Why do trauma insurance policies have severity definitions?

Severity definitions ensure trauma insurance pays benefits for genuinely serious medical events that significantly impact your life and finances. These definitions establish specific medical criteria that must be met for a claim to be successful, preventing claims for minor or treatable conditions that don't warrant a large lump sum payment. For example, a heart attack claim typically requires evidence of severe heart muscle damage with elevated cardiac enzyme levels and specific ECG changes, not just chest pain. Similarly, cancer claims usually require invasive cancer, excluding very early-stage cancers that can be removed with simple procedures. Stroke claims need evidence of permanent neurological impairment lasting beyond a specified period. These definitions are based on medical evidence and have been standardized across the industry for the main conditions (cancer, heart attack, and stroke) since July 2017. While severity definitions may seem restrictive, they keep premiums affordable by focusing coverage on significant medical events while partial trauma benefits may cover less severe versions of some conditions.