Critical Illness
Cover
Learn how critical illness cover works, the costs, and the benefits it can offer.
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What is critical illness cover?
Critical illness cover is an insurance policy that pays you a cash lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a serious illness listed in your policy, like certain cancers, heart attacks, or strokes. The payout happens while you’re still alive, so you can use the money however you need: to help with household bills, pay your mortgage, cover everyday living costs, or fund extra care and treatment.
You can take out critical illness cover as a stand-alone policy or add it to your life insurance policy for extra protection. Many policies also include some cover for children at no extra cost or as an added extra, but this will vary by insurer. With all our insurers, critical illness cover is part of a life insurance policy so will pay out if you die during the policy term.
Having this cover means you can focus on your recovery or even make special memories with your family, without worrying about money.
Hugo’s helpful notes:
Note that critical illness cover is different to terminal illness cover, which is usually included in your life insurance policy. We’ve put together a Critical Illness Glossary to provide some helpful information.
Key information
Lump sum on diagnosis
Pays a one-off lump sum if you are diagnosed with a serious illness covered by your policy (for example, certain cancers, a heart attack or a stroke).
Check what your policy covers
Each policy has a clear list of covered conditions and definitions, so you know when a claim may be paid.
Tax-free lump sum
The lump sum from a personal CIC policy is tax-free, so you receive the full amount (tax rules can change and depend on your situation).
Support your family & yourself
The money is paid while you are still here, so you can focus on treatment, recovery and supporting your family if they are dependent on you.
Can cover your children
Many plans include some children’s critical illness cover at no extra cost, depending on the insurer.
One payout per policy
Most policies offer one payout only (depending on the insurer and policy type), after a successful claim, the cover normally ends
Can cover a range of expenses
Use the payout however you need, such as to help with bills, mortgage or rent, everyday living costs, medical care, home changes or special memories.
Will payout if you die
With all our insurers, critical illness cover will also pay out if you die during the term.
Choosing the right cover & term
You’ll need to choose a cover amount and policy term that fit your needs, as the payout is a one‑off lump sum that could help with daily living costs like childcare and household bills or to help maintain your standard of living.
What are the benefits of critical illness cover?
Ready to get a free quote and compare your critical illness cover options?
Hear from our customers
Don’t just take our word for it – hear it from our customers, with over 45,000 five‑star reviews.
Nick
I enquired about a life insurance…
I enquired about a life insurance policy. Received a phone call from Matt Burgess who was amazing to deal with throughout the whole process. Talked me through every step and what each type of policy was and the differences were between them.
Highly recommend dealing with Matt.
Patricia O.
Danny the customer service officer was…
Danny the customer service officer was professional, respectful and kind. He spoke with clarity and reassurance without pressure. He explained all that I needed to know. His explanation left little room for questions as he was very clear. He really knows his job inside out. I was very satisfied with his consultation.
Jack W.
Green lights ahead…
Good experience, made better with Luke Maguire. Speaking to him was like hitting every traffic light as it turns green 💚
If you are thinking about Life insurance, stop thinking and just do it. Its all about the ones you leave behind after you are gone. True selfless act. 💯👌🏻 Thanks Luke.
Neil R.
The man that dealt with me MATT was…
The man that dealt with me MATT was very professional and talked me through everything I was pleased with how he was respectful and explained everything so I could understand the process I’m happy with the cover I have.
Atans JP.
Excellent Service!
I spoke to Henry who was knowledgeable, friendly and very helpful.
He took me through the details of life insurance and critical illness. He found a very well priced cover plan, which I took out. Wonderful company.
Zafal I.
Excellent service recommended…
Spoke with Craig today with a view to getting life cover, he was clear, precise and excellent in explaining from start to finish and answered all my questions satisfactorily, even had a bit of banter along the way which made the experience very pleasing, needless to say I bought the policy recommended to me. Thank you.
Mason G.
Life Insurance
Had the chance to speak with Grant, he was amazing.
It was my first time arranging life insurance for my partner and my new born, so as you can imagine, not very clued up on how it all works. He explained everything so well and very clearly. Thank you Grant
Nick
I had a very positive experience with…
I had a very positive experience with this life insurance company.
Emily was knowledgeable, patient, explained all my options clearly and made the process easy to understand.
Highly recommended.
Sandra R.
Did an online quote and within minutes…
Did an online quote and within minutes got call from Katy who was amazing. Talked me through everything and ended up with policy. She knew what I was looking for and so helpful and patient.
Highly recommend. Thanks again Katy for sorting everything out for me.
Russell
Had a consult with Tommy Farthing…
Had a consult with Tommy Farthing, absolute pleasure dealing with him. Extremely patient, clear understanding of the information he provided, made me feel at ease through the entire process as I was rather edgy at first. I never felt pressured or treated like a mere run through receiving my consult. Thank you Tommy.
Anonymous
It was an absolute pleasure speaking…
It was an absolute pleasure speaking with Harrison. His product knowledge was outstanding, and he took the time to explain everything thoroughly, ensuring I fully understood the options available.
He was professional, patient, and genuinely engaging throughout the conversation.
Danielle S.
The man I spoke to was very helpful and…
The man I spoke to was very helpful and I came off of the phone saving £15 a month nearly on my life insurance
MS Heer
Very helpful gave me a lot of good…
Very helpful gave me a lot of good and a reasonable price for both insurances, was thorough with everything
Karen R.
Amazing service from Luke Maguire…
Luke Maguire assisted us to find a life and critical policy that suited our needs and budget, he did so with time and care. Luke gave us plenty of time to consider options and was full of knowledge to support us to decide. Luke went over and above dedicating time that suited us but meant he would be late leaving off.
What can affect the cost of critical illness cover?
Your health and lifestyle can affect how much you pay each month and how much cover insurers are willing to offer. Things like smoking, your height and weight, and any past or existing medical conditions can all play a part.
This doesn’t mean you can’t get life insurance, but it can change the price you pay or the amount of cover you’re offered. Being open and honest about your health, lifestyle and job helps make sure your policy is valid and can pay out when your loved ones need it.
Health and lifestyle factors
When you apply for critical illness cover, insurers usually look at a few key things:
Sometimes, an insurer may ask you to have a simple medical check to better understand your health.
If you already have cover and later lose weight, improve your health, or have been smoke or vape-free for at least 12 months, you may be able to get a new quote that works out cheaper than before. You will need to be medically reassessed based on your health and lifestyle at the time of the new application.
High risk jobs
Some jobs involve more day-to-day risk than others. For example:
Having a higher-risk job might mean you pay a bit more or have some extra terms on your policy, but it doesn’t mean you can’t get cover.
If you have questions about getting life insurance with a high-risk job, just get in touch with our friendly team. We’re here to help you find the right cover for your situation.
This list of high-risk jobs is not complete and should not be seen as a full guide.
High risk hobbies
Some active hobbies are seen as higher risk by insurers, such as:
It’s important to mention these activities on your application so your policy works as expected. Being open and honest helps make sure any future claim runs smoothly, and means you won’t end up paying more than you need to for the wrong type of cover.
This list of high-risk hobbies is not complete and should not be seen as a full guide.
What are the different types of life insurance?
Life Insurance can feel confusing, so here is a quick, simple overview of the main types.
Most popular
Increasing Term Life Insurance
The cover amount increases each year, to tackle the effects of inflation, so your payout and premiums keep
pace with the cost of living.
Good for: Keeping up with rising costs
Cheapest option
Decreasing Term Life Insurance
The payout reduces over time, often matching your mortgage balance.
Good for: Covering a repayment mortgage
Guaranteed acceptance
Over 50s Life Insurance
Guaranteed, if you meet the age and payment rules, acceptance for UK residents aged 50–80. No medical checks needed.
Good for: Ages over 50
Couple cover
Joint Life Insurance
Covers two people and pays out when the first (or sometimes second) person dies.
Good for: Couples who want to share one policy
Fixed cost
Level Term Life Insurance
Pays a set amount if you die during the policy term. The cover and monthly cost stay the same.
Good for: Budgeting at a fixed cost
Lifetime cover
Whole of Life Insurance
There’s no end date, this policy pays out whenever you die, as long as premiums are paid.
Good for: Lifelong cover
Illness add-on
Critical Illness Cover
Insurance that pays a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a serious illness covered by the policy during the term.
Good for: Financial help if you become seriously ill
Protection add-on
Income protection
If illness or injury stops you working, income protection can pay a regular amount to help with everyday costs like rent or mortgage, bills and food, so you can focus on your recovery.
Good for: Covering your income if you can’t work
Ready to get a free quote and compare life insurance options?
How much life insurance cover do I need?
Our calculator helps you get a rough idea of how much cover you might need if the worst happens, based on the figures you put in.
Ready to get a free quote and compare your life insurance options?
Ready to get a free quote and compare your life insurance options?
FAQs
Got questions about life insurance? Here are some of the most common ones.
What’s the difference between Critical Illness Cover and Life Insurance?
Critical illness cover is designed to pay out if you are diagnosed with a serious illness that is listed in your policy. Not every condition is covered, so it is important to check which illnesses are included and which are not. Life insurance, on the other hand, is designed to pay out when you die, helping to give your loved one’s financial support at a difficult time. This could be used to help pay off a mortgage, clear other debts or provide a lump sum for your family.
Read moreDoes life insurance pay out if I’m really ill?
Life insurance policies are designed to only pay out on your death, however most life insurance policies will pay out early if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness where you have been given less than 12 months to live.
If you are looking for a policy that pays out if you get seriously ill you should consider Critical Illness Cover. This insurance will pay out on diagnosis of a wide variety of illnesses, including if you have a stroke, heart attack or get cancer of certain severity.
Read moreDoes life insurance pay out if I have a stroke?
Life insurance policies are designed to only pay out on your death, however most life insurance policies will pay out early if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness where you have been given less than 12 months to live.
Some strokes can cause extreme harm to health and can cause a coma, or lead to someone dying. Terminal Status Stroke can sometimes require palliative care, where death is expected within months. Depending on the severity of the stroke, a life insurance policy may payout under the terminal illness clause.
If a stroke is of a lesser severity a life insurance policy will not pay out whilst the policy holder is still alive, however death by stroke would be covered at any time, subject to the policy still being active at time of death.
If you are interested in protecting your finances in the case of having a stroke, you could also consider Critical Illness Cover. This will pay out on diagnosis of a wide variety of illnesses, including if you have a stroke.
Read moreWhat are pre-existing medical conditions?
A pre-existing condition is any kind of medical condition, health issue or injury you’ve experienced prior to your policy. Anything you’ve suffered in the past, anything you’ve had symptoms of, been tested for, received medication, treatment or surgery for, or are expecting to receive in the future. This could be illnesses or ailments such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, stroke, etc. Or more one-off and infrequent issues such as back pain, a sport injury, or even a problem you’ve simply gone to talk to your GP about. These do not need to have been officially diagnosed to be considered pre-existing conditions by certain insurers.
Read moreWhy use a non-advised broker instead of going direct?
A non-advised broker can show you quotes from a panel of top insurers, not just one. That means more choice and a better chance of finding cover that fits your needs and budget. Plus, we make it easy to compare options and support you every step of the way.
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