Lump sum payable upon diagnosis of a defined critical illness (cancer, heart attack, stroke, etc.). Industry covers 37 standard CIs.
Critical Illness insurance pays out a lump sum upon diagnosis of a defined critical illness — typically cancer, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, major organ transplant, and other severe conditions.
Unlike hospitalisation insurance (which reimburses bills), CI pays a cash sum on diagnosis regardless of treatment cost. The money can be used for treatment, lost income, lifestyle changes, or anything else.
Life Insurance Association (LIA) Singapore standardises 37 CI definitions across the industry — so 'Cancer of Specified Severity' means the same thing whether your policy is with AIA, Great Eastern, Income, or Prudential.
Standardised wording matters for claims. A 'severe stroke' claim must meet specific neurological deficit criteria — not just any stroke event.
The 37 standard CIs cover ~90% of common claims by frequency. The full list includes major ones like Major Cancers, Heart Attack, Stroke, Kidney Failure, plus less-common conditions like Alzheimer's, Motor Neurone Disease, and Multiple Sclerosis.
Standard CI: pays out at severe stages of illness. Cheaper, sufficient for most income-replacement needs.
Early CI (ECI): expanded coverage paying at earlier or less severe stages. Premiums are 30% – 70% higher than standard CI for the same sum assured. Captures more conditions but expensive.
Multi-Pay CI: pays out multiple times across the policy life for different conditions. Even more expensive — typically a premium feature in whole-life or limited-pay policies.
Income replacement: 5× annual income is a common benchmark. CI typically requires 3 – 5 years of work disruption; treatment, recovery, and lifestyle changes need real money.
Out-of-pocket medical: even with MediShield Life + IP, large CI bills (immunotherapy, overseas treatment) can run S$200,000+. CI funds the gap.
Affordability check: term-life CI rider on a S$500k term policy is usually under S$1,000 / year for a healthy 30-year-old. Stacking standalone CI on top adds another S$300 – S$1,000 / year.
Lock in young: CI premiums are largely a function of age and health. Once you have a condition flagged, you can't typically add CI coverage. Buy in your 20s – 30s.
A policy that pays a lump sum upon diagnosis of a defined critical illness — cancer, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and other severe conditions. Singapore's industry uses 37 standardised definitions across all major insurers, set by the Life Insurance Association.
Standard CI pays at advanced stages of illness (e.g. major cancer). Early CI (ECI) pays at earlier or less severe stages. ECI premiums are 30% – 70% higher than standard CI for the same sum assured. Multi-Pay CI pays out multiple times for different conditions over the policy life.
Around 5× annual income is a common benchmark — covers 3 – 5 years of work disruption plus out-of-pocket medical costs (which can exceed MediShield Life caps for advanced cancer treatment). Adjust upward if you have young dependants or limited savings.
Yes — as a rider on the same term policy (cheapest), or as a standalone CI policy (more flexible but pricier). Both expire if you let the underlying term lapse. Lock in CI coverage while young and healthy — premiums rise sharply with age and pre-existing conditions can disqualify you later.