How Much Does Critical Illness Insurance Cost?

Number of Conditions Covered

Although this is not something you can control directly each insurer is unique in the number of serious illnesses they will cover and the definitions of these illnesses which constitutes a valid claim.

It is important to have a good look through the policy wording as no two policies are the same. If you are only taking into account the price in your decision making you could end up unknowingly comparing apples with oranges.

Most policies cover around the same number of conditions, but the definitions of those conditions could vary extensively.

All advisers at Drewberry have access to a sophisticated tool to work out which provider is most likely to pay out for someone like you.

Victoria Slade
Independent Protection Expert at Drewberry

Personal Factors Affecting the Cost of Critical Illness Cover

While part of the cost of Critical Illness Insurance is under your control in terms of the policy factors you can adjust such as the length and level of cover. There are also individual factors about you that impact on the cost of the policy which you can’t change.

Age

It’s a simple fact of life that, the older we get, the more likely we are to suffer from a critical illness, and insurers will take this into account when calculating the price of a policy.

The older you are when the policy starts, and the older you are when you wish the policy to end, the more Critical Illness Insurance will cost.

Health and Medical History

Your current state of health is very important when taking out any protection cover. This includes factors such as your height and weight.

Any quotes you receive online are based on the assumption you’re in good health – if this isn’t the case, the cost of Critical Illness Insurance may be higher or exclusions may be applied.

As well as your current state of health, an insurer will want to know the medical history of you and your family. Based on your medical history, the insurer may do one of three things:

• Offer the policy on its standard terms
• Place an exclusion on the policy relating to a pre-existing condition you may have
• Cover any pre-existing conditions but charge a higher premium to reflect the increased risk.

Lifestyle

You’ll be asked certain questions about your lifestyle when applying for a policy and, again, the greater the risk you’re deemed to be, the higher the cost of your premiums. For example, your level of alcohol consumption will be considered as well as any higher risk you may partake in.

It is usually the case that if you have a dangerous hobby, such as rock climbing or motocross racing, the insurer is likely to place an exclusion on the plan rather than increase the premium, although this will depend on the hobby and insurer.

Smoking

Smokers are more likely to suffer from critical illnesses, including cancer, heart attacks and strokes, which make up around 80% of all Critical Illness Insurance claims.

As such, smokers pay more for this type of cover to reflect the increased risk to the insurer.

Giving up smoking has obvious health benefits but also financial benefits – the cost of Critical Illness Cover could as much as halve if you were to quit smoking.

You need to be free from tobacco and nicotine replacement products for a year before being eligible for non-smoker rates.

Sam Barr-Worsfold
Independent Protection Expert at Drewberry

Adding Life Cover

The cost of most Critical Illness Insurance policies usually factor in Life Insurance as standard.

Life Insurance generally comes as an additional benefit when purchasing Critical Illness Cover – it’s unusual to buy standalone Critical Illness Insurance.

Critical Illness Cover vs Income Protection

It can be very difficult to work out how long a lump sum would realistically last in the event of a severe illness so we often end up talking to our clients about Income Protection as an alternative.

Income Protection is designed to replace your wages if you can’t work due to any accident or sickness preventing you from doing your own job. It provides you with a steady income to meet your monthly financial commitments rather than a single lump sum.

To ensure you are making the right decision when it comes to choosing the most suitable type of protection for your circumstances read our Critical Illness Insurance vs Income Protection guide.

Examples of How Much Critical Illness Cover Costs

Below are some examples of how much Critical Illness Insurance costs depending on a person’s age, length and type of cover and smoker status.

Cost of Critical Illness Cover for a 25-Year-Old

A healthy 25-year-old looking for £100,000 worth of cover with guaranteed premiums until the age of 65 could expect to pay:

Cost of Critical Illness Cover for a 40-Year-Old

A healthy 40-year-old looking for £100,000 worth of cover with guaranteed premiums until the age of 65 could expect to pay:

Cost of Critical Illness Cover for a 55-year-old

A healthy 55-year-old looking for £100,000 worth of cover with guaranteed premiums until the age of 65 could expect to pay:

Quotes accurate as of January 8th 2019

Need Help Comparing Critical Illness?

With health and lifestyle having a significant impact on which Critical Illness Cover may be the most suitable it can end up becoming a minefield trying to compare policies.

We have tools in-house which take account of both the definition of the illnesses covered and your personal circumstances helping to make those comparisons to find the most suitable cover far easier.

Why Speak to Us…

We started Drewberry because we were tired of being treated like a number and not getting the service we all deserve when it comes to things as important as protecting our health and our finances. Below are just a few reasons why it makes sense to let us help.

• There is no fee for our service
• We are independent and impartial
  Drewberry isn’t tied to any insurance company, so we can provide completely impartial advice to make sure you get the most appropriate policy based solely on your needs.
• We’ve got bargaining power on our side
  This allows us to negotiate better premiums for you than you going direct yourself.
• You’ll speak to a dedicated expert from start to finish
  You will speak to a named expert with a direct telephone and email. No more automated machines and no more being sent from pillar to post – you’ll have someone to speak to who knows you.
• Benefit from our 5-star service
  We pride ourselves on providing a 5-star service, as can be seen from our 3866 and growing independent client reviews rating us at 4.92 / 5.
• Gain the protection of regulated advice
  You are protected. Where we provide a regulated advice service we are responsible for the policy we set-up for you. Doing it yourself or going direct to an insurer won’t provide this protection, so you won’t benefit from these securities.
• Claims support when you need it the most
  You have support should you need to make a claim. The most important thing when it comes to insurance is that claims are paid and quickly. We are here to support you during the claims process and make sure it’s as smooth and stress free as possible.

If it is all getting a little confusing and you want to talk through your options to make sure you find the most suitable cover please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Pop us a call on 02084327333 or email help@drewberry.co.uk.

Samantha Haffenden-Angear
Independent Protection Expert at Drewberry