Most people insure their car and their home. But if you were diagnosed with cancer, had a heart attack, or suffered a stroke tomorrow — could you pay your mortgage while you recover? Critical illness cover pays a tax-free lump sum on diagnosis, giving you financial security when your health is the priority. We search the whole market for the right cover at the right price.
Life insurance pays when you die. Critical illness cover pays when you are diagnosed — which is when most people actually need financial support. Here is what the cover does and how we make sure you get the right policy.
The most common reason critical illness claims are declined is not fraud — it is that the condition does not meet the policy's definition. Two policies covering 'cancer' can have dramatically different definitions. One may cover any cancer diagnosis. Another may exclude non-invasive cancers, certain stage-one diagnoses, or cancers caught at early screening. On diagnosis, the last thing you want is to discover that your policy does not cover your specific diagnosis.
This is why we do not simply find the cheapest critical illness premium. We assess the quality of the policy — the breadth of conditions, the precision of the definitions, and the insurer's claims-paying reputation. A policy that costs £5 more per month but has better definitions and a higher claims pay rate is almost always the right recommendation.
We also advise on the survival period — most policies require you to survive a set period after diagnosis (typically 14 or 28 days) before a claim is valid. Shorter survival periods mean claims are paid on more diagnoses. We compare this across policies and factor it into our recommendation.
| Feature | Good policy | Poor policy |
|---|---|---|
| Cancer definition | Includes early-stage | Invasive only |
| Disability definition | Own occupation | Any occupation |
| Survival period | 14 days | 28+ days |
| Conditions covered | 80–100+ | 40–50 |
| Children's CI included | Yes — standard | No / extra cost |
| Claims pay rate | 92%+ | Below 88% |
Industry figures that underline why this cover matters for London families.
Remember: Critical illness pays when you survive a serious diagnosis — which is when most people actually need money. Life insurance alone leaves you unprotected during recovery.
From understanding your needs to policy in force — here is what the process looks like when you come to us.
Critical illness cover is not just about paying off the mortgage. We ask: what are your biggest financial exposures if you were seriously ill? Could you maintain mortgage payments if off work for 12 months? Do you have dependants who rely on your income? Would you want to access private treatment? Do you have savings that would cover a short absence but not a long one? The answers shape the cover level, the term, and whether standalone or combined cover is right for you.
We search the whole market and compare policies on premium, conditions covered, definitions, survival period, children's cover inclusion, and the insurer's claims pay rate. We present you with a clear comparison — not just the cheapest option — and explain the differences in plain English so you can make an informed choice. We never recommend a policy we would not recommend to our own family.
Accurate health disclosure is critical for critical illness cover — arguably more so than for life insurance, because a claim is more likely to be made during your lifetime when the insurer can investigate thoroughly. We go through the health questions with you in detail, help you understand what needs to be disclosed, and advise on how to present any pre-existing conditions to maximise the chance of a fair underwriting decision and protect any future claim.
Once your policy is in force, we send you a full summary of what is covered, what the key definitions are, and what to do if you need to make a claim. We also brief you on the insurer's claims process. Too many policyholders do not know what is covered by their own policy until the moment they need to claim — we make sure that is never the case for our clients.
Critical illness needs change — a new mortgage, a new child, a pay rise, a divorce. We contact clients proactively at key life events to review whether cover levels are still appropriate. We also flag if a significantly better policy has become available in the market. Your cover should evolve with your life — and we make sure it does.
Questions we hear every week from clients across London, Romford, Ilford and Essex.
All critical illness policies cover the core conditions: cancer, heart attack, and stroke. Most comprehensive policies also cover multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, kidney failure, major organ transplant, loss of limbs, motor neurone disease, and permanent disability — typically 80 to 100+ conditions in total. The definitions of these conditions matter as much as the list — a narrow definition of cancer may exclude early-stage diagnoses. We compare both the breadth and quality of definitions when making recommendations.
Own occupation means the policy pays if you cannot perform your own specific job — not just any job. A surgeon who loses fine motor control, a nurse who cannot stand for long periods, a carpenter with a back injury — all would receive a payout under own occupation. A weaker definition, such as 'any occupation', only pays if you are unable to do any work at all. This is a much higher bar and far fewer claims would qualify. We only recommend policies with the own occupation definition for disability claims.
Standalone critical illness is generally better because a diagnosis claim does not reduce or end your life cover — both policies remain in force independently. Combined life and critical illness pays once — on either death or diagnosis, whichever comes first — which means claiming on CI removes your life cover. However, combined can be more budget-friendly. We compare both structures for your exact circumstances and recommend the approach that gives the most complete protection. In many cases, two separate policies (one life, one CI) provides better value and more flexibility than a single combined policy.
At minimum, cover should be sufficient to clear your mortgage — removing the biggest financial pressure if you are seriously ill and unable to work. Beyond that, consider how long you could manage financially without your income and whether you would want funds for private treatment or home adaptations. A common approach is your mortgage balance plus one to two years' income. We calculate the right level for your situation and search the whole market to find the most competitive premium for that level of cover.
Not necessarily. Insurers assess pre-existing conditions individually. Many common conditions — controlled hypertension, a historic minor skin cancer, past anxiety — are accepted on standard or near-standard terms by some insurers. Where an exclusion is applied, it relates only to that specific condition — the rest of the policy remains in force. We know which insurers take the most favourable view of specific conditions and can often find cover where a client has been refused or loaded elsewhere. Always disclose accurately — non-disclosure can invalidate a claim.
Many policies include children's critical illness cover as standard at no additional cost. This pays out a proportion of the sum assured (typically 25–50%) if your child is diagnosed with a covered condition — giving you funds to take time away from work to be with them during treatment without financial pressure. The conditions covered for children often include childhood-specific illnesses not in the main adult list. We check whether children's cover is included as standard in every policy we recommend and factor this into our comparison.
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Life insurance pays when you die. Critical illness cover pays when you survive something serious — which is when your family needs financial security most. Free consultation, whole of market search, no obligation.
Build a complete protection plan alongside critical illness cover.