Critical illness cover quotes
- Tell us who needs cover in about two minutes
- One protection specialist firm looks at your enquiry
- Free quote with no obligation to go ahead
Simple from the very first question
- No medical questions in this form
- Free, with no obligation
- Takes about two minutes
- One specialist firm, not a list
How it works
From your first answer to your options in plain English, it is one short form and one specialist firm. Nothing is decided until you are happy.
Tell us who needs cover
Answer a few quick questions about who you want to protect and what the money is for. It takes about two minutes, with no medical questions.
Get my quoteOne specialist firm looks
Your enquiry goes to one protection specialist firm, an adviser or broker on the FCA register. Not a list of companies.
Get my quoteYou decide
They explain your options in plain English. You choose whether to go ahead, and there is no obligation.
Get my quoteWhat critical illness cover pays for
It pays a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a condition your policy covers and it meets that policy's written definition. You decide what the money is for, from the mortgage to time off to recover.
- Cancer
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Multiple sclerosis
- Kidney failure
- Children's cover
Most claims are for cancer, heart attack and stroke. Source: Association of British Insurers.
Who is critical illness cover for?
Young families
If one of you became seriously ill, a lump sum could cover the mortgage and childcare while you recover together.
Get my quoteIf you work
Sick pay may not last long. A payout could give you time to recover without rushing back.
Get my quoteOn your own
With no second income to lean on, your own cover means you are not relying on savings alone.
Get my quoteOver 50
Cover is available later in life too. Your age when you apply is one of the things that shapes the cost.
Get my quoteFrequently asked questions
Is critical illness cover worth it?
It depends on the gap a covered illness could leave. Check your savings, employer sick pay, existing insurance and the income your household could still rely on. A lump sum may help with costs beyond lost earnings, such as extra childcare or changes to your home.
How much critical illness cover do I need?
Start with what you would want the money to pay for. List rent or mortgage payments, household bills, debts and possible extra costs, then think about how long help might be needed. Allow for savings and income that would still be there.
Can I get it without life insurance?
Yes. This is called standalone cover, and it pays for a qualifying illness claim rather than death. If you look at cover that includes both, ask what happens to the life insurance after an illness payment.
Can I get cover with an existing health condition?
Insurers assess applications one by one, including health history, treatment and the condition involved. Outcomes can include different terms or an exclusion. A protection specialist can check how your situation may be assessed.
When does critical illness cover pay out?
A claim needs to meet the policy's written definition while cover is in force. Some conditions need a particular severity or treatment, and many policies have a survival period, a set time you must live after the diagnosis before the claim is paid.
How is it different from income protection?
Critical illness cover usually pays one lump sum when a listed condition meets the policy's definition. Income protection makes regular payments if illness or injury stops you working, normally after a waiting period. Many people look at both.
Start with one simple question
Who needs cover? It takes about two minutes, and there are no medical questions in this form.
Get my quote