Critical illness cover (CIC) policies define a list of specific illnesses and conditions that trigger a payout when diagnosed to the policy's stated severity. UK insurers cover between 40 and 170+ conditions depending on the policy.
The Core 13 (ABI Standard)
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) sets minimum definitions all UK insurers must meet for these core conditions:
- Cancer (excluding less advanced cases)
- Heart attack — of specified severity
- Stroke — resulting in permanent symptoms
- Coronary artery bypass grafts
- Kidney failure — requiring dialysis
- Major organ transplant
- Multiple sclerosis
- Aorta graft surgery
- Benign brain tumour
- Heart valve replacement or repair
- Loss of limbs
- Loss of speech
- Paralysis of a limb
Every UK insurer covers at least these — and almost all add many more.
Additional Conditions (Common Add-ons)
- Alzheimer's disease — before age 60 (often 65 or 70 on better policies)
- Parkinson's disease
- Motor neurone disease
- Bacterial meningitis
- Loss of independent existence
- Coma
- Third-degree burns (covering at least 20% of body)
- Crohn's disease — severe
- Ulcerative colitis — requiring removal of colon
- Liver failure
- Lung disease — severe
- HIV/AIDS — accidentally contracted (e.g. medical worker)
- Total permanent disability
Severity-Based Policies (The Modern Approach)
Older "all or nothing" policies only paid the full sum if your diagnosis met strict severity definitions. A milder cancer might pay zero.
Severity-based policies (Vitality, Royal London Enhanced, Aviva Upgraded) pay graduated amounts:
- 25% partial payout — early-stage cancers, less severe heart conditions
- 50% partial payout — moderate severity
- 100% full payout — diagnoses meeting full ABI definitions
Importantly, partial payouts often don't end the policy — you can claim again for unrelated conditions up to the full sum assured. This is far more useful than a higher headline number of conditions.
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Children's Critical Illness — Free Add-on
Most modern policies include children's CIC at no extra cost. Typical features:
- Coverage from birth (or 30 days) to age 18 or 21
- Sum assured 25–50% of parent's, capped at £25k–£100k
- Includes child-specific conditions: cystic fibrosis, type 1 diabetes, Down syndrome (some), childhood cancers
See our children's critical illness guide.
How To Compare Policies Properly
Don't just look at "100+ conditions". Ask:
- Does it pay partial amounts for early-stage diagnoses?
- Are cancer definitions broad (TNM stage 1+) or narrow (advanced only)?
- What's the upper age limit for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's etc.?
- Can the policy continue after a partial claim?
- Is children's cover included automatically?
- Are the definitions fixed at outset, or can the insurer change them?
An adviser can put 5+ insurers side-by-side on these specific points. Get a free comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many conditions should a good policy cover?
- Quality matters more than quantity. A 60-condition policy with severity payouts and broad cancer definitions usually beats a 150-condition policy with strict 'advanced only' criteria.
- Does the policy ever update its conditions?
- Some insurers (Royal London, Aviva) add new conditions over time. Others fix at outset. Ask the adviser.
- What if my condition isn't on the list?
- No payout under CIC. <Link to='/blog/income-protection-insurance'>Income protection</Link> is more flexible — it pays based on inability to work, not specific diagnoses.
- Are all cancers covered?
- Most invasive cancers from stage 1 onwards. Less advanced (in-situ) cancers may pay partial sums on severity-based policies, or zero on older standard policies.
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