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Critical Illness Cover

Financial Protection When You Need It Most

A serious illness can change your life overnight. Not only can it affect your health, but it may also impact your ability to work and support your family financially.

Critical illness cover provides a tax-free lump sum payment if you’re diagnosed with a serious illness listed in your policy, helping you focus on recovery rather than worrying about money.

The payout can be used for anything you need, including:

  • Paying your mortgage or rent
  • Covering household bills
  • Replacing lost income
  • Paying for private medical treatment
  • Making adjustments to your home during recovery

Critical illness cover is often taken out alongside life insurance, but it can also be purchased as a standalone policy depending on your needs.

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What Is Critical Illness Cover?

Critical illness cover is a type of insurance that pays out a lump sum if you're diagnosed with a serious medical condition specified in the policy during the term of the cover.

Unlike life insurance, which pays out when you pass away, critical illness cover provides financial support while you are still alive, helping you manage expenses during treatment and recovery.

Most policies require you to survive a short period after diagnosis (often around 10–28 days) before the claim is paid.

What Does Critical Illness Cover Include?

Every insurer has its own policy terms, but most critical illness policies cover serious conditions such as:

  • Cancer (excluding early-stage cases)
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Major organ failure
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Traumatic head injury
  • Loss of limbs or permanent disability

Many policies cover 30–50 different conditions, depending on the insurer and level of cover.

Some insurers may also offer additional options such as:

  • Children’s critical illness cover
  • Partial payouts for less severe conditions
  • Additional protection for disability or serious injury

How it works

01

Choose your cover amount

You decide how much financial protection you want (for example £100,000).
‍

02

Select the policy term

This could match your mortgage term or a period when your family relies on your income.
‍

03

Pay monthly premiums

You pay a monthly or annual premium for the duration of the policy.

‍

04

Receive a payout if diagnosed

If you're diagnosed with a covered illness and meet the policy conditions, you receive a tax-free lump sum payment.

Why Speak to a Mortgage Broker About Protection?

Choosing the right protection policy can be complex. Different insurers cover different conditions, and policy terms vary.

A specialist mortgage broker can help you:

  • Compare policies from multiple insurers
  • Find cover that fits your budget
  • Ensure your mortgage and family are protected
  • Understand exactly what is and isn’t covered
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First-Time Buyer Mortgage Checklist: What To Do Before You Start Viewing Homes
Jamie Alexander
January 24, 2024
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Fee Free Mortgage Broker is a trading style of Alexander Southwell Mortgage Services Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) (FRN 1011890).
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Information on this website is for general guidance only and is accurate at the time of writing. It does not constitute personalised financial advice. Mortgage criteria and lender policies can change; please speak to an FCA-authorised adviser for up-to-date advice tailored to your circumstances. Some buy-to-let mortgages are not regulated by the FCA.
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