Allstate Benefits announced Feb. 12 the launch of Critical Illness with Medical Care Support Services protection. The offering is now available across Canada.

U.S.-based Allstate Benefits entered the Canadian critical illness insurance market in 2015, offering a voluntary CI benefits product which employers can offer to their employees that they pay for themselves. In addition to a cash payment if diagnosed with a covered condition, the new enhanced offering provides access to medical support services through partners Medisys Corporate Health in Canada and PinnacleCare in the United States.

"We are thrilled to announce this enhancement to our industry-leading Critical Illness product for Canadian employers and their employees," says Greg Guidos, Allstate Benefits president. "We have proven experience as a provider of group voluntary benefits, as shown by the more than 45,000 employers and four million employees we help protect in the United States and Canada. By creating innovative products, we're reinventing protection to help businesses add value, engage employees and ultimately help improve customers' lives."

Conditions covered

Critical illnesses covered by the product include: heart attack, stroke, major organ failure, kidney failure, carcinoma in situ, invasive cancer, advanced Alzheimer's disease, advanced Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and more – depending on which coverage is selected, says product information provided on the company’s website.

Insured diagnosed with a covered illness would have access to a dedicated Medisys Nurse Navigator team to discuss the diagnosis, concerns, treatment options and second opinion services, says Allstate Benefits. If a consultation in the U.S. is desired, Medisys will partner with PinnacleCare to provide expert medical opinion services, treatment options, access to medical Centers of Excellence in the U.S. and facilitated physician appointments.