Critical Illness Cover Calculator
Work out a recommended lump sum to clear your mortgage and debts and fund your recovery if you're diagnosed with a serious illness — plus a buffer for treatment or home-adaptation costs.
A guide, not advice. This is a guide to how much cover you might need — not advice or a quote; speak to a regulated adviser. Figures are indicative only and use a £10,000 treatment/home-adaptation buffer.
Enter your mortgage, debts or outgoings
Your recommended critical illness lump sum and a full breakdown appear here as you type.
How much critical illness cover do you need?
Critical illness cover pays a tax-free lump sum if you're diagnosed with a specified serious illness, such as cancer, a heart attack or a stroke — money you can use however you need, unlike income protection's monthly payments. This calculator sizes that lump sum around three things: clearing your outstanding mortgage and other debts so they're not a burden during treatment, funding your essential monthly outgoings for a chosen recovery period (24 months is a common default, since recovery from a serious illness often takes longer than statutory sick pay or savings can bridge), and a buffer for treatment or home-adaptation costs the NHS may not fully cover. Any existing critical illness cover and savings are then subtracted to give a recommended new lump sum. This is a starting point for a conversation with a regulated adviser, not personal advice — your policy's exact list of covered conditions and payout terms vary by insurer.