Critical Illness Coverage Is Expanding in 2027

Oct. 7, 2026

Applies to All Groups

What’s changing: Beginning with a Jan. 1, 2027, effective date, newly issued Critical Illness policies will include coverage for additional conditions as part of the standard plan design.

What’s included: Critical Illness insurance will continue to cover serious conditions like invasive cancer, heart attack, stroke and major organ failure.

New standard covered conditions will include:

• Skin cancer and certain infectious diseases
• Sudden cardiac arrest
• Addison’s disease, Huntington’s disease and other serious conditions
• PTSD, bipolar 1 disorder and schizophrenia

Childhood coverage will also expand to include conditions like congenital heart disease when surgery is recommended, sickle cell anemia, Type 1 diabetes and certain genetic diseases.

Why it matters: The broader coverage gives members greater financial protection when they’re diagnosed with a covered condition. It provides a lump-sum cash benefit that can help with medical bills, everyday expenses and other costs during treatment and recovery.

Talking Points for Client Conversations:

• Expanded conditions are included as standard coverage for eligible new policies.
• Broader coverage can help meet a wider range of employee health care needs.
• The enhancements add value to benefit packages and support employee well-being, attraction and retention. 
• The benefit continues to provide members with flexibility to use the payment based on their needs. 

Questions? Contact your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Ancillary Sales Representative.

 

 

Insurance products issued by Dearborn Life Insurance Company, 701 E. 22nd St. Suite 300, Lombard, IL 60148. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is the trade name of Dearborn Life Insurance Company, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.