When serious illness turns your life upside down, Critical Illness Cover gives you options
Most of us insure the things we own. Our property, cars, phones, even our holidays. But we’re less likely to insure what really matters – us! If a diagnosis knocks your plans off course, or means a big change in your ability to earn, then it’s highly likely you’ll want the option to take time out, or to make some financial provision for your future, and those who depend on.
Critical illness cover is different from life insurance and income protection. Life insurance pays out if you die during the term of your policy. Income protection pays a monthly income if you can’t work due to illness or injury. Critical illness cover pays a one-off, tax-free lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a serious condition – the top 4 claims are for cancer, heart attack, stroke and multiple sclerosis – but many more conditions are covered.
97% of critical illness claims were paid across the UK insurance industry in 2024. We will help you choose between those providers who cover the most conditions, those who are best able to accommodate advances in medical science, and those with the best additional cover for dependents (among other things). We’ll make sure you can get the best value cover and can rely on the payout when you need it.
Most critical illness policies cover 30 – 40 core conditions, including cancer, heart attack, stroke, organ transplants and multiple sclerosis. Enhanced policies go further, covering 80 conditions or more, including less advanced forms of cancer and conditions like Alzheimer’s. The difference between core and enhanced is worth understanding: more conditions sound like protection, but what matters most is that the definitions are clear and the conditions most likely to affect you are included. We help you choose the right level.
Children’s cover is a common add-on. It pays a lump sum if your child is diagnosed with a critical illness and can be a very cost-effective option to get the whole family protected.
We’ll talk you through what Critical Illness Cover actually does, what it doesn’t, how it fits alongside life insurance or income protection, and how much cover would actually help if you needed it. We recommend based on your situation, not on what pays us the most.
We do not charge a fee for insurance or protection advice, but we may receive a commission if you take out cover arranged through us