Critical Illness Cover Financial protection if you become seriously ill

Critical illness cover pays out a tax-free lump sum if you're diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer, heart attack or stroke.

Quick & Easy

No Obligation

Expert Brokers

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Quick & Easy

No Obligation

Expert Brokers

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How Critical Illness Cover Works

Financial protection when you need it most, giving you time to focus on recovery.

Tax-Free Lump Sum

Receive a one-off payment if you're diagnosed with a covered condition. Use it however you need - bills, treatment, or time off work.

Wide Range of Conditions

Most policies cover cancer, heart attack, stroke, and many more serious conditions. Some cover 40+ illnesses.

Standalone or Combined

Get critical illness cover on its own, or combine it with life insurance for comprehensive protection in one policy.

Top 5

UK Insurers

2 min

Quick Form

£0

Quote Cost

Obligation

Get a free quote and see how you could protect yours

Get Your Free Quote

How It Works

Getting insurance quotes is simple. Here's how the process works.

Complete the Form

Answer a few simple questions about yourself and the level of cover you're looking for. It only takes a couple of minutes.

Receive a Callback

A specialist broker will call you back to discuss your requirements and answer any questions you may have.

Compare Your Options

The broker will present quotes from leading insurers so you can compare options and choose the cover that's right for you. There's no obligation to proceed.

Conditions Typically Covered

Most policies cover around 36 conditions. Some insurers cover over 100.

Cancer

Heart attack

Stroke

Multiple sclerosis

Kidney failure

Liver failure

Coronary artery bypass surgery

Major organ transplant

Motor neurone disease

Parkinson's disease

Blindness

Deafness

Dementia including Alzheimer's

Paralysis of limbs

Loss of limbs

Loss of speech

Heart valve surgery

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiac arrest

Benign brain tumour

Bacterial meningitis

Encephalitis

Traumatic brain injury

Third degree burns

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Aplastic anaemia

Pulmonary artery surgery

Surgery to aorta

Primary pulmonary hypertension

Respiratory failure

Lung disease

Spinal stroke

Multiple system atrophy

Systemic lupus erythematosus

Removal of an eyeball

Total permanent disability

Exact conditions and definitions vary by insurer. A broker will confirm which conditions are covered by each policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about critical illness cover.

You choose a cover amount and policy term, then pay monthly premiums. If you're diagnosed with a covered condition during the term, the insurer pays a tax-free lump sum directly to you. A survival period of 10-14 days typically applies after diagnosis before a claim can be made.

No. Critical illness payouts are completely tax-free as they are not considered income.

Once a critical illness claim is paid out, the policy ends. If you have combined life and critical illness cover, the life insurance element also expires.

Cancer accounts for around 58% of all critical illness claims. Heart attacks make up 17% of male claims, and strokes account for 11% of male claims.

Claims typically take around 8 weeks to process as medical evidence is required from your doctor. Once approved, payment is usually made within a few days.

Most insurers offer a guaranteed insurability option allowing you to increase cover at life events such as marriage, having a child, or buying a house, without providing new medical information.

Consider your mortgage balance, 1-2 years of household bills, any outstanding debts, and potential medical or childcare costs. A broker will call to help you work out the right amount.