Short answer: UK critical illness policies cover between 30 and 177 conditions in 2026, depending on the insurer. Core ABI-standard definitions cover 30-50 conditions on all major UK policies. Vitality's Serious Illness Cover covers 177 conditions with severity-based payouts. Aviva, Royal London and Legal & General typically cover 60-65.
For who: applicants comparing CIC policies.
Reviewed by: Ben Darke, lifecoverfor.com · Last updated: 2026-06-03
Reviewed by: Ben Darke, lifecoverfor.com · Last updated: 2026-06-03
Key facts (2026)
| Vitality Serious Illness Cover | 177 conditions, with severity-based partial payouts |
| Guardian (HALO) | 66 conditions but uses Payout Markers — most lenient claim definitions |
| Aviva, Royal London | 60-65 conditions |
| Legal & General | 60 conditions |
| Always covered (core conditions) | Cancer, heart attack, stroke, multiple sclerosis, kidney failure, motor neurone disease, major organ transplant, Parkinson's, dementia (over-55), benign brain tumour |
Sources
Insurer 2026 policy summaries, ABI standard definitions.
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