Compare Critical Illness Cover quotes and ‘save money’
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. Some of the statistics available currently are alarming and we should all at least consider some cover for conditions such as Cancer, Heart Attack and Stroke.
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, check with one of our expert advisers who will help to explain how it works.
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
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Kidney or Liver Failure
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 for:
- Hospital fees / Medical treatment
- Cost of living expenses
- Mortgage / Rental payments
- Adapting your home
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
- Smoker status
- Sum assured / Term
- Health / Occupation / Sports
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 a number of 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.
Independent Reviews at 
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Partial Payment Critical Illness Cover
Some Critical Illness Cover policies now also offer ‘partial payments’ for certain conditions which are considered to be less severe. Any Critical Illness Cover policy that offers partial payments are simply another style of Critical Illness Insurance so should be considered as the same type of cover.
The idea of this type of Critical Illness Cover policy is to ensure that your pay-out is relative to the severity of the illness. There are now several UK insurance providers who offer partial payments Critical Illness Cover which is designed to enhance the amount of cover offered.
Partial payments Critical Illness Cover was introduced to the UK life insurance market several years ago by Vitality and has since been adopted by several other leading insurance providers. Most Critical Illness Cover policies will cover between 35 to 45 core conditions and partial payment policies will usually add around 20 further conditions.
Critical Illness Cover for Children
Some providers will also now allow you to add or include your children on your Critical Illness Cover policy which will offer a level of cover for them up to age 18. Critical Illness Cover for children is an add-on that is designed to offer an additional benefit should your child become critically ill.
It is unthinkable to consider that your child will become seriously ill or were to be diagnosed with a serious illness. The additional cover for them provides peace of mind and will enable you to pay for hospital fees, caring for your child or adapting your home.
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