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Frequently Asked Questions
CAA wants to help you make informed choices when securing your family's financial future.
Here we have the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the CAA insurance plans. If you have other questions, please click here to send us a message online, call toll-free at 1-877-261-8CAA (1-877-261-8222) Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET or e-mail am_caa@manulife.com any time.
What if I change my mind after applying for Guaranteed Life or Critical Illness coverage?
Once you receive your Policy or Certificate of Insurance, examine it carefully. If you are not completely satisfied, simply return it to us within 30 days, indicating that you would like to have your coverage cancelled and your premiums refunded in full. We'll be happy to do this for you — no questions asked.
Can I get coverage for my children too?
If you are covered under Term Life Insurance, you can also apply for Child Life Insurance of either $10,000 or $20,000. This optional insurance can cover each of your eligible dependent children for the same amount with a single low monthly premium, regardless of how many children you may have. Newborn children automatically become covered upon reaching the age of 15 days.
When will my Guaranteed Life or Critical Illness coverage begin?
So long as you are eligible to apply, your coverage will begin on the date Manulife Financial receives your completed application and your premium payment, if on that date you are insurable in accordance with our underwriting rules. If Child Life Insurance is in effect, newborn children will automatically become covered for that amount upon reaching the age of 15 days. If, when reviewing your application, we find that you do not qualify for coverage, we will notify you immediately and return your premium payment in full.
What if I smoke occasionally?
You are entitled to Non-Smoker rates if, as of the date your Guaranteed Life or Critical Illness application is received by Manulife Financial, you have not smoked any cigarettes in the past 12 months (and, in the case of Term Life coverage, you meet our health standards). If you apply for additional coverage, your smoking status as of that date will apply to your coverage in its entirety.
What if I quit smoking after I am covered?
If you have CAA Term Life coverage, notify us after a 12-month period during which you have not smoked cigarettes. We will mail you a Non-Smoker Declaration to complete and return to us. You can also download a Non-Smoker Declaration here. If you meet our health standards and your application for Non-Smoker rates is approved, your lower Non-Smoker rates for Term Life coverage will begin on the 1st of the month following the date of your Non-Smoker Application. If you have CAA Guaranteed Life coverage, telephone us at the numbers below after a 12-month period during which you have not smoked cigarettes. We will arrange for you to mail us written and signed notification so that you can begin paying lower Non-Smoker rates.
I have received my Premium Notice. What do I need to do?
If your payment method of choice is either by credit card or Pre-Authorized Collection (PAC), and the credit card or account number shown on your Premium Notice is correct, you don't need to do anything. We will charge your premium payment to your account in the month in which your premium is due, and apply it to your coverage. If your Payment Method is by cheque, send a cheque for the full amount to us by the anniversary date of your Certificate of Insurance.
How do I increase the amount of my coverage?
To apply for increased coverage, simply complete another application for the additional coverage amount, then send it to us. For your convenience, you can apply online for CAA Term Life or Guaranteed Life coverage using the applications we have provided. As a CAA Member, your spouse and eligible children may also be covered under the CAA Term Life Plan. If you prefer, contact one of our experienced Customer Service Representatives and we'll send you an application form through the mail.
How do I change the way I pay my premiums?
You can choose to pay your premiums by cheque, by credit card, or directly from your chequing account by Pre-Authorized Collection (PAC). You can change your Payment Method at any time by completing and returning the form on the back of your Statement. For even greater convenience, you can request a change of your Payment Method online here.
How do I change my address?
You can change your address online at any time by completing our Address Change form here.
How do I change my beneficiary?
You can change the individual or institution you choose to receive your Term Life or Guaranteed Life benefit by completing and signing a Change of Beneficiary form and mailing it to us. To request a Change of Beneficiary form to be mailed to you, contact us at the telephone number or e-mail address above. You, the Member, are the beneficiary for Child Life Insurance benefits. If your beneficiary is irrevocable, you will need your beneficiary's consent to make this change.
How do I request an additional Guaranteed Life or Critical Illness brochure and application?
You can obtain a brochure and application at any time by contacting us at the telephone number or e-mail address above.
How do I cancel my coverage?
If you ever wish to cancel your coverage, all you have to do is mail us a written notification bearing your signature. Your coverage will end beginning with the first Premium Due date on which we have your written and signed cancellation request. If you mail us your written and signed cancellation request within 30 days of first receiving your Policy or Certificate of Insurance, we will refund your premiums in full. In either case, please be aware that if you later choose to rejoin the plan, you must once again complete an application and meet the medical qualifications required of any new applicant. If you are unsure about canceling your coverage, please contact us and we will try to help.
If I am insured under the CAA Term Life Plan, are there any limitations or exclusions?
No benefit is payable under the CAA Term Life Insurance Plan in the case of suicide, while sane or insane, within two years of the effective date of the coverage. We will instead return all premiums paid, without interest. It is important that you read your Certificate of Insurance when you get it to understand exactly what you are covered for.
Are there any limitations or exclusions to the optional Child Life Plan?
Coverage ends on the earliest of: the date the Insured Child dies, the date all Child Life Insurance ends, or the first Certificate Anniversary on which the Insured Child is married, is no longer dependent on the Member for support, is 25 years of age, or is over 20 years of age and not in full-time attendance at an accredited educational institution. No benefit is payable under the CAA Child Life Insurance Plan in the case of suicide within two years of the effective date of the insured child's coverage. It is important that you read your Certificate of Insurance when you get it to understand exactly what you are covered for.
If I am insured under the CAA Term Life Plan, are there any limitations or exclusions to the included critical illness coverage?
The Critical Illness benefit under the CAA Term Life Plan is available on a one-time basis, which means that if such a benefit is paid, no further such benefit is payable for the same or for any other critical illness. For a Critical Illness benefit to be payable under the CAA Term Life Plan, you must be under age 70 at the time of the first diagnosis and you must have survived first diagnosis of a Heart Attack or Stroke by at least 30 days, or the first diagnosis of Cancer by 90 days. A Critical Illness benefit will not be paid under the CAA Term Life Plan if the condition occurred, existed or was first diagnosed before your coverage was in effect for at least 90 days. This insurance does not cover critical illness caused directly or indirectly by one or more of the following: medical or surgical treatments or complications thereof; experimental services or treatments; use of new procedures or treatments that are not approved for use in Canada or that are being used for a research project; abuse of alcohol or drugs; or the administration of medication or any other substance not prescribed by a physician; suicide, attempted suicide or self-inflicted injury, while sane or insane; inhalation of gas or absorption of poison, whether voluntary or involuntary; commission or attempted commission of a criminal offense; or any illness other than Heart Attack, Stroke, Cancer even if complicated by Heart Attack, Stroke or Cancer. "Cancer", "Heart Attack" and "Stroke" are defined in your Term Life Certificate of Insurance. It is important that you read your Certificate of Insurance when you get it to understand exactly what you are covered for.
Are there any limitations or exclusions to the CAA Critical Illness Plan?
No benefit will be paid if the Insured suffers a Covered Condition as a result of any of the following:
- Cancer within the first 90 days of coverage;
- Abuse of drugs, alcohol or toxic substances;
- Self-inflicted injury;
- Commission of a criminal offence;
- An act of war;
- Operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated.
Details of the covered conditions, any exclusions and terms of coverage are available for review within the policy.
What conditions are covered under the CAA Critical Illness Plan?
This insurance coverage provides payment of the sum insured upon first diagnosis of the following covered conditions after a survival period of 30 days:
1. Cancer — A malignant tumour characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of malignant cells and the invasion of tissue as confirmed by histological examination of tissue samples. Cancer does not include:
- Carcinoma in situ;
- Stage 1A malignant melanoma (melanoma less than or equal to 1.0 mm in thickness, not ulcerated and without level IV or V invasion);
- Any non-melanoma skin cancer that has not become metastatic (spread to distant organs);
- Stage A (T1a and T1b) prostate cancer;
- Any tumour in the presence of any human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
2. Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) — The death of a portion of the heart muscle due to atherosclerotic heart disease. The diagnosis must be based on all of the following criteria occurring at the same time:
- New episode of typical chest pain or equivalent symptoms; and
- Resulting from the blockage of one or more coronary arteries; and
- New electrocardiographic changes indicative of myocardial infarction; and
- Biochemical evidence of myocardial necrosis including elevated cardiac enzymes and/or troponin; and
- Excluding minor heart attacks that do not meet all of these criteria.
3. Stroke — A cerebrovascular incident causing infarction of your brain tissue, due to intracranial haemorrhage, thrombosis or embolism, producing a new measurable permanent clinical neurological deficit persisting for at least 30 days following the occurrence of the stroke. Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA) and neurological deficits caused by external trauma are specifically excluded.
4. Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery — You have undergone heart surgery to correct narrowing or blockage of one or more coronary arteries with bypass grafts. This excludes non-surgical techniques such as balloon angioplasty or laser relief of an obstruction.
5. Major Organ Transplant — The receiving of a human transplant of a heart, liver or lung, due to irreversible failure of such organ, or the receiving of transplanted bone marrow.
6. Kidney Failure — End stage renal disease, due to whatever cause or causes, as a result of which the Insured undergoes regular peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis or receives a transplanted human kidney.
Also refer to the Limitations or exclusions to the Critical Illness coverage on this page.
Are there any limitations or exclusions to the CAA Guaranteed Life coverage?
No benefit is payable under the CAA Guaranteed Life Insurance Plan in the case of suicide, while sane or insane, within two years of the effective date of the coverage. We will instead return all premiums paid, without interest. If death during the first two years of coverage is due to non-accidental causes (other than suicide), the benefit payable will be equal to all premiums paid plus 10% interest compounded annually. It is important that you read your Insurance Policy when you get it to understand exactly what you are covered for.
Are there any limitations or exclusions to the Accidental Death benefit under the CAA Guaranteed Issue Life Plan?
The Accidental Death benefit is payable for an accidental death due to a bodily injury occurring before age 85. The bodily injury must be caused by external, violent and purely accidental means, and it must be independent of all other causes. The Accidental Death must occur within 365 days of the bodily injury. Accidental Death does not include death which is caused directly or indirectly by one or more of the following causes: sickness, illness or bodily or mental infirmity or disease of any kind; suicide or self-inflicted injury while sane or insane; declared or undeclared war or any act of war, riot or insurrection, or service in the armed forces; any event directly or indirectly related to the ingestion of alcohol by you where the concentration of alcohol in your blood exceeds 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood; voluntary ingestion of poison, toxic substances or non-toxic substances or drugs, sedatives or narcotics (whether illicit or prescribed) in such quantity that they become toxic, or voluntary inhalation of a gas; from or while committing or attempting to commit a criminal offence, or committing or provoking an assault; medical or surgical treatment or complications arising therefrom, except when required as a direct result of an accidental bodily injury; participating in a contest of speed, scuba diving, skydiving, parachuting, hang gliding or bungee jumping, or a flight accident except when travelling as a passenger on a commercially licensed airline. It is important that you read your Insurance Policy when you get it to understand exactly what you are covered for.
What if I have other questions?
Our dedicated and informed Customer Service Representatives are available to answer your questions or assist you with this coverage Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Simply phone us toll-free at 1-877-261-8CAA (1-877-261-8222). You can also e-mail us any time at am_caa@manulife.com or send us your questions through the Web here.
So where is the rest of the fine print?
It's right here.
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