Receive a lump sum payout upon diagnosis of serious illnesses like cancer, heart attack, or stroke. Use it for treatment, income replacement, or however you need, giving you financial freedom to focus on recovery.
Why It Matters
Health insurance covers medical bills, but what about everything else? When you're diagnosed with cancer or suffer a heart attack, you face more than just hospital expenses including lost income, caregiver costs, lifestyle modifications, and the desire to spend quality time with family.
Critical illness insurance provides a tax-free lump sum upon diagnosis with no questions asked about how you use it. Pay off debts, fund experimental treatments not covered by health insurance, take time off work, or simply ensure your family's bills are covered while you recover.
In Singapore, 1 in 4-5 people will develop cancer in their lifetime. Heart disease remains a leading cause of death. With advances in medicine, survival rates are improving, but treatment costs and recovery time have increased significantly.
Cancer
Most common claim
Heart Attack
Myocardial infarction
Stroke
Permanent effects
Kidney Failure
End-stage renal disease
Coronary Bypass
Heart surgery
+ 30 More
Varies by plan
Options
Covers early-stage conditions like early cancer, minor stroke, or partial disability. Pays a portion (typically 25-50%) of the sum assured.
• Early cancer detection coverage
• Angioplasty and minor heart conditions
• Partial payouts to preserve main coverage
• Catch problems before they become severe
Best for: Comprehensive protection including early detection
Covers major illnesses that significantly impact your life and ability to work. Pays the full sum assured upon diagnosis.
• Major cancers and heart attacks
• Stroke with permanent effects
• Organ failure and transplants
• Full lump sum payout
Best for: Maximum coverage for major life-altering illnesses
Expert Advice
This covers 3-5 years of income replacement, allowing time for treatment and recovery without financial stress.
Health insurance pays hospital bills while CI covers everything else including income loss, lifestyle changes, and experimental treatments.
Family history or existing health issues can affect premiums or coverage. Lock in protection while you're at your healthiest.
Not all cancer is covered equally. Some plans cover early-stage; others require more severe diagnoses. Read the fine print.
Multi-pay plans let you claim multiple times for different illnesses. Worth considering given improved survival rates.
Whole life CI is expensive. Term CI provides high coverage at lower premiums. Layer with other protection for efficiency.
Common Questions
Health insurance reimburses medical bills. CI pays a lump sum regardless of medical costs and you can use it for anything. Even if your health insurance covers treatment fully, CI provides additional funds for income replacement, lifestyle modifications, or simply peace of mind.
Depends on the policy structure. Standalone CI allows separate claims. Some whole life plans have CI as a rider that accelerates death benefits, meaning CI payout reduces your death benefit. Clarify this before purchasing.
Most CI policies require you to survive 14-30 days after diagnosis to claim. This prevents claims for immediately terminal conditions. If you pass away within this period, your beneficiaries typically receive the payout instead.
Get a personalized critical illness insurance recommendation.