Critical Illness Cover

A Critical Illness plan is designed to pay out a lump sum if you are unfortunate enough to suffer from any of an insurer’s specified critical illnesses but survive for a period of time after diagnosis (normally 28 days).

The lump sum could be used to pay for things like nursing care, home-help, adapting your house to accommodate a disability; it could pay off your mortgage or give you a holiday to recover from treatment.

Critical illnesses usually include cancer, heart attack, kidney failure, multiple sclerosis, major organ transplant and strokes. These are known a core conditions and account for the majority of claims. The comprehensiveness of conditions covered varies enormously and details regarding what will and will not be covered will be fully explained in any supporting literature which you should check to ensure it meets your purposes.

It is usual to include cover for permanent total disability within the contract. The definition of Permanent Total Disability does vary and some insurers define it as the life assured being unable to follow his/her normal occupation as a result of sickness whilst others will define it as the life assured being unable to independently perform three or more Activities of Daily Living as a result of sickness or accident.

Critical illness cover can be included as part of your level term assurance policy or as a separate policy.