
Topics
1. Aegon
- Originally known as Scottish Equitable
- Now one of the world’s largest providers of life insurance
- Policy covers 39 critical illness conditions
- Child-related cover and benefits are also available
- Multiple award winner including 2019 Best Claims Management / Claims Team award, Cover Protection award, Moneyfacts award, HR Specialist of the Year
- Moneyfacts 5 Star Rating
- Defaqto 5 Star Rating
- Useful online resources such as a Retirement Advisory Library, Pensions Technical Zone and Retiready
- Free Health and Wellbeing service and counselling support available 365 days a year
- £128 million paid in claims last year
- Also offers general life insurance, income protection and whole life insurance
Website: Aegon
Read the full Aegon critical illness life insurance review.
2. AIG
- AIG Life Limited is the UK life insurance arm of the American International Group
- Customers in more than 80 countries
- Large range of insurance products and protection cover
- Products divided into four areas: Term Insurance, Family Income Benefit, Life Start and Instant Life Insurance
- Critical illness policy covers over 100 different illnesses and operations
- Includes your children becoming seriously ill too
- Add-on options to cover disability available as well
- Generally favourable reviews and customer experiences
- Free Smart Health consultations and Best Doctors service
- Unbiased financial advisers available
- Useful supporting literature and online help
- Also offers general life insurance, over 50s, income protection and whole life insurance
Website: AIG
Read the full AIG critical illness life insurance review.
3. AmTrust International
- Global insurance provider covering 25 countries with 38 offices
- A good reputation for offering bespoke health insurance solutions
- Wide ranging critical illness cover
- Niche risks addressed including tailor-made policies for personal accidents, accidental death & disability, broken bones and burns, sports accidents and more
- Access via AmTrust Assistance to a wide range of additional supporting services
- Strong acumen on corporate policies
- Good integration with technical platforms and innovative apps
Website: AmTrust International
Read the full AmTrust International critical illness life insurance review.
4. Aviva
- Established in 1696
- The largest insurance company in the UK
- Over 15 million customers
- A large range of life and health insurance plans and related products
- 98.9% of claims paid
- Covers 53 critical illness conditions
- Currently offer a free £50 M&S voucher for new customers
- An informative website with plain English explanations
- Useful ‘cover calculator’ resource online
- Flexible length of cover offered
- Free Parent Life cover
- 5 Star rated by Defaqto
- Generally mixed online reviews
- Also offers over 50s and general life insurance
Website: Aviva
Read the full Aviva critical illness life insurance review.
5. Barclays
- One of the largest, most reputable banks in the UK
- Simple Life Insurance starts from just £6 per month
- Flexible payment terms offered
- 20 minute promise from getting a quote to getting your policy
- Useful online resources available such as the cover calculator tool
- Handy online jargon buster guide
- A large range of related service offerings including Banking, Borrowing and Investment Services, Mortgage Policies and Home and Travel Services
- Also offers mortgage protection and general life insurance
Website: Barclays
Read the full Barclays critical illness life insurance review.
6. Zurich
- A global insurance company covering 170 countries worldwide
- 5 Star Defaqto Rating
- Monthly premiums from £5 per month
- Critical illness policy covers 40 serious illnesses
- Minimum term of 5 years
- Available for UK residents aged 16 to 69
- Good online customer reviews
- Decent online resources and supporting information available
- A large range of related insurance products available including car, home, boat and travel insurance
- Also savings, investments, ISAs and pensions
- Free £100 gift voucher for new customers
- Also offers mortgage protection and general life insurance
Website: Zurich
Read the full Zurich critical illness insurance review.
7. BHSF
- A credible not-for-profit health and wellbeing provider
- Origins date back to 1873
- Customer service feedback is very good
- Critical illness cover designed specifically as a Cancer Cover policy
- It pays a cash sum of up to £25,000 if you’re diagnosed with malignant cancer
- Premiums from £4.33 per month
- Applicable for any UK resident aged 18 to 64 years
- Other services include Health Cash Plans, Travel Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance and Will Writing
- Also offers general life insurance policies
- Family history not factored in for critical illness cover – even if you’ve got a history of cancer
Website: BHSF
Read the full BHSF critical illness insurance review.
8. Canada Life
- A long established, global company dating back to 1847
- Award-winning products and services
- 5 Star financial rating
- Critical illness covers 52 critical conditions
- Includes 44 additional illnesses for a lower amount of cover
- Automatic cover for children
- ‘Canada Life App’ included with cover
- 1000s of extra rewards and discounts offered to customers
- Useful online support tools available such as budget planners and loan calculators
- Policies include free access to counselling and wellbeing services
- An easy to navigate website with useful FAQs and a glossary of terms
- Comprehensive whole of life insurance plans for ultra-high-net-worth individuals
Website: Canada Life
Read the full Canada Life critical illness insurance review.
9. Churchill
- A large, respected UK brand
- Now acquired by the Royal Bank of Scotland Group
- The second largest general insurer in the UK
- 2019 Organisation of the Year award winner
- Many positive reviews and happy customers
- Critical illness cover provided by AIG, called Critical3
- Smart Health services offered at no extra cost
- Useful online life insurance calculator available
- Tesco gift card offered to new customers
- Specialist in life cover for over 50s
Website: Churchill
Read the full Churchill critical illness insurance review.
10. Covea
- A global commercial insurer
- Over 5 years heritage in the market
- Specialist insurance products for members of HM Armed Forces
- Cover amount ranges from £50,000 to £750,000
- Award winning claims service
- Some positive reviews and feedback from happy customers
- UK customer support team available 24/7
- Other products include car and home insurance and accident protection
- Also offers over 50s and general life insurance
Website: Covea
Read the full Covea critical illness insurance review.
11. Countrywide
- The UK’s largest property services group
- A large network of consultants
- 850 branches across the UK
- A large range of related protection products across other sectors
- Critical illness cover provided by Aviva Life & Pensions UK Ltd
- Also offers general life insurance, mortgage protection and income protection insurance
Website: Countrywide
Read the full Countrywide critical illness insurance review.
12. Direct Line
- A well-known brand offering a large portfolio of insurance products
- Defaqto 5 Star rating
- An informative website with decent supporting documentation
- Existing customers receive a 7% discount
- Competitive cover from £5 per month
- Critical 3 Policy covers heart attack, cancer and stroke
- Policy provided by AIG
- 99% of claims paid out
- Gift card worth up to £180 for new customers
- Other products include car, home, business, travel, pet and landlord insurance
- Also offers over 50s and general life insurance
Website: Direct Line
Read the full Direct Line critical illness insurance review.
14. HSBC
- A trusted brand name
- One of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations
- Life cover pays up to £2 million upon death or terminal illness diagnosis
- Critical illness cover available for UK residents aged 17 and 59
- Accidental death cover included for free
- A large range of related financial products available
- Online planning tools available to facilitate decision making
- Telephone Protection Advice service offered
- Also offers general life insurance and income protection life insurance
Website: HSBC
Read the full HSBC critical illness insurance review.
15. Legal & General
- A popular, trusted brand, founded in 1836
- One of the UK’s largest providers of life insurance
- 5 Star Defaqto rated
- 2020 Moneyfacts award winner
- A large range of individual life assurance products to choose from
- Competitive premiums from £5 per month
- Children’s critical illness cover automatically included
- Helpful online life insurance calculator
- A well informed website with decent FAQs and supporting information
- Free £100 M&S or Amazon gift card for new customers
- Also offers general life insurance, over 50s, mortgage protection and income protection insurance
Website: Legal & General
Read the full Legal & General critical illness insurance review.
16. LV
- A long established, trusted brand since 1843
- Excellent customer feedback
- Winner of the Moneywise Most Trusted Life Insurance provider seven years running
- Competitive cover from £5 per month
- Terminal illness cover included at no extra cost with life insurance policies
- Critical illness policy covers 48 serious illness conditions
- Up to £25,000 of children’s critical illness cover automatically included
- Available for UK residents aged 17 to 64
- Single life or joint life cover available
- Free access to LV Doctor Services
- A helpful, informative website
- Also offers general life insurance, mortgage protection and income protection insurance
Website: LV
Read the full LV critical illness insurance review.
17. Nationwide Building Society
- A trusted popular brand
- The largest building society in the world
- 15% discount on life insurance for members
- A wide range of critical illnesses are covered
- Includes additional benefits for children such as Accident Hospitalisation Benefit worth £5,000
- Available for UK residents aged 18 to 67
- A large range of related financial services offered
- Well informed website
- Decent online FAQs and supporting information
- 30 day cool down period
- Also offers general life insurance, mortgage protection and income protection insurance
Website: Nationwide
Read the full Nationwide critical illness insurance review.
18. NFU Mutual
- A trusted brand name within rural communities and businesses
- Owned and run by its 900,000 members
- Partnered with AIG to provide cover
- Comprehensive levels of life cover offered
- Available for UK residents aged 17 to 75
- Single and Joint Life policies available
- Terms range from 3 to 50 years but must end before you’re 86
- Also offers general life insurance, income protection and whole life insurance
Website: NFU Mutual
Read the full NFU Mutual critical illness insurance review.
19. NPA
- A long established business since 1921
- A representative voice of the pharmacy sector to government and regulatory bodies
- Products are specialist for the pharmacy sector
- Terms and decreasing cover options available
- Also offers general life insurance, mortgage protection and income protection life insurance
Website: NPA
Read the full NPA critical illness insurance review.
20. Post Office
- A trusted and well-respected brand, owned by UK Government Investments
- Voted Best Online Life Insurance Provider 2019 by YourMoney.com
- Life insurance policy is provided by The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited
- Policy includes Terminal Illness Cover at no additional cost
- Critical illness cover pays an extra cash sum of 25% of the value of your Post Office Life Insurance up to a maximum of £125,000
- A large range of financial and related services offered
- An informative website with useful links, FAQs and an online Life Insurance Calculator
- Free £50 Argos, M&S or Amazon Gift Card for new customers
- Also offers general life insurance, over 50s and mortgage protection insurance
Website: Post Office
Read the full Post Office critical illness insurance review.
21. Royal London
- A popular, well established and respected brand
- The UK’s largest mutual life and pensions company
- 2020 Platinum Trusted Service award winner
- Some excellent online reviews from happy customers
- A large range of insurance, pension, investment, retirement and funeral products offered
- Policy covers 47 critical illness or total permanent disabilities
- Terminal Illness Cover included at no additional cost
- A helpful website with decent access to FAQs and online resources
- Also offers general life insurance, over 50s, mortgage protection, income protection and whole life insurance
Website: Royal London
Read the full Royal London critical illness insurance review.
22. Sainsbury’s Bank
- A trusted British brand
- Britain’s longest standing Supermarket Bank
- Good customer feedback and reviews
- A quick, simple online process
- Most life insurance products offered
- Related services include loans, savings, insurance, travel money and credit cards
- Also offers general life insurance, over 50s, mortgage protection and whole life insurance
Website: Sainsbury’s Bank
Read the full Sainsbury’s Bank critical illness insurance review.
23. Sanlam Wealthsmiths
- A well-established life insurance company over 100 years old
- Strong range of related financial services offered
- Personalised policies available for tailored needs
- Defaqto 5 Star Rating
- Multiple award winner including Private Asset Manager Awards 2019, Wealthnet and Investors Choice
- Also offers general life insurance and income protection insurance
Website: Sanlam
Read the full Sanlam critical illness insurance review.
25. TSB
- A large, well-known brand
- Partnered with Legal & General to provide protection products
- Competitive premiums from £6 per month
- Terminal Illness Cover and Accidental Death Benefit included for free
- Available for UK residents aged 18 to 79
- Children also covered in the policy
- A large range of related financial services including various bank accounts, savings, loans, mortgages and insurance products
- Also offers mortgage protection and general life insurance
Website: TSB
Read the full TSB critical illness insurance review.
26. Vitality
- A popular, family brand
- Excellent reviews and great customer feedback
- A large range of cover options to choose from
- Competitive cover from £9.75 per month
- Up to 40% off life insurance premiums for the first year
- Critical illness plan covers 182 conditions, more than any other cover on the market
- Pays out for less severe conditions as well as critical ones
- Minimum serious illness cover term of 10 years
- Maximum age of 60 at entry
- A helpful, informative website
- Useful online resources and supporting documents
- 5 Star Defaqto Rating
- Also offers general life insurance, mortgage protection, income protection and whole life insurance
Website: Vitality
Read the full Vitality critical illness insurance review.
What is critical illness cover?
Critical illness cover is a type of insurance that pays out a tax-free lump sum if you’re diagnosed with, or undergo surgery for, a critical illness that meets the definitions as stated by the policy term. It is designed to help support you and your family financially while you deal with your diagnosis – so you can focus on your recovery without worrying about how the bills will be paid. Provided you keep paying your premiums, you should be covered throughout the term. And once the policy term ends, all protection stops. When you take out critical illness cover you can decide how long it will last, for example, until your children have grown up, or until the mortgage is paid off.
What does critical illness cover?
The illnesses covered by a critical illness policy will vary between insurers, so it is important to check the details of a policy before you buy. The kinds of illnesses that are covered are usually long-term and very serious conditions such as a heart attack or stroke, loss of arms or legs, or diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. Conditions that could be classed as a critical illness include kidney failure, coma paralysis, heart valve surgery, blindness, deafness, loss of speech, fulminant hepatitis, major organ or bone marrow transplantation, Alzheimer’s disease, major burns, terminal illness, HIV, end stage lung disease or liver failure, muscular dystrophy, bacterial meningitis, benign brain tumour, viral encephalitis, motor neurone disease and more.
Why do I need critical illness cover?
Critical illness insurance provides you with a lump sum of money if you are diagnosed with certain illnesses or disabilities. It is a good idea to think about how much you would need to live on if you became seriously ill and whether you would need some extra money to boost your income during such an emotionally and financially difficult time. Most people feel that life insurance will cover the needs of their family if they should die prematurely, but suffering from a critical illness or long term disability can be just as devastating financially. So if you have dependents relying on you for an income then critical illness insurance is worth it.
How much critical illness cover do I need?
The amount of critical illness cover you will need will depend on your circumstances, such as your current earnings and outgoings. When calculating your cover amount many considerations will come into play such as: Will you still be able to work and earn an income to live off, should you be diagnosed with a serious illness? How much savings do you have and can they be readily accessed? Do you have other debts that need paying? How expensive is the treatment going to be? What travel costs will the treatment incur? Will you need to make alterations or adjustments to your house to accommodate your new illness? Will you need to employ a helper or carer during this time? Once you have calculated this you will start to get a broad picture of what lump sum of cover may be required, for both you and your family moving forward, to continue your current lifestyle. Generally speaking, a good starting point is to aim for a lump sum that is equivalent to your level of life cover.
How much is critical illness cover?
The cost of critical illness cover will depend on your age, benefits and level of benefits chosen. Often, critical illness cover is added to an existing life insurance policy, with a payment then made upon death or diagnosis of a serious illness. Different insurance providers will obviously charge different amounts for this type of cover, but comparisons should not just be made on price but also the level of cover offered, length of cover, type of premium and types of illnesses included in the policies. Generally speaking, critical illness policies that cost the least are those which have the fewest conditions covered and the tightest constraints over when it will pay out for a claim.
When does critical illness cover payout?
A critical illness insurance claim can be paid either from the date the medical condition is diagnosed or after a set period of time has elapsed after diagnosis. The payout will be made as a lump sum based on the amount insured. This money is usually sent out to you within 30 days after your claim, however this will depend on the terms of the policy. When you receive the money from your critical illness insurance claim, the funds you receive are not counted as income and are therefore not taxable. You did not earn anything.
Which critical illness cover is best?
There are several types of critical illness cover available including:
- Stand Alone Cover – often the cheapest, this level of cover pays out a lump sum only if a critical illness is diagnosed within the term of the policy.
- Critical illness cover with life insurance – this is usually added to your life insurance policy and pays out if a critical illness is diagnosed within the term of the policy, at which point your life insurance policy will terminate also.
- Critical illness cover with mortgage life insurance – this is designed to pay off your mortgage should you be diagnosed with a critical illness and hence no longer able to work and pay your monthly mortgage repayments.
The type and level of critical illness cover that you will need, and thus the best choice for you, will ultimately depend on your personal circumstances, such as your current earnings and outgoings, lifestyle factors, the need to support dependants, as well as any integration with existing life insurance products that you may have.