Frequent Questions
Product Information
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Critical Illness Cover
A critical illness plan pays out a lump sum if you are diagnosed with any of the specified critical illnesses but survive for a period of time after diagnosis.
The lump sum you get could be used to pay for things like nursing care, home help, or adapting your house to accommodate a disability. It could also pay off your mortgage or pay for a holiday to help you recover from treatment.
Critical illnesses usually include cancer, heart attack, kidney failure, multiple sclerosis, major organ transplant and strokes. These are known as core conditions and are the most common illnesses people claim for.
The breadth of conditions covered varies between the companies that offer the insurance coverage. The details of what is covered are fully explained in the policy papers, which you must check fully to ensure that everything meets your needs.
Permanent disability is usually included in the contract. Some insurers define permanent disability as being unable to work as you normally would as a result of sickness whilst others see it as being unable to independently perform three or more ‘Activities of Daily Living’ as a result of sickness or an accident.
Activities of daily living include the following:
- Bathing
- Dressing and undressing
- Eating
- Transferring from bed to chair, and back again
The contract terms will contain very detailed rules that classify when a diagnosis of a critical illness is to be considered valid. It may specify that the diagnosis needs to be made by a physician that specialises in that certain illness or condition, or it may name definite tests that will verify the diagnosis.
You can also purchase Critical illness cover for children.
In certain markets the definition of a claim for many illnesses and conditions have become standardised which means all insurers would use the same claims definition. In the United Kingdom, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has issued a 'Statement of Best Practise', which contains a few standard definitions of critical illnesses.
Serious Illness Cover
- More than 15 million people in England have a chronic or long-term disease ranging from asthma to heart-failure.
- One in three people in Britain will have a cancer diagnosed at some time during their life.
- Of those women who are diagnosed with breast cancer, 62% survive five years
or more. - Less than 10% of all strokes are fatal.
- The possibility of surviving a critical illness before age 65 is almost twice as
great as dying.
What is Covered ?
While traditional critical illness policies cover an average of 27 conditions, our Comprehensive Plan covers 154 and our Primary Plan covers 93. So you’ll be covered for serious illnesses and partial disabilities, not just critical ones.
More cover at an earlier stage, so you get paid sooner
The amount we pay to you is based on the severity of the illness and its impact on your lifestyle. This means we can make a payout to you at an earlier stage of your illness, even if it’s not life-threatening.
More cover if you need to claim again
If you don’t claim your full sum assured your remaining cover will continue, allowing you to make further claims. So if your illness progresses or you’re diagnosed with a new illness you could receive another payout. Traditional critical illness policies pay out once and then end, leaving you unprotected.
More reassurance with continuous cover
Our unique Minimum Protection Account option tops up your Life or Serious Illness Cover immediately after a claim, with no further underwriting, exclusions or premium increases.
More rewards with our health and wellbeing partners
You get automatic membership to our unique Vitality programme which encourages you to get healthier by giving you discounts and rewards on a wide range of services currently including gyms, health screens, health resorts, cinemas and holidays.
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