What Does Critical Illness Insurance Cover? Reading the Policy

The conditions covered by critical illness insurance are defined in the policy. A broad label such as cancer or stroke does not mean every diagnosis is covered.

Read full and partial-payment provisions

Some policies have a main benefit for specified conditions and smaller additional benefits for other events. Check benefit limits, whether an additional payment reduces the main sum assured and how children’s benefits work, if included.

Check exclusions and survival periods

A claim may depend on a survival period and medical evidence. Individual underwriting can also apply special exclusions or terms. Compare the documents and final offer, not just a marketing list of conditions or a claims percentage from a different product.

Cost and underwriting

Age, health, nicotine, benefit amount, duration and policy features affect premiums and availability. Life cover and critical illness benefits can receive different underwriting terms. An initial quote is not a promise that all benefits will be accepted at that price.

A useful comparison checklist

Check the insured conditions and severity definitions, benefit size, term, premium basis, exclusions, children’s cover, additional payments and what happens after a claim. Keep the benefit amount and duration consistent between quotations.

Further guidance

Read life and critical illness cover, how to compare critical illness policies and income protection.

Compare your options

Speak to our advice team about the protection discussed here. Initial quotations are subject to the insurer assessing the application. Cover begins only when the insurer confirms the policy is in force; completing a form or receiving a quote does not start cover.

Updated October 2026. General information, not a personal recommendation or a quotation. Eligibility, exclusions, premiums and tax treatment depend on the policy and individual circumstances. Discount Life Cover is a trading style of My Key Finance Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA, FRN 628996.

Further information: MoneyHelper: critical illness cover.