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Frequently asked questions
Am I eligible to take out Critical Illness Cover?
If you're aged between 18 and 63 at your next birthday and a UK resident at the time of your application, then you're eligible. The policy must end before your 70th birthday.
What critical illnesses are covered under this policy?
Our Critical Illness Cover is designed to help cover critical illnesses which could have a huge impact on your lifestyle. We provide cover for 39 illnesses, and that’s 16 more than the most recent guidelines published by the Association of British Insurers (ABI). 11 of our illnesses exceed ABI model definitions.
Will my premiums stay the same throughout the policy term?
If you choose guaranteed premiums your premiums will not change for the length of the policy, unless you alter your policy.
If you choose reviewable premiums, your premium is guaranteed for the first five years of the policy and then reviewed to determine whether the premium will be changed at the fifth anniversary and every five years after that.
If you choose reviewable premiums, your premium is guaranteed for the first five years of the policy and then reviewed to determine whether the premium will be changed at the fifth anniversary and every five years after that.
How long can I take a policy out for?
If you apply for our critical illness product, we provide level term assurance with critical illness cover included or mortgage term assurance with critical illness cover included, which means you can choose between guaranteed or reviewable premiums. For Level Term Assurance and Critical Illness Cover you can choose a term between 2 and 40 years and the policy must end before your 70th birthday.
For Mortgage Decreasing Term Assurance with Critical Illness Cover the term must be between 5 and 40 years, and again it must end before your 70th birthday.
For Mortgage Decreasing Term Assurance with Critical Illness Cover the term must be between 5 and 40 years, and again it must end before your 70th birthday.
Is it true that if I have children, they’ll also receive some Critical Illness Cover too?
Yes, we offer this benefit at no extra cost on all of our policies that include critical illness cover.
Read more about children's critical illness cover. There are some conditions that apply, so please read the Key Features Document PDF.
Read more about children's critical illness cover. There are some conditions that apply, so please read the Key Features Document PDF.
If I apply will I be covered straight away?
Sometimes, when you apply for life insurance we may not be able to give you an immediate decision and may need to ask for more information.
During this time we know it’s important that you’re still protected. So, we provide you with free Accidental Death Benefit whilst we process your application. We provide this free of charge and without the need for any underwriting – giving you peace of mind that you’re covered in case of an accident. There are some terms and conditions that do apply, and these can be found in the Key Features Document PDF.
During this time we know it’s important that you’re still protected. So, we provide you with free Accidental Death Benefit whilst we process your application. We provide this free of charge and without the need for any underwriting – giving you peace of mind that you’re covered in case of an accident. There are some terms and conditions that do apply, and these can be found in the Key Features Document PDF.
As my policy includes Life Insurance and Critical Illness Cover, does that mean it could pay out twice?
No, our policies pay out once, either on death or diagnosis of a critical illness. Once a valid claim has been made the policy ends.
However, if a claim for mastectomy for ductal carcinoma in situ is made or a claim under children's critical illness cover, the policy continues until the end of the term.
However, if a claim for mastectomy for ductal carcinoma in situ is made or a claim under children's critical illness cover, the policy continues until the end of the term.
What if I need to make a change to my policy?
Our polices include flexibility options that allow your cover to adapt with you, because you have the freedom to:
- change the term of your policy
- increase or decrease the amount of cover under your policy
- remove a life from a joint policy where cover is no longer required for that person.
What happens to my policy if I claim under for Mastectomy/Breast cancer?
An additional payment is available under our Mastectomy definition. This means that if you have a mastectomy for ductal carcinoma in situ, and are eligible to claim, we'll pay out 25% of your sum assured up to a maximum of £25,000. This benefit is in addition to your main sum assured so your cover will not end after this benefit is paid. Your cover and monthly premium will remain the same.
Can I put a life insurance policy that includes critical illness cover, in trust?
All our trust forms are suitable for policies that include life and critical illness cover, because they’re classed as ‘split trusts’. This means that in the event of a critical illness claim, the benefit is paid to the policy owner. In the event of a death claim, the benefit is paid in accordance with the trust.
Find out what you need to know about trusts and download a form.
Find out what you need to know about trusts and download a form.
I want to apply for a policy that includes critical illness cover but am currently pregnant. How do I answer the weight question?
We recognise that your pregnancy weight is not a fair reflection of your usual weight. When asked, please state what your weight was immediately prior to this pregnancy.
Another couple of popular questions that cause confusion are:
Have I smoked in the last 12 months?
Even if you have given up smoking during the term of your pregnancy, if you have smoked any tobacco products in the last 12 months you must declare it.
What is my weekly consumption of alcohol in units?
This question asks about your current level of alcohol consumption, which may have reduced during pregnancy. However, as you progress through the application, subsequent questions ask if the level of alcohol consumption has changed over the previous five years and whether you've been medically advised to reduce your level of alcohol consumption.
Another couple of popular questions that cause confusion are:
Have I smoked in the last 12 months?
Even if you have given up smoking during the term of your pregnancy, if you have smoked any tobacco products in the last 12 months you must declare it.
What is my weekly consumption of alcohol in units?
This question asks about your current level of alcohol consumption, which may have reduced during pregnancy. However, as you progress through the application, subsequent questions ask if the level of alcohol consumption has changed over the previous five years and whether you've been medically advised to reduce your level of alcohol consumption.
If I need to make a critical illness claim, what should I do?
You can call our claims team, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5.30pm. The telephone number you need is 0800 068 0789. Ideally you need to have your policy number to hand, as well as details of the illness, including the diagnosis. Calls may be monitored and recorded.
You can also use the same telephone number to make a claim under children’s critical illness cover or additional payout for the ‘mastectomy for ductal carcinoma in situ’ definition.
Each claim is treated individually and your claims handler will explain everything to you in detail if you ever come to make a claim.
More information is available about our claims process, including a full Claims FAQ document.
You can also use the same telephone number to make a claim under children’s critical illness cover or additional payout for the ‘mastectomy for ductal carcinoma in situ’ definition.
Each claim is treated individually and your claims handler will explain everything to you in detail if you ever come to make a claim.
More information is available about our claims process, including a full Claims FAQ document.
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0800 027 1976
0800 027 1976
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We may record and monitor calls
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We may record and monitor calls
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