Financial protection against cancer, heart attack, stroke, and 40+ serious illnesses
Compare Critical Illness Quotes »
Critical illness cover (also called critical illness insurance) pays out a tax-free lump sum if you're diagnosed with a serious illness covered by your policy. It can help you maintain your lifestyle, cover treatment costs, or pay off your mortgage during recovery.
Critical illness cover provides a tax-free cash lump sum if you're diagnosed with a serious illness specified in your policy. You can use the money however you need - from covering living costs during recovery to paying for private treatment or clearing your mortgage.
Unlike income protection (which replaces your salary), critical illness cover gives you a one-off payment when you're diagnosed with a covered condition. This can be particularly valuable for:
Critical illness cover can be purchased as a standalone policy or combined with life insurance for comprehensive protection.
Most critical illness policies cover 40-50 serious conditions including the 'Big Three' - cancer, heart attack, and stroke - which account for around 90% of claims.
Standard conditions covered include:
Many policies also include 'additional payment conditions' for early-stage or less severe diagnoses, typically paying 10-25% of your cover amount for conditions like:
It's important to read policy definitions carefully, as conditions must meet specific severity criteria to qualify for a full payout.
Critical illness cover costs vary based on your age, health, lifestyle, occupation, cover amount, and policy term. Expect to pay roughly double the cost of life insurance alone when adding critical illness cover.
Factors affecting your premiums:
Example premiums for £150,000 critical illness cover over 25 years:
LifePro compares quotes from 50+ UK insurers to find you the most competitive rates for your circumstances.
You can choose from several types of critical illness cover depending on your needs:
Pure critical illness protection with no life insurance element. Pays out only if you're diagnosed with a covered condition during the policy term. Most cost-effective if you already have life insurance separately.
Combined policy providing both life insurance and critical illness protection. Pays out on diagnosis of a covered condition OR on death (whichever happens first). Most popular option for comprehensive family protection.
Separate pots for life insurance and critical illness - can pay out on both. More expensive but provides dual protection, paying for critical illness and still leaving life cover in place.
Optional add-on covering your children for serious illnesses. Typically pays £25,000-£50,000 if your child is diagnosed with a covered condition. Small additional premium for valuable protection.
You can also choose between:
Critical illness cover is worth considering if you have financial commitments like a mortgage or dependents who rely on your income, and you wouldn't have sufficient savings to maintain your lifestyle if you became seriously ill.
Critical illness cover is particularly valuable if:
You might not need critical illness cover if:
Remember: 1 in 8 men and 1 in 10 women will suffer a critical illness before retirement age. Critical illness cover provides financial peace of mind when you need it most.
Get your free critical illness cover quote today
Compare Quotes »Critical illness cover pays a one-off lump sum when you're diagnosed with a covered condition, while income protection replaces a percentage of your salary every month if you can't work due to any illness or injury. Critical illness is for specific serious conditions; income protection covers any health issue preventing you from working. Many people have both for comprehensive protection.
Yes, but it depends on the condition and its severity. Minor conditions may have no impact, while serious conditions may be excluded from cover or result in higher premiums. Some conditions may make cover unavailable. Our specialist advisors can help you find insurers who are more accepting of specific medical histories.
Standard critical illness policies don't usually cover mental health conditions like depression or anxiety. However, some policies may cover severe conditions like permanent neurological impairment or total permanent disability resulting from mental illness. Mental health support is typically better covered by income protection insurance.
If you reach the end of your policy term without making a claim, the policy expires and you receive nothing back. Critical illness cover is protection insurance, not an investment - you're paying for peace of mind and financial security. Some policies offer optional premiums back or partial return of premiums for an additional cost.
Most policies pay out once and then end. However, some insurers offer 'additional payment cover' or 'multi-claim' options that allow claims for different conditions. After claiming for an additional payment condition (10-25% payout), your main cover usually continues. Always check your policy terms.
Most claims are paid within 4-8 weeks once the insurer has all required medical evidence. Some conditions require a survival period (typically 14-28 days after diagnosis) before payment. The claims process involves providing medical reports and evidence that your condition meets the policy definition.
Answer a few simple questions to get your instant quote
LifePro specialises in finding competitive critical illness cover from leading UK insurers. Our expert advisors compare policies from 50+ providers to find the right protection for your needs and budget. Get free, no-obligation quotes in minutes and protect yourself against life's uncertainties. Critical illness cover from just £25 a month.
