CRITICAL ILLNESS
COVER
Critical illness cover provides financial protection for your client’s family if they’re diagnosed with a critical illness.
We offer 2 critical illness covers:
ESSENTIALS
Our standard range, ideal for clients who want quality cover at a more affordable price.
PROTECTION
Our signature range, ideal for clients who want enhanced cover with quality features.
Product overview
Policy details
Basis: Single or dual life
Premiums: Guaranteed
Pay outs: Lump sum or monthly income
Type of cover: Level Cover, Increasing Cover (RPI), Decreasing Cover (8%), Family Income Benefit
Minimum age at entry: 18
Maximum age at entry: 64
Maximum age at end of term: Age 70
Minimum cover amount: £10,000
Maximum cover amount: £3 million
Total permanent disability: Included
Key Product Features
Definitions designed to pay: Clearer, more all-encompassing definitions
Cover upgrade promise: If we improve our critical illness definitions for new policyholders, we’ll give those improved definitions to existing policyholders too
Dual life: Both partners’ cover is kept separate
Premium Waiver: Comes as standard with every policy
Optional Children’s Critical Illness Protection: Can be added to adult cover anytime
Protection Menu: Can be mixed and matched with any cover from either our Essentials or Protection ranges
Immediate Cover: Temporary cover up to £500,000 that starts as soon as we receive a completed application form
Lifestyle promise: We may be able to reduce smoker’s premiums if they were paying an increased amount and they subsequently stop smoking, lose weight, change job or give up activities
Guaranteed Increase Option: Increase cover with no underwriting, medical evidence, or application from
Additional Services
HALO: Access to tailored medical and legal support at the point of claim
Anytime: At no extra cost access to a GP 24/7, second medical opinions, wellbeing and aches and pains consultations at any time
HALO and Guardian Anytime don’t form part of your client’s contract with us, and we can change or remove the benefits included at any time.
CRITICAL ILLNESS PROTECTION LIMITS
5 to 52 years
18 to 64
70
£3 million
Non-medical Limits
| Requirement levels | Up to age 40 | Age 41-50 | Age 51-60 | Age 61-64 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nil | Up to £500,000 | Up to £300,000 | Up to £150,000 | Up to £75,000 |
| Level A | £500,001 - £750,000 | £300,001 - £500,000 | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Level B | Not applicable | Not applicable | £150,001 - £250,000 | £75,001 - £150,000 |
| Level C | £750,001 - £3,000,000 | £500,001 - £2,000,000 | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Level D | Not applicable | Not applicable | £250,001 - £750,000 | £150,001 - £500,000 |
| Level E | Not applicable | Not applicable | £750,001 - £1,000,000 | Not applicable |
| Level F | Not applicable | £2,000,001 or more | £1,000,001 or more | £500,001 or more |
Requirement levels
| Nil | Up to £500,000 |
|---|---|
| Level A | £500,001 - £750,000 |
| Level B | Not applicable |
| Level C | £750,001 - £3,000,000 |
| Level D | Not applicable |
| Level E | Not applicable |
| Level F | Not applicable |
| Nil | Up to £300,000 |
|---|---|
| Level A | £300,001 - £500,000 |
| Level B | Not applicable |
| Level C | £500,001 - £2,000,000 |
| Level D | Not applicable |
| Level E | Not applicable |
| Level F | £2,000,001 or more |
| Nil | Up to £150,000 |
|---|---|
| Level A | Not applicable |
| Level B | £150,001 - £250,000 |
| Level C | Not applicable |
| Level D | £250,001 - £750,000 |
| Level E | £750,001 - £1,000,000 |
| Level F | £1,000,001 or more |
| Nil | Up to £75,000 |
|---|---|
| Level A | Not applicable |
| Level B | £75,001 - £150,000 |
| Level C | Not applicable |
| Level D | £150,001 - £500,000 |
| Level E | Not applicable |
| Level F | £500,001 or more |
For family income benefit we’ll calculate the amount of cover as: monthly benefit x 12 x term x 66%
Medical underwriting limits
| Level A | Nurse screening + finger prick blood test or traditional blood draw to include glucose and total cholesterol |
|---|---|
| Level B | Nurse screening + blood test 2 |
| Level C | Nurse screening + blood test 1 + general practitioner's report |
| Level D | Nurse screening + blood test 2 + general practitioner’s report + NT-Pro BNP blood test |
| Level E | Medical examination report + blood test 2 + general practitioner’s report + NT-Pro BNP blood test |
| Level F | Medical examination report + blood test 2 + HIV + PSA (for males) + general practitioner’s report + exercising ECG (also NT-Pro BNP blood test for age 51 and above) |
| Level A | Nurse screening + finger prick blood test or traditional blood draw to include glucose and total cholesterol |
|---|---|
| Level B | Nurse screening + blood test 2 |
| Level C | Nurse screening + blood test 1 + general practitioner's report |
| Level D | Nurse screening + blood test 2 + general practitioner’s report + NT-Pro BNP blood test |
| Level E | Medical examination report + blood test 2 + general practitioner’s report + NT-Pro BNP blood test |
| Level F | Medical examination report + blood test 2 + HIV + PSA (for males) + general practitioner’s report + exercising ECG (also NT-Pro BNP blood test for age 51 and above) |
- Cotinine tests included with all nurse screenings and medical examinations for non-smokers
- Blood test 1 – Biochemistry & HbA1c
- Blood test 2 – Biochemistry, haematology & HbA1c
Financial evidence limits
| Evidence required | Limit |
|---|---|
| None | Up to £500,000 (or up to £800,000 if mortgage related)* |
| Financial questionnaire | £500,001 - £1,500,000 |
| Independent third party | More than £1,500,000 |
Evidence required
| None | Up to £500,000 (or up to £800,000 if mortgage related)* |
|---|---|
| Financial questionnaire | £500,001 - £1,500,000 |
| Independent third party | More than £1,500,000 |
*subject to the total amount of critical illness cover in the market not exceeding £1,000,000.
Smoking categories
A smoker is someone who has used a tobacco product or nicotine replacement product such as e-cigarettes.
We have 3 categories for smoking-related premiums:
- Current user
- No usage in the last 12 months
- No usage in the last 5 years
If your client was a smoker and stop smoking or stop using tobacco or replacement products for a period of 12 months, we’ll reassess their cover and may be able to reduce their premium accordingly. We’ll also reassess their cover after they’ve stopped for 5 years and may be able to reduce their premiums further if you contact us to confirm.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Limits
The tables below show the premium rating we’ll apply to your clients Critical Illness Protection policy for their BMI.
Please note these are just the ratings for BMI and other factors are taken into account when underwriting for build, for example pregnancy, body shape or unexplained weight loss. Our underwriters may ask for further information in those situations which might lead to a different decision. If you’d like more information before you submit an application call us on 0808 133 1821.
| BMI minimumBMI min | BMI maximumBMI max | Expected |
|---|---|---|
| up to | 16.999 | Decline |
| 17 | 17.999 | 50% rating |
| 18 | 29.999 | Standard |
| 30 | 30.999 | 25% rating |
| 31 | 32.999 | 50% rating |
| 33 | 34.999 | 75% rating |
| 35 | 36.999 | 100% rating |
| 37 | 37.999 | 125% rating |
| 38 | 53.999 | Decline |
| BMI minimumBMI min | BMI maximumBMI max | Expected |
|---|---|---|
| up to | 16.999 | Decline |
| 17 | 17.999 | 50% rating |
| 18 | 29.999 | Standard |
| 30 | 31.999 | 25% rating |
| 32 | 33.999 | 50% rating |
| 34 | 35.999 | 75% rating |
| 36 | 37.999 | 100% rating |
| 38 | 54.999 | Decline |
| BMI minimumBMI min | BMI maximumBMI max | Expected |
|---|---|---|
| up to | 16.999 | Decline |
| 17 | 17.999 | 50% rating |
| 18 | 31.999 | Standard |
| 32 | 33.999 | 25% rating |
| 34 | 34.999 | 50% rating |
| 35 | 36.999 | 75% rating |
| 37 | 37.999 | 100% rating |
| 38 | 38.999 | 125% rating |
| 39 | 54.999 | Decline |
