Sheffield Town Hall

Critical Illness Cover

Financial protection when you need it most. Get a lump sum payment if you're diagnosed with a serious illness.

What is Critical Illness Cover?

Critical illness cover is an insurance policy that pays out a tax-free lump sum if you're diagnosed with a specific serious illness listed in your policy. This financial support can help you and your family cope during a difficult time, allowing you to focus on your recovery without financial worries.

Financial Protection

Provides a lump sum payment that can help cover medical expenses, mortgage payments, and other financial obligations during your recovery.

Income Replacement

Helps replace lost income if you're unable to work due to a critical illness, allowing you to maintain your standard of living.

Peace of Mind

Gives you the reassurance that you'll have financial support if you're diagnosed with a serious illness, allowing you to focus on your recovery.

Why Critical Illness Cover Matters

Many people underestimate the financial impact a critical illness can have on their lives. Consider these facts:

  • • 1 in 2 people in the UK will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime
  • • Every 5 minutes, someone in the UK has a stroke
  • • Around 7.6 million people in the UK are living with heart and circulatory diseases
  • • The average UK household has less than £3,000 in savings

Critical illness cover provides a crucial financial safety net, ensuring you can focus on your recovery without the added stress of financial worries if you're diagnosed with a serious illness.

Types of Critical Illness Cover

There are several types of critical illness policies available, each designed to meet different needs and circumstances. Understanding the options is the first step in choosing the right coverage for you and your family.

Standalone Critical Illness Cover

A policy that specifically covers critical illnesses without any life insurance element. It pays out if you're diagnosed with a condition covered by your policy.

Best for: Those seeking focused protection for serious illnesses without life insurance

Combined Life and Critical Illness Cover

A policy that combines life insurance with critical illness cover, providing comprehensive protection for both death and serious illness.

Best for: Those wanting comprehensive protection in one policy

Family Critical Illness Cover

Extends protection to include your children for certain critical illnesses, providing financial support if your child becomes seriously ill.

Best for: Families with children seeking comprehensive protection

Severity-Based Cover

Pays out different amounts based on the severity of your condition. More serious conditions receive higher payouts, while less severe ones receive smaller amounts.

Best for: Those wanting flexible coverage based on illness severity

Business Critical Illness Cover

Designed for business owners and key employees, providing financial protection for the business if a key person is diagnosed with a critical illness.

Best for: Business owners, partnerships, and companies with key personnel

Additional Critical Illness Cover

An add-on to an existing life insurance policy that provides an additional payout if you're diagnosed with a critical illness.

Best for: Those with existing life insurance wanting to add critical illness protection

Our Critical Illness Cover Process

Income protection insurance offers numerous advantages that can significantly improve your financial security and provide peace of mind for you and your family.

Financial Security

Ensures you can continue to pay your mortgage, bills, and other essential expenses if you're unable to work due to illness or injury.

Long-Term Protection

Unlike statutory sick pay or employer benefits, income protection can provide support for years or even until retirement age.

Protect Your Lifestyle

Helps maintain your standard of living and prevents you from having to deplete your savings or take on debt during periods of illness.

Flexible Coverage

Policies can be tailored to your specific needs, with options for different waiting periods, benefit periods, and additional features.


Tax Benefits

Benefits from personal income protection policies are typically paid tax-free, maximising the financial support you receive when you need it most.


Comprehensive Coverage

Covers a wide range of illnesses and injuries that might prevent you from working, including mental health conditions and stress-related issues.


Our Income Protection Process

Getting the right income protection coverage is a straightforward process when you work with our experienced advisors. Here's how we help you secure the protection you need:


  • Needs Assessment

    We'll help you determine what level of coverage you need based on your income, expenses, existing benefits, and specific concerns.

  • Coverage Calculation

    We'll calculate the appropriate coverage options considering your occupation, age, health, desired level of cover, and any additional benefits you might need.

  • Policy Research

    We'll research the market to identify the most suitable policies and providers based on your specific needs, occupation, health status, and budget.

  • Application and Underwriting

    We'll assist with the application process, including any medical questionnaires or examinations required by the insurer during underwriting.

  • Policy Setup

    Once approved, we'll ensure your policy is correctly established and that you understand exactly what is covered and how to make claims.

  • Regular Review

    We'll conduct periodic reviews to ensure your coverage remains aligned with your changing income, health needs, and circumstances.

Our Critical Illness Cover Process

Getting the right critical illness coverage is a straightforward process when you work with our experienced advisers. Here's how we help you secure the protection you need:

Needs Assessment

We'll help you determine how much coverage you need based on your financial obligations, income, dependents, and long-term goals.



Save for a Deposit

Most lenders require at least 5-10% of the property value as a deposit. Government schemes like Help to Buy and Lifetime ISAs can help boost your savings.

Coverage Calculation

We'll calculate the appropriate coverage amount considering your mortgage, debts, income replacement needs, and potential medical expenses.



Get Mortgage Ready

Check your credit score, gather necessary documents, and understand your budget. We'll help you prepare for the mortgage application process.

Policy Research

We'll research the market to identify the most suitable policies and providers based on your specific needs, health status, and budget.

Find Your Dream Home

With a mortgage in principle, you can start viewing properties within your budget and make offers with confidence.

Application and Underwriting

We'll assist with the application process, including any medical questionnaires or examinations required by the insurer during underwriting.

Complete the Purchase

Once your offer is accepted, we'll guide you through the legal process, surveys, and final mortgage application to completion.

Policy Setup

Once approved, we'll ensure your policy is correctly established, beneficiaries are properly designated, and any trust arrangements are set up if needed.


Move In

Congratulations! You've completed your purchase and can now move into your first home. We'll still be here for any future mortgage needs.

Regular Review

We'll conduct periodic reviews to ensure your coverage remains aligned with your changing life circumstances and financial needs.


Complete the Purchase

Once your offer is accepted, we'll guide you through the legal process, surveys, and final mortgage application to completion.

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to common questions about critical illness cover and how it can protect you and your family.
What illnesses are typically covered by critical illness insurance?
Most critical illness policies cover cancer, heart attack, stroke, and major organ transplants as standard. More comprehensive policies may include conditions like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, kidney failure, and severe burns. The exact conditions covered vary by insurer and policy, with some premium policies covering 80+ conditions. It's important to check the policy details carefully, as definitions of covered conditions can vary between insurers.
How is critical illness cover different from life insurance and income protection?
These three types of insurance serve different purposes: 1) Life insurance pays out when you die, providing financial security for your dependents, 2) Critical illness cover pays out a lump sum if you're diagnosed with a specific serious illness, regardless of whether you can work or not, 3) Income protection provides regular payments if you're unable to work due to illness or injury, typically paying a percentage of your income until you return to work, reach retirement, or the policy ends. Many people choose a combination of these policies for comprehensive protection.
Can I get critical illness cover if I have pre-existing medical conditions?
Yes, you can still get critical illness cover with pre-existing conditions, but there may be some limitations: 1) The insurer might exclude the pre-existing condition and any related conditions from your coverage, 2) You may be charged higher premiums to reflect the increased risk, 3) In some cases, an application might be declined if the condition significantly increases your risk. It's important to be completely honest about your medical history when applying, as non-disclosure could invalidate your policy. Working with an adviser can help you find insurers who are more accommodating of your specific health conditions.
How much critical illness cover do I need?
The amount of cover you need depends on your personal circumstances. Consider: 1) Your mortgage and other debts that would need to be paid off, 2) Ongoing living expenses for you and your dependents, 3) Potential medical or treatment costs not covered by the NHS, 4) Home modifications that might be needed, 5) Loss of income during recovery. A common approach is to have coverage equal to at least your mortgage balance plus 1-2 years of living expenses. Our advisers can help you calculate an appropriate amount based on your individual situation.
Will my premiums increase over time?
This depends on the type of policy you choose: 1) Guaranteed premiums remain fixed throughout the policy term, providing certainty about costs but starting higher, 2) Reviewable premiums start lower but are reviewed periodically (typically every 5 years) and may increase based on your age, claims experience, and other factors, 3) Age-banded premiums increase at set age thresholds. When you apply, we'll clearly explain how your premiums work and whether they might change in the future so you can make an informed decision.
Is the payout from critical illness cover taxable?
In most cases, the lump sum payout from a critical illness policy is tax-free in the UK. However, there are some exceptions: 1) If the policy is owned by a business, the payout may have tax implications for the business, 2) If the policy is part of an investment product, there may be tax considerations, 3) If the policy is written in trust, this can help avoid inheritance tax if you die. It's always advisable to consult with a financial adviser about the tax implications of your specific policy and circumstances.

Protect Your Financial Future

Don't leave yourself financially vulnerable. Our expert advisers can help you find the right critical illness coverage to ensure your security and peace of mind if the unexpected happens.


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