Financial support if you’re diagnosed with a specified serious illness, when recovery, not income, is the priority.
Critical illness cover is designed to pay out a tax-free lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a specified serious illness during the policy term. It can help reduce financial pressure at a time when your focus is on recovery, treatment, and family.
Critical Illness Cover is designed to support you financially if you’re unable to work due to a more serious illness like cancer, stroke or heart attack. These three areas explain how it works and who it’s designed for.
Critical illness cover pays a tax-free lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a serious medical condition listed in the policy. Unlike life insurance, it pays out while you’re alive, giving you financial flexibility during treatment and recovery.
If you’re diagnosed with a qualifying condition and meet the policy definition, a lump sum is paid. The money can be used however you choose — to reduce financial commitments, fund time off work, or adapt to changes in circumstances.
Critical illness cover can be suitable for anyone who would face financial strain following a serious diagnosis, particularly where savings, income, or long-term plans could be impacted.
Understanding how critical illness cover is structured helps ensure it provides the right financial support if you’re diagnosed with a serious condition.
Critical illness cover can be arranged in different ways depending on how it’s intended to support you financially. Understanding the structure helps ensure the policy reflects your priorities if you’re diagnosed with a serious illness.
The amount of critical illness cover is based on the purpose of the protection and your individual circumstances. Some people want cover to help repay financial commitments such as a mortgage, while others want a lump sum to support lost income, fund time off work, or allow flexibility during recovery. The right level of cover depends on what financial pressures you would face following a specified serious illness diagnosis, rather than a fixed or standard amount.
Critical illness policies cover a defined list of serious medical conditions, typically including core conditions such as cancer, heart attack, and stroke. Many policies also cover a wider range of conditions — often 45 or more — depending on the provider. It’s important to understand that each insurer has specific definitions and severity thresholds, and not all policies offer the same scope of cover. Advice helps ensure you understand what is covered, how claims are assessed, and which policy best reflects your priorities.
Critical illness cover can be arranged on its own or alongside life insurance, depending on your needs. Policies may also include features such as indexation to help protect against rising costs, partial payouts for less severe conditions, or additional benefits that vary by insurer.
Critical illness cover is often misunderstood or put off altogether. Below are some of the most common concerns people raise — and why it’s worth reviewing them carefully before making a decision.
Employer sick pay can be valuable, but it’s usually limited in duration — often lasting between three and six months. A serious illness may keep you away from work for much longer, particularly where recovery, treatment, or long-term adjustment is required. Critical illness cover is designed to provide financial support beyond short-term sick pay arrangements.
Savings are often set aside for specific goals, such as moving home, retirement, or supporting family in the future. Using these funds to cover a prolonged illness can significantly impact long-term plans. Critical illness cover can help provide financial security without needing to rely on or exhaust existing savings and assets.
Modern critical illness policies can cover a wide range of serious medical conditions, with many insurers offering cover for 45 or more illnesses. However, definitions and severity levels vary between providers, which is why advice is important. Being accurate with medical history and disclosures is essential, and we guide you through this process to help avoid issues at claim stage.
Critical illness cover can cost more than life insurance, as you’re statistically more likely to be diagnosed with a serious illness than to die during the policy term. However, cover can be tailored around what you need and what you can afford. Advice helps ensure protection is set at an appropriate level without paying for cover that isn’t necessary.
Critical illness cover can be one of the most misunderstood types of protection. We help you make sense of the options, so you can choose cover with confidence — not guesswork.
Critical illness cover can be complex, with important differences between policies. Good advice helps ensure you understand what’s covered, how claims work, and whether the protection you choose genuinely fits your circumstances.
We look at your income, commitments, savings, and recovery needs to help determine whether critical illness cover is appropriate, and if so, how it should be structured. The aim is protection that supports you financially if you’re seriously ill — not unnecessary cover.
We take time to explain how critical illness cover works, including policy definitions, severity levels, and exclusions. This helps you understand what the policy is designed to do and avoid surprises later on.
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Choosing the right protection can feel overwhelming at first. These FAQs cover some of the most common questions we’re asked, helping you understand how critical illness cover works and what to consider before getting started.
Critical illness cover pays out a tax-free lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a serious medical condition listed in the policy during the policy term. The money can be used however you choose, such as supporting time off work, reducing financial commitments, or helping with recovery-related costs.
Policies typically cover core conditions such as cancer, heart attack, and stroke, along with a wider range of additional illnesses. Many insurers cover up to 45 or more conditions, but definitions and severity thresholds vary. Advice helps ensure you understand exactly what is covered.
Yes. Critical illness cover is designed to pay out while you’re alive, following a qualifying diagnosis. This is what distinguishes it from life insurance, which pays out on death.
No. Critical illness cover is designed to pay out following a diagnosis of a specific serious medical condition defined in the policy. Income protection, on the other hand, can pay a regular income if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury of any kind, subject to the policy terms. Some people choose one or the other, while others use both together as part of a wider protection plan, depending on their circumstances.
Yes. Your medical history is an important part of the application process. Being accurate and complete with disclosures is essential. We guide you through this process to help ensure applications are submitted correctly and transparently.
Critical illness cover can cost more than life insurance, as claims are more likely. However, policies can be structured around your budget and priorities. The cost depends on factors such as age, health, cover amount, and policy term.
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