Vitality serious illness cover could be a good alternative to traditional critical illness cover.
Here are some key benefits of Vitality serious illness cover:
- Protection for up to 174 specific illnesses (more than any other illness insurance policy)
It covers a broader range of illnesses compared to critical illness cover, meaning you’re more likely to receive a pay out (even if it’s not a full pay out). It includes common conditions like cancer, heart attack and stroke, which account for most claims.
It also covers less serious conditions, like grade one cancer and pregnancy complications, which aren’t always covered by critical illness cover.
- May pay out sooner than traditional critical illness cover
Vitality pay out a percentage of your cover (5% - 100%) based on the severity of a condition and the impact it may have on your life.
As they cover a range of less serious conditions as well as critical conditions, you could receive a partial pay out at an earlier stage of an illness, while also retaining the rest of your cover for future claims if your condition gets worse (or you develop a new illness).
With traditional critical illness cover, you usually need to wait until a condition is critical before being able to claim.
- Claim multiple times (up to three times your cover amount)
If you make a claim and receive a partial pay out (for example, 25% of your cover), the rest of your cover stays in place should you need to claim again.
Depending on the cover option you choose, it’s possible to claim up to 300% of your original cover amount. This isn’t the case with traditional critical illness cover, which usually pays out in full for the first claim and then expires.
In 2024, 1 in 10 Vitality serious illness cover claims were paid to people who’d already received a pay out[1].
- Additional protection options and free benefits
Serious illness cover automatically includes Dementia and FrailCare Cover, which provides cover for later life conditions after your policy ends (unless you opt out).
It also includes a waiting list benefit, which pays out for 24 specific surgical conditions if you’re added to the NHS waiting list.
You can also add child serious illness cover to your policy which offers up to £100,000 of additional cover if your child falls ill.
- Access to the Vitality rewards programme
Vitality life insurance and serious illness cover policyholders also benefit from their rewards programme which includes discounts and savings for an array of UK brands, from Café Nero to Champneys Spa. It’s designed to help you keep healthy as well as save money on your life insurance premiums.
The programme is effective too, with 87% of customers reaching their recommended weekly exercise goals compared to 61% of the general population in 2024[2].
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