Top of main content

Critical Illness Cover

Get a lump sum on diagnosis of a specified illness to help support you and your family.

Get a lump sum on diagnosis of a specified illness to help support you and your family

Critical Illness Cover can offer you a lump sum on diagnosis of a specified illness or surgical procedure. It can be used to help you with bills and day-to-day expenses, or you could use it to fund private medical care.

Cover is provided by HSBC Life (UK) Limited. Please check the policy documents for full details as terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions apply.

You can also take out Critical Illness Cover as an add-on when you apply online for Life Cover.

If you'd like to buy a standalone Critical Illness Cover policy without life cover, our protection advice service is available - at no extra cost - to HSBC UK customers who are UK residents aged 18 and over.

What you'll get

A lump sum

You'll get a lump sum on diagnosis of a specified critical illness or surgical procedure.

Coverage for a variety of illnesses

Critical Illness Cover includes diagnosis of a range of critical illnesses or surgical procedures, including cancer, heart attack and stroke.

Reliable pay outs

HSBC Life paid over 95% of claims in 2023.

Why get cover with us

  • Combine with Life Cover
    Critical Illness Cover is available as an add-on when you apply online for Life Cover.
  • Available as a standalone policy
    A standalone Critical Illness Cover policy without Life Cover is available through our advisers.

What's covered

Critical illnesses covers a range of conditions, including:

  • terminal illness
  • cancer - excluding less advanced cases
  • heart attack
  • multiple sclerosis
  • stroke
  • alzheimers or dementia

What's not covered

As with all insurance policies, certain terms and conditions, exclusions, and limitations will apply.

We won’t usually cover you within the first 90 days of the policy start date or if you don’t survive for a period of 10 days from the date of diagnosis.

With Critical Illness Cover bought as an add-on, if you cancel your Critical Illness policy or make a successful claim, your Critical Illness policy will end but your Life Cover policy will continue. If you cancel your Life Cover policy or make a successful Life Cover claim, your Critical Illness Cover will end.

For full details of cover available as an add on when you apply for Life Cover online, download the policy document.

If you already have a policy, your existing terms may vary. Please call us on 0345 745 6125 to find out more.

Lines are open 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). 

Get a quote

Who can apply?

You can apply for life insurance from us if you're a UK resident (not including the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man). You also need to be registered for online banking or mobile banking. For joint cover, only one person needs to be registered.

You're eligible for Life Cover if you're:

  • over 17 and under 70 years of age
  • cover must end before your 80th birthday

You're eligible for Critical Illness Cover if you're:

  • aged between 17 and 69 when the policy starts
  • cover must end before your 75th birthday

Need Critical Illness Cover after your 75th birthday? Please speak to a protection adviser.

Things to know

How to apply

Get a Life Cover quote

You can take out Critical Illness Cover as an add-on when you apply online for Life Cover.

Get a standalone policy

If you'd like to buy a standalone Critical Illness Cover policy without Life Cover, our protection advice service is available - at no extra cost - to HSBC UK customers who are UK residents aged 18 and over.

If you’re interested in using this service, please email us at wealthadvicecentre@hsbc.co.uk and an adviser will be in touch to arrange an introductory call.

When applying for an HSBC mortgage, one of our Mortgage Advisers will also be able to discuss Critical Illness Cover with you.

Frequently asked questions

It's easy to answer your query online. Visit our Help page to find out how.