Protection
Critical Illness Cover
A tax-free lump sum if a specified illness meets the policy's definition and claim conditions. Use it to clear the mortgage, pay for private treatment, or take time off work to recover.
We compare policies from leading UK insurers
What Is Critical Illness Cover?
Critical illness cover (CIC) can pay a one-off, tax-free lump sum if a listed condition meets the policy's definition and any survival-period requirement. Commonly covered conditions include certain cancers, heart attacks and strokes. The list and definitions vary by policy; condition counts alone do not show how comprehensive cover is.
This isn't the same as life insurance. Critical illness cover pays out while you're alive, giving you the financial breathing room to focus on treatment and recovery without worrying about the mortgage or household bills.
The biggest difference between insurers is how they define each condition. A cheaper policy might define "cancer" so narrowly that early-stage diagnoses are excluded. We compare definitions and exclusions to identify cover suited to your needs.
Conditions Typically Covered
These are examples only; covered conditions and definitions vary by policy.
Why Definitions Matter
Cancer definitions and severity requirements vary. Some early-stage cancers may qualify only for a smaller additional payment, not the full sum insured.
Restrictive
Illustrative only: a policy may exclude specified early-stage cancers from its main cancer definition.
Broad
Illustrative only: a policy may offer a smaller additional payment for specified early-stage cancers, subject to its definitions.