Am I eligible to take out Critical Illness Cover?

You must be a UK resident when you apply to be eligible. The maximum age limit for taking out Critical Illness Cover is 67, and the minimum term length is two years. What’s more, your policy must end before you turn 75, and the maximum length of your policy is 50 years. Depending on your medical history, some conditions may be excluded from your policy but each application is looked at on an individual basis. You'll be informed of any exclusions during your application process. For more information, please refer to our Policy Summary PDF.

What critical illnesses are covered under this policy?

Legal & General’s Critical Illness Cover covers a range of specified critical illnesses. This includes various cancers, excluding less advanced cases. The list of illnesses we cover includes many types of cancer, heart attack and stroke. However, some types of cancer are not included and you need to have permanent symptoms to make a claim for some illnesses. For more information on Critical Illness Cover, list of the illnesses we cover

Can I get Critical Illness Cover after a diagnosis?

You can still apply for Critical Illness Cover after you’ve been diagnosed with a health condition. Each application is considered on an individual basis, but some conditions may be excluded from your Critical Illness Cover (you’ll be informed of any exclusions during the application) and in some circumstances we wouldn't be able to offer cover at all. Read more on our Policy Summary PDF.

Will my children be covered if I choose to add Critical Illness Cover?

Yes, we will automatically include Children's Critical Illness Cover when you select Critical Illness Cover. If your child is diagnosed with a critical illness that we cover, we could pay out £25,000 or 50% of your cover amount, whichever is lowest. There are additional benefits included too such as Childcare Benefit and Family Accommodation Benefit. Learn more about Children's Critical Illness Cover. Further eligibility criteria and exclusions apply, so please read the Guide to Critical Illness Cover for more information, and the Critical Illness Cover Policy Booklet to see what is and isn’t covered.

Will my premiums stay the same throughout the policy term?

Your premiums are guaranteed to stay the same unless you alter your policy.

How do I make a critical illness claim?

You can call our claims team, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. The telephone number you need is [$ResponseTap_LGI_Claims_08000680789$]. You can also use the same telephone number to make a claim under children’s critical illness cover or additional cover for the ‘Carcinoma in situ of the breast’ or 'low grade prostate cancer' definitions. You can also email or write to us. What information will you need? To let us know you want to make a claim you'll need to provide us with the following: A policy number (this can be found on your Direct Debit) Details of the diagnosis/illness Contact details for your GP/Medical Consultant What happens next? We'll carry out some basic policy checks to ensure the condition can be regarded as a claim We'll ask for information about your diagnosis and your Consultant and GP details. If you have any GP or Consultant letters, these will be useful for us. Once we've finished discussing your claim, we'll send you some simple forms to sign and return – we can email or send these to you via post. Following this, we'll then take control of your claim and keep you updated throughout the whole process. It’s important that you continue to pay your premiums while the claim is being assessed. Each claim is treated individually and your claims handler will explain everything to you in detail if you ever come to make a claim.

Is my policy still live?

When you applied for protection, you told us how long you needed cover to last. Your policy will remain live for this length of time as long as your premiums are up to date. The easiest way to view and manage your policy is to access My Account where you can log in or register. Or use the Policy Documents Request Form to get a policy summary by email. We can only send to the email address that we currently hold on our records. Find out more about our Privacy Policy. You could also check your bank statements for payments to other insurance companies.

Can I cancel my policy?

Yes, but we recommend speaking to your financial adviser before cancelling a policy. If you cancel your policy within the first 30 days, we’ll refund any premiums paid. After 30 days, no premiums will be refunded. We’ll require authority from each policy holder(s). Please call us on 03700 600015, we're open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. We may record and monitor calls. Call charges will vary. Or you can cancel online.

Critical Illness Cover

Q: What’s the difference between Critical Illness Cover and Terminal Illness Cover?

The main difference between Critical Illness Cover and Terminal Illness Cover is that Critical Illness Cover is designed to payout if you are diagnosed with one of the specified critical illnesses that we cover. Terminal Illness Cover pays out if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness (when life expectancy is less than 12 months). What’s more, Critical Illness Cover is added at an extra cost when taking out Life Insurance or Decreasing Life Insurance, whereas Terminal Illness Cover is automatically included with these policies at no extra cost. Finally, a Terminal Illness Cover payout brings a life insurance policy to an end; in contrast, Critical Illness Cover can pay out separately to your life insurance. Learn more about the differences between terminal illness cover and critical illness cover.

What is Critical Illness Cover?

Critical Illness Cover can be an invaluable way of protecting you and your family against the financial implications you would face if you were diagnosed with a critical illness. It can be added for an extra cost when taking out Life Insurance or Decreasing Life Insurance.

How does Critical Illness Cover work?

You and loved ones could receive a cash sum if you’re diagnosed with, or undergo a medical procedure for one of the specified critical illnesses that we cover during the length of your policy, and you survive for 14 days from diagnosis. It could help with child care costs, household bills or to help maintain your standard of living if you're forced to take time off work to recover.

Here's some great reasons to take out cover with us:

Children's Critical Illness Cover is included as standard. Terms and conditions apply.
No-one covers more families in the UK than us** (based on new life insurance sales).
We paid out £224 million in critical illness cover claims in 2022, helping 3236 people and their families.
Get a quote online in 2 minutes, you could be covered in just 20.
Care Concierge Free access to our team of Care Experts, this confidential and impartial telephone advisory service can help you or loved ones understand and find later life care. Find out more.

This page was last reviewed by our team of financial protection experts on 25th April 2023.

What's covered?

You'll be covered if you're diagnosed with or undergo a medical procedure for one of the critical illnesses we cover and you survive for 14 days from diagnosis, before your policy ends.
We'll pay out your cover amount in full. Your policy will then come to an end
The list of illnesses we cover includes many types of cancer, heart attack and stroke. See the full list of illnesses covered.
Children’s Critical Illness Cover is automatically included.
You may be able to increase the amount of cover without answering further medical questions. Read more about changing your policy

Additional cover
We also provide additional cover for the following:

Carcinoma in situ of the breast – treated by surgery.
Low grade prostate cancer – requiring treatment.

Claims paid under additional cover will not reduce your amount of cover or change your premiums. We'll pay out once for each 'Additional Cover'. Terms and conditions apply.

Things you need to know

If you die then the cover will end for a single life policy. If you have a joint policy, when the first person dies and makes a valid claim, your Critical Illness Cover policy can continue.
We won't pay out if you’re diagnosed with or undergo a medical procedure for a critical illness that doesn't meet our definition or If death occurs within 14 days of diagnosis of one of the critical illnesses we cover.
If some elements of cover are restricted based on the information you give us, we'll tell you what we've excluded in your policy booklet under 'What you are not covered for'.
Some types of cancer are not included and you need to have permanent symptoms to make a claim for some illnesses.
This is not a savings or investment product and has no cash value unless a valid claim is made

Please read the key documents before you apply:

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Get a quote in 2 minutes

Call us on 0800 316 55910800 316 5591
8:30am to 8pm Monday to Friday
9am to 1pm Saturday

We may record and monitor calls.

Ready to get a quote?

Get a quote in 2 minutes

Call us on 0800 316 55910800 316 5591
8:30am to 8pm Monday to Friday
9am to 1pm Saturday

We may record and monitor calls.

Critical Illness Cover

What is Critical Illness Cover?

How does Critical Illness Cover work?

Ready to get a quote?