We cover 39 different critical illnesses. Eleven of our definitions exceed those of the ABI. See below:

• Aorta graft surgery – requiring surgical replacement
• Benign brain tumour – resulting in either surgical removal or permanent symptoms
• Coma – resulting in permanent symptoms
• Coronary artery by-pass grafts – with surgery to divide the breastbone or anterolateral thoracotamy
• Heart attack – of specified severity
• Heart valve replacement or repair – with surgical thoracotomy
• HIV infection – caught from a blood transfusion, physical assault or accident at work
• Loss of a hand or foot – permanent physical severance
• Paralysis of a limb – total and irreversible
• Parkinson’s disease – resulting in permanent symptoms
• Third degree burns – covering 20% of the surface area of the body or 20% of the face or head

The other 28 critical illnesses we cover are:

• Alzheimer’s disease – resulting in permanent symptoms
• Aplastic anaemia – with permanent bone marrow failure
• Bacterial meningitis – resulting in permanent symptoms
• Blindness – permanent and irreversible
• Cancer – excluding less advanced cases
• Cardiomyopathy – of specified severity
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) – resulting in permanent symptoms
• Deafness – permanent and irreversible
• Dementia – resulting in permanent symptoms
• Encephalitis – resulting in permanent symptoms·
• Kidney failure – requiring dialysis
• Liver failure – of advanced stage
• Loss of speech – permanent and irreversible
• Major organ transplant
• Mastectomy for ductal carcinoma in situ – requiring total removal of the breast
• Motor neurone disease – resulting in permanent symptoms
• Multiple sclerosis – with persisting symptoms
• Multiple system atrophy – resulting in permanent symptoms
• Open heart surgery – with median sternotomy
• Primary pulmonary hypertension – of specified severity
• Progressive supranuclear palsy – resulting in permanent symptom
• Removal of an eyeball – due to injury or disease
• Respiratory failure – of advanced stage
• Stroke – resulting in permanent symptoms
• Systemic lupus erythematosus – with severe complications
• Terminal illness
• Total and permanent disability
• Traumatic head injury – resulting in permanent symptoms

We don’t apply a survival period before a client is eligible to claim.

Children's Critical Illness Cover

• Children’s Critical Illness Cover is automatically included.
• Children are covered for all the conditions listed except for, total and permanent disability, or any congenital, hereditary and pre-existing conditions.
• A 14 day survival period applies to Children’s Critical Cover.
• The cover for each child lasts while each child is aged from 30 days up to their 18th birthday during the plan term.
• The maximum amount we pay for a child who has what we define as a critical illness is up to £25,000, 50% of the sum assured or for FPIP policies 60 times the chosen monthly benefit, whichever is the lowest.
• We’ll only pay one claim for each child. Cover will continue for the insured person and their other children (if any). Once we’ve accepted two claims, children’s critical illness cover will end.
• If your client has more than one plan that includes Critical Illness Cover with us, and makes a valid claim under children's cover, the maximum amount we'll pay out under all policies will be £50,000 per child.