Can I remove critical illness but keep life cover?
Sometimes. Where life and critical illness cover are separate benefits, some insurers let you remove the critical illness element and keep the life cover, which lowers the premium. Where they are combined in one benefit, this may not be possible. Contact your insurer to check what your policy allows.
Think before removing it
Critical illness cover pays while you are alive, often when income and costs are most affected. Adding it back later would mean new underwriting based on your health then.
Other options
You may be able to reduce the critical illness amount rather than remove it entirely.
Get the new terms in writing
If you make a change, ask the insurer to confirm the new cover and premium in writing.
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