Serious Illness Cover vs Critical Illness Cover

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Home » Guides & News » Serious Illness Cover vs Critical Illness Cover

You would think that Serious Illness Cover and Critical Illness Cover are one and the same. Confusingly they are different products and in this article we will try and offer a clear breakdown of the difference between the two products.

Serious Illness Cover (VitalityLife Plan)	Critical Illness Cover
Maximum benefit: £3,000,000	Maximum benefit: £3,000,000
Age group: 16	Age group: 16-18
Minimum monthly premium: £10	Minimum monthly premium: £5-£6
Offered by: VitalityLife	Offered by: Aegon Scottish Equitable AIG Aviva Friends Life Legal & General Liverpool Victoria Zurich
Amount of illnesses covered: 102 primary 166 comprehensive	Amount of illnesses covered on a standard contract: 41-59
Core illnesses that are covered on a standard contract: 22 Association of British Insurers conditions, including but not limited to: Cancer Heart Attack Stroke	Core illnesses that are covered on a standard contract: 22-23 Association of British Insurers conditions, including but not limited to: Cancer Heart Attack Stroke
ABI+ conditions on the standard contract: 18	ABI+ conditions on the standard contract: 15-19
Partial payments: 102 primary 166 comprehensive 5%-75% of the sum assured Claims made reduce the sum assured	Partial payments: 40-59 12.5-25% of the sum assured or a maximum of £12,500-£25,000
Childrens cover: 50% sum assured to maximum of £25,000 Option to include £100,000 per child	Childrens cover: 50% sum assured to maximum of £25,000
Typical exclusions: Alcohol or drug abuse Failure to follow medical advice	Typical exclusions on a standard contract: Alcohol or drug abuse Failure to follow medical advice Intentional self-inflicted injury Suicide within the first 12 months

Serious Illness Cover (VitalityLife Plan)

Critical Illness Cover

Maximum benefit:

£3,000,000

Maximum benefit:

£3,000,000

Age group:

16-18

Minimum monthly premium:

£10

Minimum monthly premium:

£5-£6

Offered by:

VitalityLife

Offered by:

Aegon Scottish Equitable
AIG
Aviva
Friends Life
Legal & General
Liverpool Victoria
Zurich

Amount of illnesses covered:

102 primary
166 comprehensive

Amount of illnesses covered on a standard contract:

41-59

Core illnesses that are covered on a standard contract:

22 Association of British Insurers conditions, including but not limited to:
- Cancer
- Heart Attack
- Stroke

Core illnesses that are covered on a standard contract:

22-23 Association of British Insurers conditions, including but not limited to:
- Cancer
- Heart Attack
- Stroke

ABI+ conditions on the standard contract:

15-19

Partial payments:

102 primary
166 comprehensive
5%-75% of the sum assured
Claims made reduce the sum assured

Partial payments:

40-59
12.5-25% of the sum assured or a maximum of £12,500-£25,000

Childrens cover:

50% sum assured to maximum of £25,000
Option to include £100,000 per child

Childrens cover:

50% sum assured to maximum of £25,000

Typical exclusions:

Alcohol or drug abuse
Failure to follow medical advice

Typical exclusions on a standard contract:

Alcohol or drug abuse
Failure to follow medical advice
Intentional self-inflicted injury
Suicide within the first 12 months

The details provided in this table are a summary of the Serious Illness Cover and Critical Illness Cover plan that are available in the market today. It should not be taken as a definitive guide as to the full policy conditions. Please see your policy documents, policy conditions booklet and key features document for full details of your insurance plan.

If you are interested in a Serious Illness Cover or Critical Illness Cover plan please feel free to use our online quotation form here or alternatively speak to one of our industry-trained insurance advisors on 0800 567 7450.

Categories: Critical Illness Cover, Health

Client Reviews

Serious Illness Cover vs Critical Illness Cover

"Alan and his team were great! Alan helped get me cover where my own company could not (I work in financial services too!) Would highly recommend and will come back in the future."

"Krystle was fantastic throughout and managed to knock almost 50% off my current life insurance premium."

"Leanne couldn't have been more helpful and thoughtful with her questions and work on my enquiry."

"Kathryn and her colleagues were very helpful because of my recent illness."

"Nick was my advisor, Excellent knowledge of products and what I needed, not just pushing me into a sale/policy, will always refer to him in the future."

"I would like to say a very big thank you especially to Amy you really went above and beyond."

"Annaliese was absolutely fantastic, making us both feel at ease and helping us navigate issues that had caused us problems with previous attempts to obtain insurance."