How do I claim on critical illness cover?
Contact your insurer once you have a diagnosis you think may be covered. You do not need to wait for treatment to finish. The insurer will ask for details of the diagnosis and permission to contact your doctors, then check it against the policy definition. If the condition meets the definition, the lump sum is usually paid once.
When to contact the insurer
As soon as you have a confirmed diagnosis from a specialist. If you are unsure whether it counts, contact them anyway: the claims team can tell you which definition applies and what evidence they need.
What the insurer checks
Each covered condition has a written definition, and many need a particular severity, test result or treatment before a claim can be paid. Your consultant's report is usually the main evidence. Some policies also require you to survive for a short period after diagnosis.
Partial payments
Many policies pay a smaller amount for less severe conditions, such as some early-stage cancers, and continue the main cover afterwards. Your policy summary lists which conditions qualify.
Support while you claim
Many insurers include nurse support, second medical opinions or counselling at no extra cost, and you can use these whether or not you claim. In 2025, the ABI reported 90.2% of new critical illness claims were paid.
Association of British Insurers
This article is general information about UK protection insurance, not personalised financial advice. Policy terms vary between insurers and products, so always check your own policy documents.
Last updated 27 October 2026