Critical Illness Life Cover in Singapore  

Since the 1st of July 2003, the Life Insurance Association of Singapore (LIA) and the General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA) have standardised the definitions of the list of the 30 critical illnesses for consumers in Singapore. 

The standardised definitions have made it easy for consumers to compare critical illness cover from different insurers, as well as made claims matters more easily clarified and more consistent.  

This will enable quicker settlement when a critical illness imposes a sudden financial burden on a policyholder, and reduce the misunderstandings that may arise when one insurer pays a claim but another rejects it due to a different definition of the same illness.   

Essentially, a lump sum payout is given in the event that the Life Assured is diagnosed to be suffering from any one of the 30 Critical Illnesses. 

The critical illness coverage is to offer a peace of mind when an individual loses the ability to a regular income for a significant amount of time.

The List of 30 Critical Illnesses in Singapore 

The full list of the 30 critical illnesses is categorized under 6 groups below for your understanding. The categories are meant to make it convenient for the layman to make sense of it, so the classifications may not be exact. 

Major Illnesses: 

A)   Damage to Senses 

1)    Blindness (Loss of Sight) 

2)    Deafness (Loss of Hearing) 

3)    Loss of Speech 

4)    Major Burns 

B)   Damage to Internal Organs and Blood 

1)    Kidney Failure 

2)    Major Organ/ Bone Marrow Transplantation 

3)    End Stage Lung Disease 

4)    End Stage Liver Failure 

5)    Fulminant Hepatitis 

6)    Aplastic Anaemia 

C)   Heart-Related Damages 

1)    Coronary Artery By Pass Surgery 

2)    Heart Attack 

3)    Heart Valve Surgery 

4)    Surgery to Aorta 

5)    Primary Pulmonary Hypertension 

6)    Angioplasty & Other Invasive Treatment For Coronary Artery 

D)   Damage to Brain & Head 

1)    Benign Brain Tumour 

2)    Major Head Trauma 

3)    Bacterial Meningitis 

4)    Alzheimer's Disease/ Severe Dementia 

5)    Stroke 

E)    Damage to Body and Movements 

1)    Paralysis (Loss of Use of Limbs) 

2)    Multiple Sclerosis 

3)    Muscular Dystrophy 

4)    Parkinson's Disease 

5)    Motor Neurone Disease 

6)    Coma 

F)    Others 

1)    Major Cancers 

2)    Terminal Illness 

3)    HIV Due to Blood Transfusion and Occupationally Acquired HIV 

Any of the above of the 30 critical illness list will lead to any individual lose their job and their ability to continue to earn a regular income. The newest critical illness life cover policies from one of the insurance companies actually expands the list from 30 to 60 critical illnesses.

Thus, a lump sum payout will be made by the insurer to the policyholder. This also explains why, for example, a loss of sense of smell is not in the list, as the ability to earn a regular income is not lost.  

Expansion of the List of 30 Critical Illnesses to 60

From the 1st of April 2009, one local insurance company has increased the number of critical illness life cover from 30 to 60 critical illnesses.

Not only has it increased the number of critical illnesses, it is also designed to allow multiple claims, whether it is for the same or different critical illness.

Most importantly, there is NO waiting period required in between critical illness claims. And this will prove to be a very important advantge to consumers when other insurance companies aim to amulate this pioneer severity-based critical illness plan, known as Early-Payout CritcalCare (EPCC).

To learn more about it, click here >> Early-Payout CriticalCare

To speak to our financial consultant on this EPCC, click here >> Contact us for insurance tips

See other Singapore insurance plans such as health insurance coverage and disability income insurance.