Critical Illness Insurance
While a major medical plan may pay for a good portion of the costs associated with a critical illness, there are a lot of expenses that may not be covered.
Critical Illness coverage helps provide financial support if you are diagnosed with a covered critical illness. With the expense of treatment often high, seeking the treatment you need could seem like a financial burden. When a diagnosis occurs, you need to be focused on getting better and taking control of your health, not stressing over financial worries.
McClatchy has partnered with The Hartford to offer two Critical Illness plans to benefit-eligible employees.
Plan Information
McClatchy offers two critical illness plans a high and low plan.
The high plan will pay out up to $20,000 per qualified diagnosis and the low plan will pay out up to $10,000 per qualified diagnosis.
Covered Spouse/DP receive 100% of your benefit amount. Covered child dependents up to age 26 receive 50% of your benefit amount.
The cash benefit is in the form of a lump sum payment, which is paid directly to you after a covered diagnosis.
The Summary Plan Description (SPD) is a detailed guide to what McClatchy's Accident plan covers and how the plans work.
- Critical Illness SPD (coming soon)
In most cases, you may only make changes to your benefits during Open Enrollment. However, employees enrolled in Accident, Critical Illness, and/or Identity Theft coverage may choose to make some limited changes or cancel their coverage at any time during the year. If you would like to make changes or drop coverage for one or all of these plans, please take a look at our Accident, Critical Illness, and/or Identity Theft coverage change page for more details.
Critical Illness Insurance FAQ
The Critical Illness 4 policy pays you a lump-sum benefit per occurrence if you or a covered family member is diagnosed with a covered Critical Illness, such as:
- Invasive Cancer
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
- End Stage Renal Failure
- Major Organ Transplant
- Coronary Artery Bypass
- Carcinoma in Situ
To receive the Cancer Benefit, if included with your coverage, you or a covered family member must be initially diagnosed or diagnosed with a new form of invasive cancer or carcinoma in situ after the effective date of coverage.
You or a covered family member will submit the claim for processing.
You can submit claims for covered benefits any time after the coverage effective date.
The Hartford Claim office number 866-547-4205.
Each diagnosis must be separated by at least 30 days for both benefits to be payable. In order for any benefit to be paid, the diagnosis must take place after the effective date of coverage. Additionally, the conditions cannot be defined as pre-existing or excluded from coverage by the certificate provisions.
Yes, as long as the new diagnosis of cancer occurs after the coverage effective date and you have been treatment- and symptom-free for 12 months. Maintenance medications are not considered treatment.
A reoccurrence of a previously covered condition may be covered under the optional reoccurrence benefit if it occurs six (6) months from the initial occurrence.
No, coverage is offered on a Guaranteed Issue basis, which means you do not need to answer medical questions.
| Critical Illness | Low Plan* | High Plan* |
| Heart Attack | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Stroke | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Invasive Cancer | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Non-Invasive Cancer | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| Major Organ Transplant | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| End Stage Renal Failure | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Paralysis | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Complete loss of sight, hearing or speech | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| Transient Ischemic Attack | $2,500 | $5,000 |
*Amounts listed are for employee/spouse claims. Child dependent claims pay 50% of listed amount.
For a full list, please refer to the plan documents.
Contacts
- The Hartford Claim Services - 866-547-4205
- Hours of operation 8am - 6pm ET
Former Allstate Information prior to 1/1/2026
- Allstate Member Services: 800-521-3535 (Group Number: G1494)
- Questions regarding current coverage, claims, policy/cert holder support
- Allstate Member Website
- Track claims
- You will be able to login after coverage begins
Visit TheHartford.com/employeebenefits
for more information.