The continuing advances in medicine mean that the chances of surviving a major illness such as cancer, heart attack or stroke are greater than ever before. However, the financial consequences of these serious illnesses can be massive. Critical illness insurance can provide you with a tax-free lump sum to help ease financial worries whilst you are undergoing treatment and recuperation.

In this section, we look at the reasons that might help you decide whether or not invest in critical illness insurance, and the different types of policy on offer. There's also a guide to what you need to be aware of before purchasing a policy, including the details of the different conditions that are covered, as well as the conditions and causes that are excluded.