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    UtterlyCovered • Critical Illness Cover

    If life stops you working, your bills won't stop.

    Critical illness cover pays you a tax-free lump sum when you're diagnosed with a serious condition. Use it however you need — clear the mortgage, fund treatment, or just breathe.

    FCA regulated advisers
    Whole-of-market search
    No obligation, no spam

    Our FCA regulated advisers search every major UK insurer to find the right critical illness policy for your age, health, and budget. A quick, friendly call — no hard sell, no surprises.

    Trusted by thousands of UK customers

    1 in 2

    people will get cancer in their lifetime

    £65k

    average payout from our clients in 2024

    97%

    of claims paid by top UK insurers

    48hr

    average time from quote to policy

    "I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 43. The payout meant I could focus on getting better without worrying about the mortgage."

    Karen, Hertfordshire

    Critical Illness Cover

    "Sorted our policy in less than a week. The adviser explained everything clearly and didn't push us toward the most expensive option."

    James & Rachel, Bristol

    Critical Illness Cover

    "I kept putting it off thinking it was too expensive. Turns out for my age it was less than £30 a month."

    Mark, Sheffield

    Critical Illness Cover

    "Called on a Tuesday, had my policy confirmed by Thursday. The process was so much simpler than I expected."

    Diane W.

    Critical Illness

    "After a friend had a heart attack at 41 with no cover, I finally sorted mine. Worth every penny for the peace of mind alone."

    Tom H.

    Critical Illness Cover

    "The adviser was brilliant — no jargon, no pressure. She found me a policy that covered far more than I thought I'd get."

    Aisha P.

    Critical Illness

    "Straightforward advice on what I actually needed versus what insurers try to sell you. Refreshingly honest."

    Steve M.

    Critical Illness Cover

    "My husband's stroke last year made us realise how important this cover is. So glad we sorted it when we did."

    Claire B.

    Critical Illness

    "I had a pre-existing condition and expected to be turned away. They found me cover — I couldn't believe it."

    Rob K.

    Critical Illness Cover

    "The whole-of-market search made all the difference. Got a far better deal than I would have found on my own."

    Natalie F.

    Critical Illness

    "Fast, friendly, and completely free. Can't fault the service from start to finish."

    Gary D.

    Critical Illness Cover

    "Thought I couldn't afford it as a single mum. Turns out I was wrong — and now I have proper protection."

    Leanne C.

    Critical Illness

    "Got £150k of cover for less than £25 a month at my age. The adviser really did shop around."

    Paul S.

    Critical Illness Cover

    "Explained the difference between providers so clearly. Made a complicated product feel simple."

    Hannah R.

    Critical Illness

    "Quick callback, no fuss, great price. Exactly what you want when you're sorting something this important."

    Chris W.

    Critical Illness Cover

    "I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 43. The payout meant I could focus on getting better without worrying about the mortgage."

    Karen, Hertfordshire

    Critical Illness Cover

    "Sorted our policy in less than a week. The adviser explained everything clearly and didn't push us toward the most expensive option."

    James & Rachel, Bristol

    Critical Illness Cover

    "I kept putting it off thinking it was too expensive. Turns out for my age it was less than £30 a month."

    Mark, Sheffield

    Critical Illness Cover

    "Called on a Tuesday, had my policy confirmed by Thursday. The process was so much simpler than I expected."

    Diane W.

    Critical Illness

    "After a friend had a heart attack at 41 with no cover, I finally sorted mine. Worth every penny for the peace of mind alone."

    Tom H.

    Critical Illness Cover

    "The adviser was brilliant — no jargon, no pressure. She found me a policy that covered far more than I thought I'd get."

    Aisha P.

    Critical Illness

    "Straightforward advice on what I actually needed versus what insurers try to sell you. Refreshingly honest."

    Steve M.

    Critical Illness Cover

    "My husband's stroke last year made us realise how important this cover is. So glad we sorted it when we did."

    Claire B.

    Critical Illness

    "I had a pre-existing condition and expected to be turned away. They found me cover — I couldn't believe it."

    Rob K.

    Critical Illness Cover

    "The whole-of-market search made all the difference. Got a far better deal than I would have found on my own."

    Natalie F.

    Critical Illness

    "Fast, friendly, and completely free. Can't fault the service from start to finish."

    Gary D.

    Critical Illness Cover

    "Thought I couldn't afford it as a single mum. Turns out I was wrong — and now I have proper protection."

    Leanne C.

    Critical Illness

    "Got £150k of cover for less than £25 a month at my age. The adviser really did shop around."

    Paul S.

    Critical Illness Cover

    "Explained the difference between providers so clearly. Made a complicated product feel simple."

    Hannah R.

    Critical Illness

    "Quick callback, no fuss, great price. Exactly what you want when you're sorting something this important."

    Chris W.

    Critical Illness Cover

    What is Critical Illness Cover?

    Critical illness cover is a type of insurance that pays a tax-free, one-off lump sum if you are diagnosed with a specific, severe condition listed in the policy — such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke. It is designed to help with lifestyle costs, mortgage payments, or medical bills during recovery, providing financial security when you cannot work.

    Key Aspects of Critical Illness Cover

    • Payout Structure: Provides a lump sum upon diagnosis and survival (usually 14 days) of a covered condition.

    • Illnesses Covered: Policies typically cover 30–50+ specific illnesses, but they must meet strict definition criteria.

    • Policy Term: You choose the length of the policy, often aligning it with your mortgage term or until retirement.

    • Not Income Protection: It is a single lump sum payout rather than replacing monthly income. Most policies only pay out once, after which the policy ends.

    • Combined with Life Insurance: Often added to life insurance policies for an extra cost, though it can be bought as a standalone product.

    Over 50 conditions covered, including these most common ones

    Policies from leading UK insurers cover a wide range of serious conditions. Here are just some of the most frequently claimed.

    Heart attack

    Most types covered

    Stroke

    Including transient events

    Cancer

    Most diagnosed types

    Coronary bypass

    Full open-heart surgery

    Multiple sclerosis

    On diagnosis

    Parkinson's disease

    Before age 65

    Loss of limbs

    Permanent severance

    Loss of sight or hearing

    Permanent and total

    Organ failure

    Requiring transplant

    Alzheimer's disease

    Diagnosed under 65

    How it works

    Step 1

    Tell us about yourself

    Fill in the quick form. Takes under 60 seconds.

    Step 2

    We search the whole market

    Our FCA regulated advisers compare every major UK insurer. No bias.

    Step 3

    Pick your policy, sorted

    We handle the paperwork and get your policy live, often within 48 hours.

    Frequently asked questions

    We do not guarantee a specific premium or that cover will be offered. Eligibility and underwriting decisions are made by the insurer. Always read your policy documents carefully.

    Don't wait for a reason to get covered.

    Request a free callback and we'll find the right critical illness policy for you.