Critical Illness Cover
A lump sum if you're diagnosed with a specified serious illness — giving you breathing space to focus on recovery.
How it works
We meet to talk through your health, lifestyle and what matters most to you
We tailor cover from across the market to fit your budget and priorities
We put your cover in place, giving you real peace of mind and breathing space
Critical illness cover — most providers use this name, though some, like Vitality, call theirs serious illness cover — pays a tax-free lump sum if you're diagnosed with one of a defined list of serious illnesses during the policy term, commonly including things like certain cancers, heart attacks and strokes. The exact list, definitions and how they're structured vary by insurer.
It's often taken out alongside life cover, either as a standalone policy or combined into one plan. Because it pays out on diagnosis rather than death, it's designed to help with costs that arise from being seriously ill — from adapting your home to covering treatment and recovery costs, or simply giving you space to focus on getting better rather than finances.
Good if you…
- You want a financial cushion if you're diagnosed with a serious illness, not just on death
- You're concerned about the cost of taking time off to recover, or adapting your home or lifestyle
- You want cover that pays out as a lump sum you can use however you need
- You're weighing this up alongside, or instead of, income protection
Typically covers
- A tax-free lump sum on diagnosis of a condition on the insurer's defined list
- Cover that can be combined with life cover on a single policy, or bought standalone
- Optional cover for children, with some providers, at no extra cost
- Guaranteed or reviewable premiums, depending on the policy you choose
Worth knowing
- Only conditions specifically defined and listed by the insurer are covered — it isn't cover for "any" serious illness
- Definitions of each condition matter and vary between insurers — this is exactly the kind of detail we compare for you
- Some policies exclude or limit cover for pre-existing conditions
- It's not designed to replace lost income over time — that's what income protection is for
Common questions
Common examples include certain types and stages of cancer, heart attack, stroke, and major organ transplant, but the exact list, and how each condition is defined, varies between insurers — we'll help you understand what you're actually covered for before you buy.
Want to talk through critical illness cover?
We'll talk through your circumstances and only ever recommend cover that genuinely fits — no pressure, no jargon.
This page is for general information only and doesn't constitute personal advice or a recommendation. Whether a particular type of cover is right for you — and how much — depends on your individual circumstances. We'll only ever recommend cover after a full conversation about your situation.
Other cover to consider
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