Critical Illness Insurance pays out a tax-free sum if you become seriously unwell.

The benefit you receive helps safeguard you and your family against the financial impact of becoming critically ill. A Critical Illness Insurance payout could be used to repay the mortgage, settle debts and bills, or be put in the bank until, fingers crossed, you’re better and are able to return to work. Whatever its purpose, Critical Illness cover provides peace of mind.

“What will I be covered for?”

All Critical Illness Insurance policies cover three core conditions: Cancer, Heart attacks and Strokes. Critical Illness policies vary from insurer to insurer, and their list of conditions and definitions of illnesses also differ.

More comprehensive plans will also cover prostate cancer, angioplasty, lower grades of breast cancer, loss of hearing and sight, total permanent disability, specific types of cancer and heart attack, Alzheimer’s disease and Motor neurone disease.

We can advise you on the most comprehensive policy’s available.

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“Is the cheapest cover the best cover?”

Probably not! As the saying goes “you get what you pay for”. There can be vast differences between insurers’ policy terms (small print), so it pays to take some expert advice. Our experienced team are happy to explain which policies offer the most comprehensive Critical Illness Insurance cover at the most competitive prices. Call us for free on 0800 644 4468.

“I’ve heard that Critical Illness policies rarely pay out.”

Here are some facts from the Association of British Insurers (ABI):

  • According to the ABI, 91.3% of Critical Illness claims were paid in 2020
  • Over 16,845 Critical Illness claims were paid in 2020 (ABI)
  • The average Critical Illness payment was £67,011 in 2020 (ABI)
  • More than £1.1 billion was paid in Critical Illness payments in 2020 (ABI)

The levels and bases of taxation and reliefs from taxation can change at any time. Tax relief is dependent on individual circumstances.

Case study 1 – Jon’s story

Case study 2 – Kevin’s story

Additional Benefits

  • Children's cover

    If your child is diagnosed with a critical illness covered by your insurance, some policies may payout up to 50% of the sum assured. If this benefit is paid out, it will not affect the amount that may be paid out for any other successful claims in the future. Insurers which offer children’s cover will provide for children up to the age of 21, and will not restrict the number of children that claims can be made for.

  • Accidental hospitalisation cover
    Some of the more comprehensive critical illness insurance policies cover you if you’re admitted to hospital with a severe physical injury resulting from an accident, and need to stay there for 28 consecutive days. If this cover is included within your policy, you could receive up to 20% of the sum assured, or £50,000, whichever is the lower.
  • Partial payments
    Many insurers’ Critical Illness Insurance policies also provide cover for ‘less severe’ conditions, which are usually described as Partial Payments. Diagnosis of one of these conditions may result in up to 25% of the sum assured being paid.
Here's what EVERY plan covers...

The “core” conditions are:

  • Cancer
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke

The “additional” conditions are:

  • Aorta graft surgery
  • Benign brain tumour
  • Blindness
  • Coma
  • Coronary artery by-pass surgery
  • Deafness
  • Heart valve replacement or repair
  • Kidney failure
  • Loss of hand or foot
  • Loss of speech
  • Major organ transplant
  • Motor neurone disease
  • Paralysis/paraplegia
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Terminal illness
  • Third-degree burns
  • Traumatic brain injury

A GOOD plan may cover...

There can be vast differences between insurers’ policy terms (small print), so it pays to take some expert advice. Our knowledgeable team are happy to explain which policies offer the most comprehensive Critical Illness cover at the most competitive prices. The list below gives an indication of what a good plan will include (however conditions covered will vary from one insurer to another).

For expert advice call us for free on 0800 644 4468.

  • Alzheimer’s disease – resulting in permanent symptoms
  • Aorta graft surgery – for disease or following traumatic injury
  • Aplastic anaemia – of specified severity
  • Bacterial meningitis – resulting in permanent symptoms
  • Benign brain tumour – resulting in permanent symptoms
  • Blindness – permanent and irreversible
  • Cancer – excluding less advanced cases but including advanced skin cancer
  • Cardiac arrest – with insertion of a defibrillator
  • Cardiomyopathy – of specified severity
  • Chronic rheumatoid arthritis
  • Coma – resulting in permanent symptoms
  • Coronary artery by-pass grafts – with surgery
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease – resulting in permanent symptoms
  • Deafness – permanent and irreversible
  • Dementia – resulting in permanent symptoms
  • Encephalitis – resulting in permanent symptoms
  • Heart attack – of specified severity
  • Heart valve replacement or repair – with surgery
  • HIV infection – from a blood transfusion, a physical assault or at work
  • Kidney failure – requiring dialysis
  • Liver failure – end stage
  • Loss of hands or feet – permanent physical severance
  • Loss of independence – of specified severity
  • Loss of speech – permanent and irreversible
  • Lung disease – of specified severity
  • Major organ transplant
  • Mastectomy for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
  • Motor neurone disease – resulting in permanent symptoms
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) – with persisting symptoms
  • Multiple system atrophy – resulting in permanent symptoms
  • Open heart surgery – with surgery to divide the breastbone
  • Paralysis of limbs – total and irreversible
  • Parkinson’s disease – resulting in permanent symptoms
  • Pre-senile dementia – resulting in permanent symptoms
  • Primary pulmonary arterial hypertension – idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension of specified severity
  • Progressive supranuclear palsy – resulting in permanent symptoms
  • Pulmonary artery replacement – with surgery to divide the breastbone
  • Respiratory failure – severe lung disease – of specified severity
  • Stroke – of specified severity
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) – of specified severity
  • Third-degree burns – covering 20% of the body’s surface area or 20% of the face’s surface area
  • Traumatic head injury – resulting in permanent symptoms
  • Type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus – of specified severity, diagnosed after the age of 40
  • Ulcerative colitis – treated with total colectomy

Critical Illness
Aimee Scott

Why not call us now for expert advice?

Call 0800 644 4468Mobiles call01737 336 990