UK Critical Illness Insurance

What is Critical Illness Cover?

This type of insurance cover pays a lump sum if you contract and survive one of a number of specified critical illnesses. The insurance is designed to provide additional financial resources to enable you to reduce your monthly commitments by paying off outstanding debts such as your mortgage and any other loans. The cover can also provide useful funds for special health care and convalescence.

What diseases are covered?

The diseases covered by most insurance companies include the following:

Other diseases covered by some insures include, Creutzfeld-Jacob-Disease, HIV resulting from a physical assault, HIV from blood transfusion and pre-senile dementia. You should read the key features document from the insurance company and their guide to critical illness to find out exactly which diseases are covered.

How do the plans work?

Cover is set up on the application form for a selected number of years subject to the insurance company's restrictions. For example, there will be a maximum age that a plan can be taken out. Some insurers also offer whole of life plans.

Your premiums are normally paid on a monthly basis but annual premiums can be available with some insurers. Plans are also available on a joint life or single life basis and can be set up with a level amount of cover, a decreasing amount of cover or cover for the whole of your life on a level basis. Decreasing cover would normally be used to protect the outstanding loan on your capital repayment mortgage. If the cover is set up on a joint basis the plan will come to an end when it has paid out on the first claim.

If you contract one of the specified critical illnesses covered by the plan you will need to survive for a period of time before a claim can be made. This is normally for 28-30 days depending on the insurance company. Most plans provide cover for children, normally up to 18 years, subject to certain restrictions.

Once the claim has been approved the plan will normally pay out a tax free lump sum but some plans can pay an income or have the option to pay an income. Most plans will not normally pay out if the reason for the claim is as a result of a criminal act, drug abuse, pregnancy, self inflicted injury or war and civil commotion.

Are they flexible?

Most plans offer some options which are chosen at time of application. They normally include, waiver of premium with some offering an extension option.

Underwriting considerations

The insurance company will consider a number of factors when deciding to accept the cover applied for. These will usually include:

Advice

The above information is not intended as advice under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. If you need advice on critical illness cover you should consult an Independent Financial Adviser. Face to Face Finance (Anglia) Ltd., Independent Financial Advisers can be contacted on 01603 625100.