Bupa Critical Illness Cover and
Bupa Critical Illness with Life Cover

A cash sum if your health fails...

In the UK alone there are 300,000 heart attacks and 120,000 strokes each year (Source: British Heart Foundation and Chest, Heart & Stroke Foundation, 1994). Nobody likes to dwell on the prospect of ill health, but whatever we tell ourselves, these facts remain the same. Thankfully, with medical science continually advancing, you're far more likely to survive a serious illness.

And, while nothing can compensate for ill health, we have schemes that can ease your peace of mind.

If you're aged between 18 and 59 and you're currently living in the UK, then you can take advantage of one of these reassuring schemes: Bupa Critical Illness Cover and Bupa Critical Illness with Life Cover.

• How much money would I receive...and when?
• What medical conditions are covered?
• What's not covered?

How much money would I receive...and when?
A substantial cash sum...

If you are in paid employment, there is no minimum or maximum limit. Applications for cash sum benefits of £200,000+ will be considered on the basis of financial evidence of income and assets. If your main occupation is running a home or raising a family, the maximum benefit is up to 2.5 times your marriage or life partner's salary. If there is no wage earner in the family, the maximum lump sum benefit available is ££100,000. When you join, you can even cover your children FREE for all the critical illnesses and operations you're covered for (provided they're in good health and aged between three months and 18 years), for up to 25 per cent of your chosen benefit level (to a maximum of £15,000). They can then remain on your membership until they're 18. You will receive your benefit if you or any child covered on the membership suffers or undergoes one of a number of medical conditions or operations.

Please note that benefit is only payable if you - or the person for whom a claim is made with Bupa Critical Illness Cover - has survived for 28 days after the operation or diagnosis of the medical condition which led to the claim. If you would like the added protection of cover for death or terminal illness then you should choose Bupa Critical Illness with Life Cover.

Each scheme has a number of cover options:

Bupa Critical Illness Cover

		1. 'Whole of life' cover Your protection can continue for the rest of your life, even after you retire.
		2. Defined term cover A set period of time from five to 30 years which you select at the outset, at the end of which your cover will cease.
		3. 'Renewable' cover Your cover will be subject to renewal every 10 years. Please note that if you choose option 2 or 3, your cover cannot continue after your 70th birthday.

		1. 'Whole of life' cover Not available.
		2. Defined term cover A set period of time from five to 30 years which you select at the outset, at the end of which your cover will cease.
		3. 'Renewable' cover Your cover will be subject to renewal every 10 years. Please note that if you choose option 2 or 3, your cover cannot continue after your 70th birthday.

What medical conditions are covered?

Both schemes cover a range of 25 different medical conditions and major operations. These are: cancer, heart attack, stroke, coronary artery disease bypass graft surgery, kidney failure, major organ transplant, AIDS (for the medical and emergency services), angioplasty, aorta surgery, benign brain tumour, burns, coma, diabetes mellitus, heartvalve replacement or repair, loss of hearing, loss of independent existence, loss of limbs, loss of sight, loss of speech, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, paralysis/paraplegia, Parkinson's disease, pre-senile dementia, total and permanent disability.

Bupa Critical Illness with Life Cover also covers terminal illness, and includes a benefit payable on death.

Cover abroad

If you are travelling or emigrating to the EU, Australia, Canada, Channel Islands, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of South Africa, Switzerland or the USA, your cover is unaffected, so long as you pay your subscriptions in sterling.

What's not covered?

Neither cover includes claims for any illness, injury or operation as a consequence of:

• wilful exposure to needless peril or an attempt to commit suicide
• self-inflicted injury or the misuse of alcohol or drugs
• unreasonable failure to seek or follow medical advice
• infection or treatment for HIV and or AIDS, except for benefit payable for medical professionals or members of the emergency services
• participation in riots, strikes, civil commotion, insurrection, war or invasion
• cancer or any medical condition or operation caused or necessitated by cancer if the cancer is diagnosed as having been present within 90 days of cover commencing
• any operation unless the operation was, in the opinion of Bupa's Medical Officer, medically necessary and was performed lawfully by a qualified surgeon in a hospital in which such operations are routinely carried out, and situated in the EU, Australia, Canada, Channel Islands, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of South Africa, Switzerland or the USA
• any illness, injury or treatment which was in whole or in part suffered or undergone during a period of residence outside the countries referred to previously but only if the period of residence lasts more than 13 weeks, or is one of a number of periods of such residence during any 12 month period which, when added together, lasts more than 13 weeks

More information?

This is just an introduction to the benefits of Bupa Critical Illness Cover and Bupa Critical Illness with Life Cover. If you'd like to know more, or if you'd like an application form and a full brochure, please either email us or call us free on 0800 919 165 (9am to 5pm) or 0800 600 500 at all other times, quoting: 6246.

For more information about some of the diseases and conditions shown on this page, you could try searching our A to Z of health factsheets.