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The basics of critical illness cover
Critical illness cover is a way to cover you should you be diagnosed with a serious health problem that could possibly alter your life in one way or another. There are specific types of illnesses that insurers cover and some that they don’t, therefore it is important to read the small print of the policy. This will put you out of work for a considerable amount of time and the medical bills can start stacking up very quickly. However, you can have peace of mind with critical illness cover as it provides a lump sum of money for you to cover things such as:
- Medical bills
- Pay bills
- Restructuring your house should you be unable to walk
- Everyday expenses
- Mortgage
The basics of income protection cover
Income protection is tied to your earnings and helps cover that should you fall sick or sustain an injury. Safe Works Australia reported that there were 104,770 serious claims that were made in 2015. 11 370 people were put out of work due to diseases.
You are paid 75% of your income on a monthly basis to cover expenses due to the fact that you are unable to work.This amount is paid out until you are able to return to work, and it will continue to be in existence until you retire. You can make multiple claims throughout the existence of your policy until you personally cancel it out. The benefits of having income protection are that it can cover you from any illness or injury that prevents you from working.
There are a few similarities
- Both provide cover for illness and injury that prevents you from working
- Pay out can be used for whatever purpose you wish to use it for
- Both come with a guaranteed/ fixed premiums
There are many differences
- Income protection is tied to your earnings while critical illness cover isn’t
- Critical illness cover pays out one lump sum then the policy terminates, while income protection pays out on a monthly basis and you can make claims multiple times
- Critical illness focuses on covering specific illnesses while income protection covers you no matter what illness or injury you have sustained
- Income protection limits your pay out to 75% while critical illness pays out any amount that you want covered
The final verdict?
It all comes down to you. Both critical illness cover and income protection are useful policies in their own right, and can be useful in times where you need it the most. However, depending on your financial circumstances and your needs you will choose the one that best suits you.
It is best to consider the terms and conditions that come with both policies and weigh them before deciding, or you can choose the best of both worlds to increase your coverage. You can then compare quotes to find one that has the best deal and value for your money.
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This guide provides general information and does not consider your individual needs, finances or objectives. We do not make any recommendation or suggestion about which product is best for you based on your specific situation and we do not compare all companies in the market, or all products offered by all companies. It’s always important to consider whether professional financial, legal or taxation advice is appropriate for you before choosing or purchasing a financial product.
The content on our website is produced by experts in the field of finance and reviewed as part of our editorial guidelines. We endeavour to keep all information across our site updated with accurate information.
Savvy is partnered with Compare Club Australia Pty Ltd (AFS representative number 001279036) of Alternative Media Pty Ltd (AFS License number 486326) to provide readers with a variety of life insurance policies to compare. Savvy earns a commission from Compare Club each time a customer buys a life insurance policy via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased from these brands directly, as all purchases are conducted via Compare Club.
Savvy does not compare all life insurance policies or providers currently operating in the market. Any advice presented above or on other pages is general in nature and doesn’t consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an insurance policy.
For any further information on the variety of insurers compared by Compare Club or how their business works, you can read their Financial Services Guide.
