Critical illness cover

Critical illness cover, also known as dread disease cover, is insurance that pays out a lump sum when a policy holder is diagnosed with a specific illness on a predetermined list.

That moment when you’re told you have a serious, chronic, and possibly life-threatening disease can be a terrifying moment. Being told you have something like cancer brings all sorts of fears to mind, one of which is how will you be able to afford the necessary, life-saving treatment. This is where critical illness cover comes in.

When you are diagnosed with a critical illness, you need to be able to focus all your attention on becoming healthy. Your finances should not be causing unnecessary stress. You can take out critical illness cover as part of a life insurance policy but you need to make sure this is indicated on your policy beforehand.

Some illnesses that are generally covered in critical illness cover policies include the following but it is imperative that you confirm which illnesses are covered on your critical illness cover before you take out the policy:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Cancer