A Guide to Critical Illness Cover

9. Who can take out critical illness cover?

Most insurance companies allow you to take out a policy if you are in good health and are within the age range they accept (usually aged between 18 and 60). Most insurance companies allow the policy to cover both you and your partner, in which case the company may only pay the lump sum when the first person becomes critically ill.

If you are suffering from, or have suffered from, a serious illness, you may not be able to take out a policy. Or you may be able to buy a policy that does not cover any critical illness directly or indirectly related to your illness, or a policy charging a higher premium. You may also have to pay a higher premium if certain conditions, for example, heart disease or cancer, run in your family. This is because you may be more likely to suffer a critical illness.

Some companies automatically provide some critical illness cover for your children from the age of 3 or earlier. Insurance companies do not usually cover any illness or disability that a child had at birth or when the cover began.

This document is reproduced with the permission of ABI - The Association of British Insurers.