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Critical Illness Cover

Cover against the unforeseen events that life can throw at you. Have you considered how you would manage financially if you were to become critically ill?

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Critical Illness Cover

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Critical Illness Cover is one of those products that most people think that they either can’t afford or will never need. Unfortunately, the reality is that we are far more likely to claim on a Critical Illness Cover policy than we are on a Life Insurance policy.

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What is Critical Illness Cover?

A Critical Illness Cover policy pays out a Tax-Free lump sum if you are diagnosed with a serious illness defined under your policy wording. Some Critical Illness Cover policies vary in terms of the conditions that they will cover and the amount they will pay out in the event of a claim. It is very important to check your policy wording to make sure that your policy is right for you. Our expert advisers who will help to explain how it works and will always make sure you have the best policy for your circumstances.

Remember: ‘Cheapest is not always best…’

What is covered by a Critical Illness Cover policy?

Critical Illness Cover offers additional protection to Life Insurance and will pay out if you were diagnosed with a serious or critical illness, which is defined under your policy wording. Most policies will also provide cover if you were involved in an accident and suffered an injury, illness or to become permanently disabled.

The majority of Critical Illness Cover policies will provide cover against:

Most Cancers

Multiple Sclerosis

Heart Attack

Kidney or Liver Failure

Stroke

What does Critical Illness Cover do?

A Critical Illness Cover policy is designed to add an extra level of cover over and above your standard Life Insurance policy if you were to become ill or injured. Your Critical Illness Cover policy will pay out a Tax-Free lump sum to cover:

Hospital Fees / Medical Treatment

Adapting your home

Cost of Living Expenses

Mortgage / Rental Payments

A Critical Illness Cover policy will provide you with peace of mind if you were unable to work due to sickness or injury. Critical Illness Cover can make a huge difference to your recovery and to help you to get back to work as quickly and comfortably as possible.

How much does Critical Illness Cover cost?

The cost of Critical Illness Cover will vary depending on a number of factors, such as:

Age

Health (current health, your weight, family and medical history)

Smoker Status

Sum Assured / Term

The amount of cover you take out

Job (some occupations carry a higher risk than other might and this may mean your may have to pay more each month)

It is possible to adapt your Critical Illness Cover policy to make it affordable for you, and for the level of cover to be appropriate for your circumstances. Our team of expert advisers will discuss the various options with you and can provide several quotes to give you the best level of cover to fit your budget.

Some things that you can do to reduce your Critical Illness Cover premiums are to live a healthier lifestyle, quit smoking and adjust the sum assured.

When should I buy Critical Illness Cover?

The same rule applies for Critical Illness Cover as for Life Insurance which is the younger you buy it, the cheaper it will be. Later in life, which is when most people tend to consider buying Critical Illness Cover, is where the premiums may be higher or full cover may not be as affordable.

If you have been diagnosed with a pre-existing medical condition and need Critical Illness Cover, then you may find it more difficult to obtain this type of policy. Critical Illness Cover is underwritten at the point of application and premiums / cover will depend on what your pre-existing condition is and the severity of that condition.

What about Critical Illness Cover for smokers?

Due to the increased health risks for smokers, Critical Illness Cover premiums will always be higher for smokers than for non-smokers. Insurance providers work on risk and therefore your premiums Critical Illness Cover as a smoker are calculated based on how likely you will be to claim on your policy.

If you have recently given up smoking or are thinking about giving up smoking, then you will need to be nicotine free for 12 months before you will be classed as a non-smoker. In recent years, the development of nicotine replacement products has also meant that terms have changed to include products such as:

Nicotine Patches

Nicotine Gum

Vapour Cigarettes

Use of any of these or any other nicotine replacement product will also mean that you would still be classed as a smoker by insurers for Critical Illness Cover.

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Income Protection

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The product is designed to pay up to 70% of a working individual’s annual pre-tax income as a monthly benefit (tax free) should they be off work due to an unexpected or sudden illness or injury.

With an Income Protection policy in place, you are not restricted on what type of illnesses or injuries you can claim on. You can claim as many times as you want throughout the policy term, with short and long-term options are available starting from 1yr, 2yrs, 5yrs or full cover which usually insures you up to retirement age.

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Mortgage Life Insurance

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If you’re looking for insurance that is specifically designed to cover your mortgage payments, then we suggest considering Mortgage Life Insurance Cover.

Mortgage Life Insurance Cover is put in place to ensure your outstanding mortgage is paid off in the event of death, giving your loved ones one less thing to worry about.

To ensure you are properly covered, you simply need to tell us how much is left to pay on your mortgage and over what term. That is the exact amount of cover and term length you will need to take out.

This type of life insurance is what is referred to as a ‘Decreasing Term policy’ – as the amount paid out decreases over time to keep in line with your outstanding mortgage balance.

Mortgage Life Insurance can be added onto your Critical Illness Cover.

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Renters Income Protection Cover

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Renters Income Protection Cover is ideal for those currently renting in the private rental sector in the UK. It has been designed to offer protection for a large percentage of people who would not be able to protect their income should they find themselves unable to work.

It works through paying out a monthly benefit to people who find themselves unable to work due to an unforeseen illness or accident. It can be used to cover the cost of rent, or it can be put towards other living expenses such as utilities, medical bills, and childcare.