What conditions are usually covered?

The specific conditions can vary depending upon the insurance provider, but usually include certain cancers, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, major organ transplant and multiple sclerosis. Some schemes can also include additional conditions, partner or spouse cover, children’s cover and specified surgical procedures.

How much does group critical illness cover pay?

The amount paid depends on how the scheme is designed and the profile of your workforce. You can usually choose a fixed lump sum or a benefit based on a multiple of salary, subject to insurer limits and eligibility criteria.

Is the payment made to the employer or the employee?

Where a valid claim is accepted, the lump sum is usually paid directly to the employee. It can be used in any way they choose, such as helping with household bills, mortgage payments, childcare, home adaptations or additional care needs.

Can family members be included?

Some group critical illness policies include children’s cover as standard, while spouse or partner cover may be available as an optional extension. The level of cover and eligibility can be determined by you as the employer to suit the needs of your business and its people.

Does group critical illness cover include wellbeing support?

Many policies include added-value services such as virtual GP appointments, second medical opinions, employee assistance programmes, counselling, nurse support, wellbeing apps or health checks. These services can support your employees before, during and after a diagnosis.

Is group critical illness cover suitable for small businesses?

Yes, group critical illness cover can be arranged for businesses of all shapes and sizes, although minimum employee numbers and available options vary by insurer. We can help you understand the options available to suit your workforce, budget and wider employee benefits strategy.

How can Partners& help with group critical illness cover?

Our employee benefits specialists can review your objectives, compare insurer options, explain the features and exclusions, support scheme design and help communicate the value of cover to your people clearly and confidently.

Group critical illness cover for employees

Q: What is group critical illness cover?

Group critical illness cover is an employee benefit that provides a lump sum if an employee is diagnosed with one of the serious illnesses or medical conditions covered by the policy. The payment can help ease financial pressure, giving employees greater reassurance while they focus on treatment, recovery and their family.

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Being diagnosed with a serious illness can change everything in a moment.

Group critical illness cover gives your people financial reassurance when they need it most — helping them focus on treatment, recovery and their family. We can help you build valued financial protection into your employee benefits strategy.

Who we support

Companies of all shapes and sizes
HR professionals
Business owners
Business partners
Employee relations managers

Why us?

Advice that makes a difference

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We’re specialists in group critical illness cover

Our specialist employee benefits advisers understand how to design group critical illness cover that works for your business and your people. We take time to understand your workforce, your budget and your wider benefits strategy, then help you compare insurers, structure the right level of cover and communicate the value clearly to employees. We’ll deliver practical guidance, market insight and ongoing support to help deliver meaningful financial protection for your people when it matters most.

Challenges in your business

Attracting, retaining and supporting talented people remains a challenge and a priority for many businesses. A strong employee benefits programme demonstrates that you care about your people, while giving employees greater confidence that support is available when they need it most.

Serious illness can create significant financial and emotional pressure for employees and their families. Group critical illness cover can provide practical financial reassurance at a difficult time, helping your employees focus on treatment, recovery and adapting to their circumstances.

How we support

Group critical illness schemes are not all the same. The right approach depends on your workforce, your wider benefits strategy and the level of financial protection you want to provide.

We work in partnership with our clients to understand their objectives, looking at your overall employee benefits strategy before recommending a solution that supports both your business and its people.

Your business performs

Providing group critical illness cover can enhance your employee benefits package, support recruitment and retention, and help create a culture that prioritises health, wellbeing and financial resilience.

By offering meaningful protection when employees may be facing one of life’s most challenging moments, your business can help build a more secure, supported and engaged workforce.

What is group critical illness cover?

Group critical illness cover is an employee benefit that pays a tax-free lump sum if an employee is diagnosed with one of the serious illnesses covered by the policy, such as certain cancers, heart attack or stroke.

The payment can be used in any way the employee chooses, whether that means covering household bills, adapting their home, funding additional care, supporting family commitments or simply reducing immediate financial pressure while they focus on recovery.

Group critical illness can also be extended to include children’s cover, spouse or partner cover, and support following specified surgical procedures.

Many group critical illness policies also include added-value benefits designed to support your employees before, during and after a diagnosis. These can include virtual GP services, second medical opinions, employee assistance programmes, counselling, mental health resources, nurse support, cancer support services, wellbeing apps and health checks.

Providing group critical illness cover for your employees can be a valuable enhancement to your overall employee benefits package.

Key benefits include

A lump sum payment to the employee following diagnosis of a covered condition
Financial support during challenging times
Flexible benefit design options to suit different workforce needs
Added reassurance for employees and their families
Access to added-value wellbeing services, such as virtual GP support, second medical opinions, counselling, nurse guidance and health checks

How can Partners& help with your employee benefits strategy?

Protecting your people. Supporting your business.

At the heart of every successful organisation are healthy, financially secure employees. Through our carefully selected network of leading insurers and healthcare providers, we deliver comprehensive employee benefit solutions that help businesses attract, retain and protect their workforce.

Our expert advisers will work closely you to understand your business objectives and recommend tailored solutions that provide meaningful support for your employees and their families. We can help you with your overall employee benefits programme, including group critical illness cover, by:

Reviewing existing cover, identifying gaps or duplication in cover as well as potential cost savings
Bringing awareness to included added-value benefits
Implement new schemes where appropriate
Assisting with employee communication plans
Support start-ups get off the ground with the right employee benefit solutions

We’ll also explain the tax implications and support with any medical underwriting requirements.

Talk to us to find out more