Critical Illness Cover

Critical Illness Insurance is there to provide you with peace of mind should you ever fall critically ill. Each insurance provider covers a range of core conditions along with a number of additional conditions specific to the insurer.

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What is Critical Illness Cover?

 Critical illness insurance provides financial security for you and your loved ones in the event you become critically ill. If you’re affected by a major medical emergency and have to go through lengthy treatment or give up work, a policy payout can help to cover expenses and living costs during your recovery.

Find out more about critical illness cover below, or start your free online quote to compare policies from over 200 of the UK’s leading insurance providers.  

 

Why do I need Critical Illness Cover?

Critical illness can affect anyone at any time so having a policy in place to provide financial stability helps relieve pressure and allows you to focus on your recovery. If you have dependents that rely on your income, Critical Illness Cover allows you to provide financial support when you are no longer able to work.

How does Critical Illness Cover work?

Get Your Quote

Provide all of the required personal information such as age, occupation and current health conditions in order to generate a policy quote based on your current circumstances.

Choose Your Policy

Based on your current circumstances and what you need to be covered for, you can customise your policy and add any extras or additional coverage you may need.

Pay Your Premiums

Once you have chosen your provider and taken out your life insurance policy, you’ll start making the agreed monthly payments that are stated in your policy agreement.

Make a Claim

In the event of your death (or pre- agreed diagnosis of terminal illness), yourself or your loved ones are then able to make a claim on your policy. A lump sum will be paid to the chosen recipient.

What does Critical Illness Insurance cover?

Critical Illness covers a specified list of illnesses and conditions. The conditions covered varies from insurer to Your critical illness insurance policy will cover a specific selection of conditions and illnesses. These can often differ depending on the provider you choose so be sure to check comparison quotes carefully so you know what you’re insured against.

You can typically expect a Critical Illness policy to cover:

  • Permanent and irreversible blindness or deafness
  • Many types of cancer
  • Cardiac arrest with insertion of a defibrillator
  • Coma with associated permanent symptoms
  • Dementia including Alzheimer’s disease
  • Heart attack 
  • Kidney failure that requires permanent dialysis
  • Major organ transplant from another donor
  • Motor neurone disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Parkinson's disease 
  • Stroke 

Each insurer has different definitions of these illnesses and some providers will only pay a claim if you have permanent and lasting symptoms. Less severe conditions may also not be covered so remember to check your policy documents carefully.

In 2018, insurer Royal London reported that the most common reasons for a Critical Illness claim were cancer (64%), heart attack (11%), stroke (8%) and multiple sclerosis (4%). 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all Critical Illness Cover policies cover the same things?
No. Each Critical Illness policy is different, and the definitions vary between providers. That’s why it’s important to compare Critical Illness policies carefully. If you’re unsure about anything, get in touch and one of our team can answer any questions you have.
Can I take out a joint insurance policy with someone else?
Yes. You can either take out a single life policy that covers individuals or a joint life policy that covers two people. For example, if you and your partner each took out single life insurance, then both policies could potentially payout. Whereas a joint life policy would only pay out one time when the first person falls critically ill.
Why might a Critical Illness Cover policy not pay out?
Stand-alone Critical Illness cover typically doesn’t payout on death. This is why many people choose to combine it with a life insurance policy to protect their loved ones should the worst happen.

You could also void a payout if you stop paying your premiums or if you’re diagnosed with a critical illness that doesn't meet your insurer’s definition. For example, certain types of cancer or mild heart attacks may not be included in your cover.

If you did not complete the underwriting questions honestly. For example, if you omitted any medical information or told the insurer you didn’t smoke when you did, the insurer may refuse a claim.
Can I get cover if I have a pre-existing condition?
If you have a condition, or you have previously undergone medical treatment, you could still get covered but will need to declare full details of this on your application. Some insurers may offer cover at a higher premium rate. Others might exclude your pre-existing conditions from any claim. If you do have a pre-existing condition, we can obtain bespoke quotes for you – get in touch for details.
Is Critical Illness cover the same as terminal illness cover?
No. Critical Illness cover tends to pay out once a life-threatening condition, such as cancer, has been confirmed by a medical professional. Terminal illness cover is normally included with life insurance policies. This means that if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness and expected to live for less than 12 months, your life cover may payout immediately, rather than on your death.
Will I get anything back if I don’t make a claim during my policy term?
If you reach the end of the term and you haven’t made a claim, it is very unlikely your policy would have a cash-in value.

Additional Resources

The pros and cons of Critical Illness insurance

Critical Illness cover is designed to provide financial support if you’re diagnosed with a serious illness, so here are the pros and cons associated with it.

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1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer. So, how likely am I to be diagnosed with a critical illness?

With 1 in every 2 people likely to be diagnosed with cancer, we decided to take a look at how likely it is that you'll be diagnosed with a critical illness.

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Children's Critical Illness Cover

Children’s critical illness is the second most claimed condition covered by a critical illness cover policy according to Ageas Protect…

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Cancer as a pre-exisiting condition

Cancer life insurance is available from some insurance providers, who you can get quotes from through I'm Insured.

Find out more
What does Critical Illness protection actually cover?

Critical Illness cover is the perfect choice if you're needing the safety of financial support if you’re diagnosed with a serious medical condition.

Find out more

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