What would a serious diagnosis mean for your mortgage?
Critical illness cover pays a tax-free lump sum on diagnosis of a listed serious condition — money to clear the mortgage, replace lost income, or adapt your home while you focus on recovery.
Should you fail to disclose or misrepresent a fact, then you risk the insurer only paying part of a claim, declining to pay all the claim possibly, declaring the policy invalid.
What is critical illness cover?
A financial cushion when it matters most
Critical illness cover pays a one-off, tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of the serious conditions listed in the policy. Cancer, heart attack and stroke account for the majority of claims, but comprehensive policies cover dozens of conditions.
Unlike income protection, which pays a monthly benefit while you cannot work, critical illness cover pays once, on diagnosis — whether or not you are able to carry on working. Many clients use it to clear the mortgage entirely, so that whatever happens next, the family home is secure.
We compare policies from a comprehensive range of insurers, looking at the conditions covered, how each condition is defined, severity-based payments and children's cover — not just the premium — to recommend cover that will genuinely respond when you need it.
Key things to understand
- Pays a one-off, tax-free lump sum on diagnosis of a listed condition
- Cancer, heart attack and stroke make up most claims
- Condition definitions vary significantly between insurers
- Can be combined with life insurance or bought standalone
- Children's cover is included with many policies
- Can be set up to clear your mortgage balance in full
- Some policies make partial payments for less severe conditions
- Premiums depend on age, health, smoker status and cover amount
Why choose us
Critical illness cover chosen carefully
Definitions matter
Two policies can both say they cover cancer or stroke — and pay out very differently, because each insurer defines conditions in its own way. We read the definitions so you know exactly what you are buying.
The right sum assured
Too little cover leaves the job half done; too much means overpaying every month. We work from your mortgage balance, income and family circumstances to recommend a figure that actually fits.
Combined or standalone
Critical illness cover can be added to a life insurance policy or arranged on its own — the right structure depends on your mortgage, family and budget. We recommend the combination that gives the most protection for your premium.
Common questions
Critical illness FAQs
The most common questions we get about critical illness cover.
Every policy has its own list — typically anywhere from 40 to over 100 conditions, ranging from cancer, heart attack and stroke to multiple sclerosis, organ failure and Parkinson's disease. What matters is not the length of the list but how each condition is defined. We compare definitions across insurers, not just headline condition counts.
No. Life insurance pays out if you die during the policy term; critical illness cover pays out if you are diagnosed with a listed serious condition and survive. They are often combined into a single policy, which is usually better value than buying them separately.
Critical illness cover pays a one-off lump sum on diagnosis of a listed condition. Income protection pays a monthly income if you cannot work — for any medical reason. They solve different problems, and many clients benefit from having both.
No — it pays for the specific conditions listed in the policy, at the severity the policy defines. That is also why full and accurate disclosure at application matters so much: honest answers about your health and lifestyle mean the insurer cannot later question a valid claim.
Would a lump sum keep your family secure?
Find out in a no-obligation review what the right level of critical illness cover looks like for your mortgage and your family.
Initial consultations are completely free of charge. There may be a fee for mortgage advice. The precise amount will depend upon your circumstances and will be agreed with you before proceeding but will range from £150 to £500 and this will be discussed and agreed with you at the earliest opportunity.