Sounds a bit morbid and yes inspired by Death by Donation.

Think about it you diagnosed with a terminal illness, you have limited time to live. Why you?

We know this is nature. In a modern society we still can't cure everything, but we can take on the responsibility of fate and let those dealt the hard blow sue fate.

So maybe they get $50k to spend on whatever they want (in addition to medical care costs). They may spend it on family, maybe on better medical care, maybe they still have enough strength to go sky diving, or maybe they'll donate it. You can't give them life, but you can help them enjoy the remaining life they have.

I really don't know about this one...
-- toadth, Nov 27 2009

Sainsbury's Life Insurance - "from just 16p a day" http://www.sainsbur...ETGOOGLLIFEEM010002
"Lump sum payment if you die or are diagnosed with a terminal illness during the policy term. Subject to terms and conditions" - I'm no expert, but I think this isn't an unusual clause in Life Insurance policies. [zen_tom, Nov 27 2009]

(?) www.0800criticalillness.co.uk https://www.0800cri...lness-insurance.php
"There is a vast and confusing array of critical illness plans currently available on the market and many different options available to you. If you are ever in the unfortunate position of having been diagnosed with a critical illness it is important that when you come to make a claim, you originally choose a comprehensive policy with a top quality provider. The insurance policy is designed to pay you a cash lump sum in the event that you are diagnosed with a critical illness. A critical illness is defined as one of the illnesses on the particular insurance companies list and includes things like heart attacks, strokes and advanced cancers." - found by typing the words "terminal illness cover" into Google. [zen_tom, Nov 27 2009]

Google Results for: terminal illness cover http://www.google.c...minal+illness+cover
More examples found here. [zen_tom, Nov 27 2009]

There are those who would actually try to get such an illness if your idea were common practice-.
-- zeno, Nov 27 2009


Or cause someone else to get a fatal illness in the hope that they'll get the money.
-- Aristotle, Nov 27 2009


Erm, there's all manner of insurance things you can take out that do exactly this...what's new or different about this idea?
-- zen_tom, Nov 27 2009


//I really don't know about this one...//
[marked-for-tagline]
-- coprocephalous, Nov 27 2009


It seems to me we're all terminal. Can I get my money now, please?
-- phoenix, Nov 27 2009


Actually, I don’t think you can get insurance to pay you just because you’re dying. You can get health insurance to pay your medical bills. You can get life insurance to pay your relatives after you’re dead. You can get disability insurance to replace your lost income because you can’t work. I don’t see any way you can get more than that.
-- Jim Bob of Merriam Park, Nov 27 2009


Jim Bob - you can get insurance for pretty much anything - check out the links for commercial examples matching this instance.
-- zen_tom, Nov 27 2009


I guess then, it's more of a Public Life Insurance scheme. And it could be structured like the Australian health system (Medicare). You get a basic level of Live Insurance for everyone, if you earn a certain amount you have to go private.

Think about the ramifications of Public Life Insurance, especially if it's absorbed as part of Medicare. The Public System would provide more incentives for preventative medicine, yearly checkups, MRIs, etc... So there's less risk of having to payout for medical bills and insurance payouts in the future.

In Australia you are forced to pay for insurance (in case you hit someone on the roads - TAC). Many people don't think about getting Life Insurance, so why not make a mandatory public system? Sure the private system works, but there's countless people who don't make such decisions - haven't thought of it etc...
-- toadth, Dec 02 2009



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