Insurance guides
A payout on death versus a payout on a listed serious illness — and why the two products answer different questions.
Features, cover levels, exclusions and prices vary by provider. Cover is subject to underwriting and terms. Quotes depend on personal or business circumstances. Always check the provider’s documentation before buying.
Life insurance is designed to pay a lump sum (or sometimes a regular amount) if you die during the term, subject to the policy. Critical illness cover is designed to pay if you are diagnosed with a listed condition that meets the policy definition. Surviving a serious illness is not the same event as dying.
Critical illness lists, survival periods and severity definitions vary. Some conditions pay in full; others pay a partial amount. Combined life-and-critical-illness policies may pay once, then end. Read whether cover is level or decreasing, and whether it is written in trust — that is a legal step, not something a comparison page can complete for you.
If the risk you care about is losing income because you cannot work, that is closer to income protection than to life or critical illness cover. Many households consider more than one type. None of these pages is personal advice; they help you compare how products are described.
Guides explain how the product type works. Comparison pages show participating providers so you can request a personalised quote.
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