What conditions are covered by Critical Illness Insurance?

What conditions are covered by Critical Illness Insurance? Thumbnail

Posted 20th January 2023 by Keely Marsango

A comprehensive list of conditions covered by a UK critical illness insurance policy can be difficult to find, as every insurer covers slightly different conditions. However, there are 3 core conditions which every critical illness policy does cover, albeit the severity of the condition may affect the payout status.

Critical Illness Policies will always cover*:

  • Cancer
  • Heart Attack
  • Stroke

These three medical conditions account for the majority of claims made.

*It’s important to note that coverage depends on the severity of these conditions.

In addition to the core conditions, insurers can choose to offer coverage for additional conditions. If an insurer offers protection against any of these illnesses, injury or disability they will adhere to the Association of British Insurer’s (ABI) model wording.

Critical Illness Policies will sometimes cover:

Critical Illness Condition ABI model wording
Alzheimer’s disease [before age x] resulting in permanent symptoms
Aorta graft surgery for disease
Benign brain tumour resulting in permanent symptoms
Blindness permanent and irreversible
Coma with associated permanent symptoms
Coronary artery by-pass grafts with surgery to divide the breastbone
Deafness permanent and irreversible
Heart valve replacement or repair with surgery to divide the breastbone
Kidney failure requiring permanent dialysis
Loss of speech total permanent and irreversible
Loss of hand or foot permanent physical severance
Major organ transplant from another donor
Motor neurone disease [before age x] resulting in permanent symptoms
Multiple sclerosis with persisting symptoms
Paralysis of limb total and irreversible
Parkinson’s disease [before age x] resulting in permanent symptoms
Third degree burns covering 20% of the body’s surface
Traumatic brain injury resulting in permanent symptoms
Total permanent disability

For less severe medical conditions, Critical Illness Cover may provide partial and/or additional payouts that are designed to pay out a lump sum for some lower grade illnesses. These payments are usually a fixed amount or a percentage of your cover.

Critical Illness Policies may partially cover:

Conditions which may payout partially, dependant on severity, situ, and treatment required
Accident hospitalisation cover
Carcinoma in-situ of the bile ducts
Carcinoma in-situ of the cervix uteri
Carcinoma in-situ of the gallbladder
Carcinoma in-situ of the lung or bronchus
Carcinoma in-situ of the oesophagus
Carcinoma in-situ of the pancreas
Carcinoma in-situ of the vagina
Ductal or lobular carcinoma in-situ of the breast
Ovarian tumour of borderline malignancy/low malignant potential
Prostate cancer
Testicular carcinoma in-situ
Other carcinomas in-situ
Cerebral or spinal aneurysm
Coronary artery angioplasty
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Removal of one or more lobe(s) of the lung

Always check the policy wording to ensure you are aware of what the Critical Illness Insurance covers and what it doesn’t.

Get your no obligation quote for Critical Illness Insurance from Protect Line today!

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