Compare critical illness cover from every major UK insurer — conditions covered, 2024 claim-paid rates, severity-based partial payouts, children's cover and starting premiums, all in one dated table (July 2026). Provider names link to our full independent reviews.
Critical Illness Cover Comparison Table (July 2026)
| Provider | Conditions | 2024 claim-paid | Severity payouts | Children's cover | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitality | 177 | 98.0% | Yes — multi-tier | Included | £6/mo |
| Guardian | 66 + Payout Markers | 93.6% | Yes — markers | Included | £6/mo |
| Aviva | 62 | 92.7% | Partial payouts | Included | £5/mo |
| Royal London | 64 | 91.1% | Partial payouts | Included | £5/mo |
| Legal & General | 60 | 92.2% | Partial payouts | Included | £5/mo |
| Zurich | 62 | 94.5% | Partial payouts | Included | £5/mo |
| AIG Life | 52 | 94.0% | Partial payouts | Included | £5/mo |
| LV= | 58 | 90.6% | Partial payouts | Included | £5/mo |
| Scottish Widows | 57 | 95.9% | Partial payouts | Included | £6/mo |
Claim-paid figures are each insurer's latest published critical illness statistics (2024 reports). Starting premiums are indicative for a healthy non-smoker aged 30 at the lowest cover tier. Conditions counts are each insurer's current published policy summaries — definitions vary, so two "60-condition" policies can pay very differently on the same diagnosis.
How to Compare Critical Illness Cover Properly
- Definitions beat condition counts. A 60-condition policy with strict wording can pay less often than a 50-condition policy with generous wording. Guardian's Payout Markers and Vitality's severity tiers are worth reading in full.
- Check severity/partial payouts. Early-stage cancers (DCIS, low-grade prostate) are among the most commonly claimed events — core-only policies exclude them.
- Compare claim-paid rates, not brand familiarity. The UK industry average is ~91%; the table shows who beats it.
- Children's cover is usually free — but sums and age ranges vary (£10k–£25k, to age 18–22).
- Combined life + CIC is 25–35% cheaper than buying the two separately.
Critical Illness Cover Cost by Age (2026)
- Age 30: £10–18/month for £100,000 over 25 years (healthy non-smoker)
- Age 35: £14–25/month
- Age 40: £20–35/month
- Age 45: £25–45/month
- Age 50: £40–75/month over 15 years
Smokers pay roughly 70–120% more at every age. Pre-existing conditions add 25–200% depending on the condition and insurer — comparing several insurers matters most for these applicants.
Best Critical Illness Cover by Priority
- Most conditions covered: Vitality (177, severity-tiered)
- Most lenient claim wording: Guardian (HALO Payout Markers)
- Cheapest comprehensive cover: Legal & General
- Highest published claim-paid rate: Vitality (98.0%), then Scottish Widows (95.9%)
- Best for self-employed: see our self-employed CIC ranking
- Best for families: see our family CIC ranking
Not Sure You Need CIC at All?
Critical illness cover pays a one-off lump sum on diagnosis of listed conditions. Income protection pays a monthly income for any illness that stops you working — and for most working adults it's the higher-priority product. Read our income protection vs critical illness decision guide before buying either.
All Our Critical Illness Reviews
- Vitality critical illness cover review
- Guardian critical illness cover review
- Aviva critical illness cover review
- Royal London critical illness cover review
- Legal & General critical illness cover review
- Zurich critical illness cover review
- AIG Life critical illness cover review
- LV= critical illness cover review
- Scottish Widows critical illness cover review
Frequently Asked Questions
There's no single best. Vitality covers the most conditions (177 with severity tiers), Guardian has the most lenient claim wording (HALO Payout Markers), and Legal & General is usually the cheapest comprehensive option for healthy applicants. The right choice depends on your health, budget and how much partial payouts matter.
Core policies cover ~30 ABI-standard conditions; comprehensive policies cover 60–177. The difference in premium is small (typically 5–15%) and comprehensive policies include partial payouts for commonly-claimed early-stage conditions — usually worth it.
The UK industry average is ~91% (2024). Vitality leads at 98.0%, Scottish Widows at 95.9%. Most declined claims are due to non-disclosure at application or the condition not meeting the policy definition.
A healthy non-smoker aged 35 pays £14–25/month for £100,000 over 25 years. Smokers pay 70–120% more; combined life + CIC policies are 25–35% cheaper than separate cover.
They cover different risks: CIC pays one lump sum on diagnosis of listed conditions; IP pays monthly income for any illness stopping you working. For most working adults IP is the higher priority; CIC adds a valuable cash cushion on top if budget allows.
Often yes, though related conditions may be excluded or loaded. Insurers price the same condition very differently — comparing 3–5 insurers through a whole-of-market adviser matters most for these applications.