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Critical Illness Insurance Explained

Critical illness insurance pays a one off lump sum, if you are diagnosed with a qualifying critical illness during the term of the policy.

The types and range of critical illnesses covered vary from company to company, so always we recommend you read the insurance companies key facts document before you apply for your critical illness insurance policy.

You can choose both the term of the policy and the level of cover, although some restrictions may apply.

For a more in depth view of critical illness insurance please see Critical Illness explained below.

Critical Illness Insurance Pros & Cons

Pros

• It will be useful if you would like to protect yourself or your families financially if you are diagnosed with a critical illness.
• It is up to you how you spend the money.

Cons

• Not all critical illnesses will be covered under the policy, so compare the key facts document of the critical illness providers before you buy.
• You are sometimes not covered for pre-existing conditions.
• Critical illness insurnce policies can be expensive.

Critical Illness Protection Explained

Critical illness protection pays a lump sum on initial diagnosis of a qualifying critical illness. When you make a claim you are allowed to keep the policy pay-out even if you make a full recovery.

It can be built into another life insurance policy on a level term, decreasing term (mortgage life insurance) family income benefit (pays a monthly amount) or as a stand alone critical illness policy. Once you have made a critical illness claim it is normal that you policy will cease and other benefits will therefore cease.

Critical illness protection policies vary but nearly always include the following illnesses;

heart attack, cancer, a stroke, kidney failure, coronary bypass or transplant. For full details on the cover provided it is advisable to compare the Key Facts document for each proividers quotation produced.

Typical Critical Illness Cover

The types and range of critical illnesses covered vary from insurance company to company, so we recommend you read the key facts document before you apply for your critical illness policy. We have produced a typical list of critical illnesses covered by a critical illness policy to give you a guide as to whether a critical illness insurance plan is right for you.

Critical Illness Cover Guide

Critical illness protection policies can be split into three types :

Death or Earlier Critical Illness  pays on either death or critical illness but not both.

Death AND Critical Illness  pays on critical illness and death. Once a claim has been made against a critical illness, further critical illness claims cannot be made.

Stand alone critical illness pays out once on diagnosis of a qualifying critical illness during the policy term.

Additional options and areas for consideration include:

• Stand alone Critical Illness: with stand alone critical illness quotes in some cases the premiums can be higher than that of a comparable life and critical illness policy quotation.

• Waiver of Premium: if illness prevents you from working your monthly premiums are paid on your behalf for after a set deferment period. Check the quotes Key Facts documents for each quotation produced.

• Survival Period: most policies require you to survive for a specified period following a critical illness diagnosis, typically 14 days to 3 months. Check the quotes Key Facts documents for each quotation produced.

• Permanent Total Disability: if this is not included you will be unable to claim if an illness or accident leaves you unable to work. Also, check the definition of 'permanent total disability'. Some policies define it as being unable to perform any job whilst others define it as being unable to continue in your previous occupation. Check the quotes Key Facts documents for each quotation produced.

• Children: some policies will pay out a fixed lump sum should one of your  children be diagnosed with a critical illness. The terms and conditions of policies vary, check the quotes Key Facts documents for each quotation produced.

The Critical Illness Mortgage Protection

• Peace of mind
• Mortgage is cleared on diagnosis of a qualifying critical Illness
• Protect your family from the event that you are unable to work

 

Critical Illness Insurance Quote

Our critical illness insurance quotation tool allows you to compare the leading insurance companies critical illness premiums. What's more Go Direct guarantee that at the time of application you will not get cheaper like for like cover as we rebate 50% of the initial commission the provider pays us back into your critical illness insurance policy.

Do you want advice on Critical Illness insurance?

After looking through the critical illness insurance information if you would like critical illness advice, complete our critical illness cover and life insurance enquiry form and we will contact you to discuses your protection needs.

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• Income Protection Explain
• Life Insurance Advice
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• Mortgage Top Ten

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