor the benefit market and can make your experience a positive one.

Here are some things we consider when discussing your benefit needs:

       To save money, if you are in exceptional health, you deserve to be shown plans that fit you best – some plans have unlimited annual and lifetime maximums on drugs. Your good health will qualify you for these programs, and you need to look at this as the most important aspect of the program.

        If you develop a medical condition that could financially devastate, will your benefit plan come through and pay all the expensive bills?

       If you are already in a position that drug costs are a huge financial burden and are living in Ontario, please see the Ontario Trillium Drug Program page. We want to help you with this process, and discuss if you would likely qualify. Please speak with us.

       If you are self-employed, there are cost effective, tax saving options

Call us today! We are here to answer your questions, and we do not charge for advice!

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I keep track of web searches that bring people to this site.

And, in response, I like to take positive steps to give the information of interest.

Are you truly insured enough to stay in your home?

Blue Cross has likely the best mortgage plan on the market for disability.

It can pay to the end of the mortgage amortization in many cases, in the event of disability, and one or two mortgagors can be insured, depending on need.

Flexibility therefore is at the heart of this plan.

Having said that, for those that want to see it, here is the link to the Mortgage Plan wording. Please note the sample shows the standard two year benefit, but you can also extend this to the full mortgage amortization (recommended).

You can download or print this brochure below. And, please remember to call us at 1.866.856.6799, ext 201.

Please give us a call to discuss how this plan can effectively increase your disability coverage, and help keep you in your home during a disability.

Craig

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Are you in a so called tough to insure occupation?

Many insurers say no to dental hygienists, or they offer coverage at very expensive rates. And, have you tried getting disability insurance if you are a hairstylist and/or own a shop?

Look no further, we can help! And help big!

The line of disability plans offered from Blue Cross is becoming quite impressive.

An important occupation that prevents disabilities in patients, but has traditionally had a tough time with getting coverage themselves...the dental hygienist

Specifically, Tangible is a brand name from Blue Cross that has some very interesting qualities indeed.

I am a broker that specializes in disability insurance, so I am always on the lookout for options for clients.

Sometimes companies do not think alike, and depending on your occupation, one company may have a lower rate. And worse, sometimes companies will not insure particular occupations.

Well, as the title says, the Tangible plan not only covers dental hygienists, it covers them at a very good rate indeed.

Nature of the plan…( click here to download the Tangible Brochure)

The Tangible disability plan is known as a ‘hybrid’ coverage. This means it starts out as normal disability, and then changes to a long term care plan at retirement.

Premiums are payable for 20 years or to age 65, whichever comes later.

The long term care benefit is half the face amount.

So, as an example, let’s say you qualified and bought a $4000 per month disability plan.

At age 65, you are ready to retire. You would then change the plan to a $2000 a month long term care plan.

Alternatively, if you do not require the long term care coverage, there is another option. You can get 25% of your money back as a policy cancellation feature. Quite neat!

There are some downsides to this plan, but not many. The one that is primarily of concern is the lack of a built in future insurability option.

This would enable the insured to increase coverage despite health, just proving that he or she has the income to support it.

As mentioned, the Blue Cross plans do not have this feature, but if you are in your mid forties, then it is likely not an issue anyhow.

There is always the option to apply for more coverage the conventional way.

And again, depending on the circumstances (occupation, etc.) the Blue Cross plans can be downright affordable.

Well, that’s it for this commentary.

To get more information, please see the contact page for our phone numbers. I can be reached at 905-667-4410, extension 201 in Hamilton.

Visit us as well at Integrity Insurance Planning!

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