What Should I Look For in a Critical Illness Policy?

Key features to check: condition definitions (not just quantity), claim success rate (90%+), cancer/heart attack/stroke definitions, children's cover, survival period (typically 14 days), and additional benefits. Don't choose based on price alone - a policy with 45 well-defined conditions may pay out more often than one with 100 strictly defined conditions.

What should I look for in a critical illness policy?

Key factors: condition definitions (not just numbers), claim success rates, cancer/heart/stroke definitions, children's cover, additional benefits, and survival period. Don't just compare price.

How many conditions should a CI policy cover?

Most cover 40-60 conditions. The number matters less than how conditions are defined. A policy with generous definitions for 45 conditions may pay out more than one with strict definitions for 100.

What is the survival period?

The survival period is the time you must survive after diagnosis before a claim is paid - typically 14 days. This prevents claims for immediately terminal diagnoses.

Can I change my policy later?

You typically can't change the cover amount without new medical underwriting. You may be able to add options like indexation (inflation-linked increases) at the start.

Quick Answer

How Do I Choose a Critical Illness Policy?

Last reviewed: December 2025

Reviewed by Jay Sabine – CeMAP Qualified – 29 years experience

Check: condition definitions (not just count), claim rates (90%+), cancer/heart/stroke definitions, children's cover, survival period. Quality over quantity.

Choosing the right critical illness policy requires looking beyond headline numbers. The definitions of conditions, claim success rates, and additional benefits all matter when comparing policies.

Key Points

1Definitions matter more than condition count
2Check cancer, heart attack, stroke wording
3Aim for 90%+ claim success rate
4Look for children's cover included
5Check survival period length
6Consider additional benefits

Eligibility Criteria

Age typically 18-65 at application
Health declaration required
Pre-existing conditions may be excluded
Lifestyle factors affect pricing

Typical Timeframe

Policy comparison and application typically takes 1-4 weeks depending on medical history.

Next Steps

1Decide cover amount needed
2Compare 3-5 providers
3Read condition definitions
4Check claim success rates
5Speak to protection adviser

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Policy Features: Key Facts

How Do I Choose a Critical Illness Policy?

Key Points

Eligibility Criteria

Typical Timeframe

Next Steps

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