Cancer and critical illness insurance [Quick Summary]

  • Most advanced cases of cancer are typically covered by critical illness insurance, including leukaemia, sarcoma and lymphoma
  • Some less advanced cancers may be covered, such as carcinoma in-situ and low-grade prostate cancer, depending on the insurer
  • Cancers that are pre-existing or are considered pre-malignant, non-invasive or have low malignant potential, are usually not covered by critical illness insurance
  • Each insurer has their own definitions of cancer and specific criteria for critical illness claims. The details can be found in the policy documents, or you can contact the provider directly for more information
  • In the UK, someone is diagnosed with cancer at least every 90 seconds and more than 3 million people are currently living with some form of cancer[1]
  • Cancer is the most common cause of critical illness claims, followed by heart attack and stroke[2]
  • Reassured can offer critical illness cover for cancer but only as part of a life insurance policy. Premiums start from just £10 a month º
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Does critical illness cover cancer?

Yes, cancer is one of the conditions covered by critical illness insurance.

Not all cancers are covered, but generally higher stage and advanced cancers are included in a critical illness policy.

Some less advanced cases may also be covered, such as carcinoma in situ, but this will depend on the individual insurer.

We list the types of cancer that are usually covered and not covered with a critical illness policy below.

How is cancer defined on a critical illness insurance policy?

How cancer is defined will depend on the individual insurance provider, but mostly the definition of cancer for critical illness cover is as follows:

‘A malignant tumour’ that’s ‘characterised by the uncontrolled growth of malignant cells and invasion of tissue’. In short, a cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (progressing beyond stage 1).

This definition of cancer was created by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and is the minimum standard required for a policy to be described as ‘critical illness insurance’ or ‘critical illness cover’.

You can find the exact definition and the criteria for making a claim for cancer in a policy conditions document. Most insurers offer a higher level of cover than the minimum standards set out by the ABI.

Cancers covered by critical illness insurance

Critical illness insurance can cover a wide range of cancers, including the most common types of cancer.

When it comes to making a claim, the severity of your cancer and where it originated will be the key factors that determine whether you qualify for a pay out.

Cancers that are usually covered by critical illness insurance include:

Cancers that may be covered by critical illness insurance include:

  • Aplastic anaemia
  • Merkel cell cancer
  • Skin cancer
  • High-grade prostate cancer
  • Pseudomyxoma peritonei
  • Advanced Hodgkin's disease
  • Multiple myeloma

The types of cancer listed above tend to be fully covered by critical illness cover (if included in your policy).

This means that if you’re diagnosed with one of these conditions and your diagnosis matches the insurer’s definition of that condition, you’ll receive a full pay out (100% of your cover amount).

Most critical illness policies also offer additional cover for less serious cancer diagnoses (those that haven’t progressed to a higher stage), but for a proportion of your original cover amount - we explain in more detail below.

Additional cancers covered by critical illness insurance (for a partial pay out)

As mentioned, most critical illness policies offer additional cover for some less advanced cancers.

Depending on the insurer, less advanced cases of cancer that may be covered include:

  • Carcinoma in-situ of the breast
  • Carcinoma in-situ of the cervix
  • Low-grade prostate cancer
  • Testicular carcinoma in-situ
  • Non-malignant pituitary tumour

For these cancers, the insurer may provide a lower pay out amount - typically 25% or 30% of your original cover amount (up to a maximum of £25,000 or £30,000).

Your diagnosis still needs to meet the insurer’s definition. However, the benefit of this additional cover is that it usually doesn’t affect your main cover if you make a claim.

Your main cover continues as normal and if your cancer progresses to a higher stage or you’re diagnosed with a new critical illness later during the policy term, the full pay out amount will still be available to claim.

For example, LV= offer an additional payment of 25% of your original cover amount (up to £30,000) if you make a successful claim for one of the less advanced cancers that they cover - and your main cover will continue for the remainder of the term.

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What cancers are not covered by critical illness insurance?

As mentioned, not all cancers are covered by critical illness insurance.

The types of cancer not included with critical illness cover are usually those that are low grade and can be easily treated, such as:

  • Pre-malignant cancer
  • Low-grade prostate cancer
  • Urothelial tumours
  • Some skin cancers
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Neuroendocrine tumours
  • Gastrointestinal stromal tumours

There may be other instances where certain cancers are not covered by critical illness insurance. For example, if your diagnosis doesn’t meet the criteria specified by the insurer, or if your cancer has been excluded from the policy due to a pre-existing cancer.

Does critical illness cover skin cancer?

Yes, some types of skin cancer may be covered by critical illness insurance, but usually only in cases where the cancer has grown and reached a specified severity (as per the insurer’s definition).

For example, malignant melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body.

However, most skin cancers are non-invasive (remain localised) and therefore may not be covered by critical illness insurance.

The details of whether a critical illness policy covers skin cancer will be provided in the policy terms and conditions.

Is basal cell carcinoma covered by critical illness?

As with other types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma may be covered by critical illness cover depending on the insurer and the severity of the tumour.

It’s rare for basal cell carcinoma to spread and affect other parts of the body, so it’s unlikely that a diagnosis will result in a critical illness pay out.

Does critical illness cover breast cancer?

Typically, yes, if the breast cancer is considered malignant and has spread to other parts of the body, then this should be covered by critical illness cover.

Breast cancer that has not yet spread (called breast carcinoma in situ or stage 0 breast cancer) may be covered but may not qualify for a full pay out.

Some insurers offer additional cover for breast carcinoma in situ, providing a partial pay out in the event you’re diagnosed during the policy term.

As mentioned, you can find all the details of what is and isn’t covered by critical illness cover in the policy documents.

Does critical illness insurance provide cancer cover for children?

Yes, critical illness insurance can provide cancer cover for your children.

Most policies either have children’s cover automatically included or give you the option to add children’s cover for an extra cost.

As with adult’s critical illness insurance, there are different levels of cover to choose from and only certain cancers are covered.

If one of your children is diagnosed with cancer that meets the definition outlined in your policy terms, you can make a claim.

What are the most common types of cancer?

The NHS state that the most common types of cancer in the UK are:

  • Breast cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Bowel cancer[3]

There are more than 200 different types of cancer, most of which are covered by critical illness insurance if the diagnosis meets the minimum definition set out by the ABI.

Other common cancers include skin cancer, kidney cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Other conditions covered by critical illness insurance

Some other conditions that are usually covered by critical illness insurance include:

  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Dementia
  • Blindness
  • Deafness
  • Liver failure
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Third-degree burns
  • Traumatic brain injury

We have written this article ‘What illnesses are covered by critical illness cover?’ for more details »

How to find the best critical illness cover for cancer

Cancer is one of the most common critical illnesses in the UK and accounts for most claims for critical illness pay outs.

As a result, it’s important to find a suitable critical illness policy that will provide the cover you need at the right price.

Why not use our fee-free broker service to help you compare options?

Reasons to use us:

  • Compare multiple deals from a panel of leading insurers within minutes, without paying a fee (saving you time and money)
  • Get fee-free support and information on the options available from one of our dedicated protection experts
  • Award-winning service that’s rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot from thousands of our customers
  • We’re regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
  • Life insurance with critical illness cover starts from just £10 a month
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Cancer and critical illness insurance FAQs:

What is critical illness cover?

Critical illness cover, or critical illness insurance, is a type of policy that provides financial protection in the event of a specified critical illness, such as cancer, heart attack and stroke.

It pays out a tax-free lump sum if you’re diagnosed with an illness covered in your policy, and you survive for 10 days (or 14 days with some policies) from diagnosis.

The money can help you to maintain your current lifestyle while you’re unable to work, providing a vital financial safety net so you can focus on getting better.

Critical illness cover is usually taken out with a life insurance policy, but it’s also available as a standalone policy.

At Reassured, we can help you arrange life insurance protection with added critical illness cover from just £10 a month.

Can you get critical illness insurance after cancer?

Yes, it could be possible to get critical illness insurance after receiving a cancer diagnosis, depending on the type and severity of the cancer.

Individuals with a history of low stage or grade cancer and those who’ve been in remission for several years may be accepted for critical illness cover.

However, it’s likely that your premiums will be inflated due to your pre-existing medical condition.

It’s also possible that cancer will be excluded from your cover. This means that you won’t be able to claim for any cancer diagnosis.

In some cases, using a broker could make identifying your available options easier after surviving cancer as opposed to going to an insurer directly.

A broker can compare quotes from various insurers to help you identify which insurer is more likely to offer you protection.

Is stage 1 cancer considered a critical illness?

Yes, some stage 1 cancers are considered critical and may be covered by critical illness cover.

The exact definitions of these and circumstances of when you can make a claim will be specified by the insurer.

Typically, to make a successful claim for stage 1 cancer, the cancer cells must have spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Is terminal cancer covered by critical illness insurance?

Terminal cases of cancer can be covered by some critical illness policies.

This means that if you’re diagnosed with a cancer that cannot be cured and you’re expected to pass away within 12 months from diagnosis, you can make a claim on your policy.

Terminal cancer is also covered by some types of life insurance.

For example, if you take out term life insurance through Reassured, terminal illness cover is included as standard.

Critical illness insurance vs income protection insurance for cancer?

If you’re looking for insurance that can help protect your income in the event you’re unable to work due to cancer or any other critical illness, then you may consider income protection insurance.

Income protection doesn’t cover a list of specified illnesses or require your cancer diagnosis to meet certain criteria in order for you to make a claim. You just need to be incapable of doing your usual job because of an illness or injury for a set period, and you’ll be covered by your policy.

Learn more in our ‘What does income protection insurance cover?’ guide.

Sources:

[1] https://www.macmillan.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/research/cancer-statistics-fact-sheet

[2] https://www.abi.org.uk/news/news-articles/2024/9/protection-insurers-pay-out-record-7.34-billion-to-support-individuals-and-families/

[3] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cancer/

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