A tax-free lump sum paid on diagnosis of a serious illness. Not a replacement for your income — a financial cushion that gives you options when you need them most.
Critical illness cover pays a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of a specified list of serious illnesses — cancer, heart attack, stroke, and many others. The payout is yours to use however you choose.
It does not matter whether you can work or not. It does not matter whether you make a full recovery. The trigger is diagnosis alone. That is what makes it distinct from income protection, and why many people benefit from having both.
People use the payout to clear a mortgage, fund private treatment, adapt their home, or simply create financial breathing room during a difficult period. There are no restrictions. The money is yours.
“A lump sum paid if you are diagnosed with a specified serious illness. Provides financial breathing room when you need it most.”
The payout is received free of income tax. No forms to fill, no tax liability. A clean sum to use as you decide.
The exact list varies by policy — which is why the quality of the policy matters as much as the premium. Jack always checks the small print on your behalf.
Important: This is an illustrative list only. Every policy is different. Some policies cover 40+ conditions; others fewer. The breadth and depth of cover matters enormously — Jack will always compare actual policy definitions, not just headlines.
They are not the same thing. They do not replace each other. Understanding the difference is the starting point.
Critical illness cover is worth considering for most working adults — but it is particularly valuable for people who carry significant financial obligations: a mortgage, young children, or business commitments.
It is also worth thinking about in terms of what a serious diagnosis would actually cost you beyond the immediate medical situation. Private treatment. Home adaptations. Time off. The ancillary costs of serious illness are substantial — and rarely anticipated.
Jack's view: if you have a mortgage and a family, and you do not have critical illness cover, that is a gap worth understanding. What you do with that information is your decision entirely.
“A serious diagnosis changes everything. Critical illness cover cannot change the diagnosis — but it can change what happens next financially.”
— Jack Eiles
Honest answers to the questions Jack hears most often about critical illness cover.
Yes. Critical illness cover pays out as a tax-free lump sum. There is no income tax to pay on it, and — provided it is written correctly — it typically falls outside your estate for inheritance tax purposes too. Jack will advise on how to structure it correctly.
They do different things. Income protection replaces your monthly income; critical illness cover gives you a lump sum to use however you choose — clearing a mortgage, adapting your home, covering private treatment. Many people benefit from having both, though the right combination depends on your situation.
Critical illness cover only pays out for conditions specifically listed in the policy. This is an important limitation — and why the quality and breadth of the policy matters. Jack will always look at the actual list of covered conditions, not just the headline summary.
This varies significantly between providers. Some pay the full sum for any cancer diagnosis; others have severity requirements. It is one of the most important questions to ask when comparing policies — and one Jack always checks on your behalf.
Yes. Combined policies pay out whichever happens first — a specified diagnosis or death. Standalone policies pay on diagnosis regardless of survival. A standalone policy can pay out twice: once on diagnosis and once on death. The right structure depends on your priorities.
The first conversation is free. Jack will explain what critical illness cover would cost for your situation, what it would and would not cover, and how it fits alongside any existing protection you have in place.