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Serious Illness Cover

Critical Illness Insurance Explained 2025

Originally published: 2018 | Last updated: August 2025

📌 Start Here

  • âś… Learn how Serious Illness / Critical Illness Cover works in Ireland.
  • âś… Compare policies across all 5 insurers (not just your bank’s).
  • âś… Have a health condition? We’ll place you with the right underwriter first.

👉 Get an instant quote
👉 Complete the short advice questionnaire
👉 Book a quick callback with Nick

Why Consider Serious Illness Cover?

Cancer.

Heart attack.

Stroke.

The big three that make up around 85% of all serious illness claims in Ireland.

Recovery takes time, and bills don’t stop.

That’s where a lump-sum payout helps you focus on getting better, not stressing over money.

What is Serious Illness / Critical Illness Cover?

Also called Specified Illness Cover, it pays you a tax-free lump sum if you’re diagnosed with one of the illnesses listed in your policy.

You can spend the payout however you like — mortgage, bills, treatment, or just keeping life ticking over.

Why Not Rely on Sick Pay or the State?

  • Employers are only legally obliged to provide 5 paid sick days a year.
  • State Illness Benefit = €244 per week.
  • That won’t stretch far against rent, mortgages, and family expenses.

Serious Illness Cover fills that gap with a once-off lump sum.

How It Works

  • You choose the cover amount (e.g. €30,000 or €50,000).
  • If you’re diagnosed with a covered illness (e.g. cancer, heart attack, stroke), the insurer pays out.
  • Some policies also include partial payments (up to €15–20k) for less advanced illnesses like early-stage cancers or Crohn’s disease.

What Does It Actually Cover?

The “big three” — cancer, heart attack, and stroke — account for the majority of claims.

Other illnesses (e.g. MS, Parkinson’s, coronary bypass surgery) make up most of the rest.

Don’t be swayed by policies that have a higher number of illnesses covered — definitions matter more than numbers.

How Much Cover Do You Need?

A common rule of thumb is €30,000.

Why?

Cancer treatment alone can cost around €1,000/month, plus the lost income if you can’t work.

That adds up fast.

If your budget allows, €50,000+ gives better breathing room.

How Much Does It Cost?

Bundling Serious Illness Cover with your Life Insurance keeps it affordable.

Example: A 40-year-old adding €30k Serious Illness Cover to a €250k Life Insurance policy might only pay ~€20/month extra (about €5 a week).

Read: Accelerated or Standalone?

Claim Example

One of our younger clients was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  His insurer paid out €45,000 under his mortgage protection policy, which cleared half his mortgage.

That payout gave him financial breathing space while he focused on recovery.

Don’t Add It to Mortgage Protection

If you bundle Serious Illness Cover with your mortgage protection policy, the payout goes straight to the bank, not to you.

If you want cash in your pocket when you’re sick, keep it separate.

Which Insurer is Best?

  • Zurich → strong definitions, “booster” benefit on some illnesses.
  • Royal London → Largest number of illnesses, Helping Hand support service.
  • Irish Life → LifeCare and partial payments on some pregnancy-related issues.
  • New Ireland → excellent cover but can be pricey
  • Aviva → Aviva → generally weaker definitions compared to the others

Nick’s Take: Zurich tends to offer the best balance of definitions, benefits and cost. But the right choice depends on your health and budget — we’ll guide you through it.

Serious Illness vs Income Protection

Income Protection pays a monthly income until you recover or retire. Serious Illness Cover is cheaper, but only pays once for specific illnesses.

If budget allows, IP is the stronger option — but Serious Illness is a good plan B.

FAQs

What’s the difference between Serious Illness and Critical Illness? None — just different names.

How do I make a claim? Notify the insurer, complete the claim form, and provide medical evidence. If your illness matches the policy definition, the payout is made.

Do insurers actually pay? Yes — if you’re truthful on the form and the illness is covered, claims are usually straightforward.

How much cover do most people take? Between €30k and €50k.

Why Lion.ie?

  • 1,900+ five-star reviews
  • Specialists in medical/non-standard cases
  • Fully online, no pushy sales
  • Proper advice, not bank-sell tactics

🚀 Next Steps

Ready to get Serious Illness Cover sorted?

👉 Get instant quotes
👉 Complete our financial advice questionnaire
👉 Book a quick callback with Nick

Benefits of Serious Illness Cover with lion.ie

serious illness cover

  • A tax-free lump sum if you’re out of work because of one of the serious illnesses in your policy.
  • Covers a wide range of illnesses, from types of cancer through to MS or liver failure.
  • You’ve the option to buy inexpensive Cancer Only Cover.
  • A little cover goes a long way, so it’s not as pricey as other types of insurance.
  • Some insurers offer additional benefits like hospital cash, one-to-one support, broken bones payment or a personal accident benefit.
  • 9 in 10 claims are paid out.
  • I compare all six insurers so you get the best deal for you. I also offer fully impartial advice so you don’t get tripped up by your insurer in the future.

How much will it cost to protect myself?

Why Lion.ie?

I know what you’re thinking: why trust this guy? He’s just another broker out to make a quick buck on other people’s misfortune.

Harsh!

Scroll down to read some of my testimonials from my lovely clients. You won’t find a single bad one – and there’s a reason for that – bribery I mean, GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE

I believe in plain English and in avoiding the makey-uppy terms insurers and banks use to bamboozle you. After all: if you can’t understand what they’re saying, how are you meant to get the best deal?

For example, did you know that you should NEVER bundle Serious Illness Cover and Mortgage Protection because the bank get the pay-out if you get a serious life-threatening or chronic illness.

That’s cheeky – and it’s also not something the banks are in a rush to disclose.

  • We’re on online broker so we can arrange everything, including the signing of your documents over t’internet.
  • We specialise in getting cover for people with health issues or a quirky medical condition.
  • We’re an independent broker giving you unbiased advice on a choice of policies from Aviva, Irish Life, New Ireland, Zurich Life and Royal London. That’s all five of the big Irish insurers. You won’t get that from a bank or any one insurer.

I’ll lay it all for you in plain English and I’ll give you independent, unbiased advice so you can get the right deal for you. I can’t wait to speak with you and to make life insurance a little less drab and a little more fun.

Nick McGowan
lion.ie | making life insurance easier

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