Critical illness cover, where the wording is the product.
A tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of the conditions defined in your policy. Which conditions, and how tightly they are defined, matters far more than the monthly premium.
- Free initial advice
- No credit check to talk
- FCA regulated
- No obligation
Why the cheapest policy is often the worst one
Every critical illness policy lists the conditions it covers and then defines each one precisely. Two policies can both say they cover a heart attack and mean materially different things, because one requires a higher threshold of evidence than the other. The same is true of cancer, where the treatment of early-stage and non-invasive diagnoses varies enormously between insurers.
This is why sorting a list by premium is such a poor way to buy this product. The cheapest policy on the page is frequently the one covering the fewest conditions under the narrowest definitions, and you will not discover that until you claim.
It is also why we ask about your family history. If there is a particular condition you are worried about, we can tell you which insurers define it most generously and steer you towards them, which is not something a price filter can do for you.
What matters here
- Only the specific conditions defined in the policy are covered
- Definitions vary substantially between insurers for the same named condition
- Many policies pay a reduced amount for less severe or early-stage diagnoses
- Children's cover is included as standard on most modern policies
- You usually must survive a defined period, often fourteen days, after diagnosis
- It can be combined with life cover or bought as a standalone policy
- The policy has no cash-in value and ends at the end of the term
Four steps, no surprises
Most people come to us unsure what they are even allowed to ask for. This is how we take it from there.
We listen
A free call, at a time that suits you. We ask what you are trying to achieve and what is worrying you. No jargon, no pressure, no obligation to go further.
We research
We look across the lenders and providers available to us and work out what is genuinely open to you, then explain the options in plain English, including the ones we would rule out and why.
We recommend
You get a written recommendation setting out what we suggest, what it costs, and the risks. You decide whether to proceed. Nothing happens until you say so.
We see it through
We handle the application, chase the lender and solicitor, and keep you updated until completion. You always know who to ring.
Judge us on what people actually said
We do not advertise on television. Our reputation is the only thing speaking for us.
Incredible professional support right through the process. I wish our solicitor met this exemplary standard. Peter was always available even at weekends, responding almost immediately to our requests. My wife and I have no hesitation in calling on his services again.
Great service from start to finish. Very polite at all times. Kept up to date with the process. Nothing to complain about.
Excellent from start to finish. I thought I was pretty good at looking after my finances, but the great help I had from the people I dealt with showed me otherwise. Their expertise in all matters financial was second to none.
Let us find out what is actually open to you
One free call. No credit check, no obligation, and a straight answer about what is realistic.
What happens when you call
- You speak to a qualified adviser, not a call centre
- We ask what you are trying to achieve, then listen
- You get an honest view of what is realistic
- No pressure and no obligation to go further
Questions we hear a lot
If yours is not here, ring us. We would rather answer it properly than leave you guessing.
How many conditions should a policy cover?
Modern policies commonly list between forty and ninety conditions, but the count is a poor guide. The overwhelming majority of claims are for cancer, heart attack and stroke, so how well those three are defined matters more than whether the list runs to ninety items. We look at the definitions of the common conditions first.
What is a partial payment?
Most policies pay a smaller percentage of the sum assured for less severe diagnoses, such as low-grade prostate cancer or a less severe heart procedure. Partial payments usually do not end the policy, so full cover continues afterwards. How generous these are is one of the biggest practical differences between insurers.
Should I combine it with life cover or keep it separate?
A combined policy is cheaper but pays out once, on the first event, and then ends. So a critical illness claim leaves you with no life cover afterwards, at an age when replacing it may be expensive or impossible. Separate policies cost more and both remain in force. We will show you both prices.
Are claims often refused?
Industry-wide, the large majority of critical illness claims are paid. Most declines come down to either the condition not meeting the policy definition, or non-disclosure at the application stage. The first is why we read the wording and the second is why we go through your medical history carefully before submitting anything.
Critical illness cover pays out only for the specific conditions listed and defined in the policy, and only where your diagnosis meets that definition and you survive any required period. Not all illnesses are covered, and definitions vary between insurers. The policy has no cash-in value at any time and cover ends at the end of the term.
Tell us what you are trying to do
One short form. A real adviser will call you back, usually the same working day.