Critical Illness Explained
Understanding critical illness cover and what it protects against serious conditions like cancer, heart attack, and stroke.
Learn how critical illness insurance pays a tax-free lump sum if diagnosed with serious conditions like cancer, heart attack, or stroke. We explain typical policy coverage (40+ conditions), survival periods, differences between insurers, and why policies vary significantly in quality. Real claim examples show when cover pays out and when it doesn't.
- What critical illness insurance is: A policy that pays a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with a serious condition covered by the policy
- Conditions typically covered: Most policies cover 40+ conditions including cancer, heart attack, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease
- How claims work: Understanding survival periods, partial payouts for less severe conditions, and the claims process from diagnosis to payout
Policy definitions matter: Two policies covering "cancer" may have different definitions. Some pay for early-stage cancers; others require a specific severity. Always check the policy wording, not just the condition list.
Partial payouts: Many policies now include additional payment events for less severe conditions like early-stage cancers, paying 10-25% of your sum assured while preserving full cover for more serious diagnoses.
Survival periods: Most policies require you to survive 14-28 days after diagnosis before paying out. This is standard across the industry and protects insurers from fraudulent claims.
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