Updated Jun 2026: Compare top critical illness policies side-by-side. We analyse the whole market, from Singlife and Great Eastern to FWD and beyond to help you find plans with the highest condition covered and flexible multi-claim resets.
Get free quoteA critical illness insurance plan provides a lump sum cash payout when you are diagnosed with a covered critical illness such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke. Unlike health insurance, which reimburses medical expenses, critical illness insurance helps replace lost income and cover everyday expenses during recovery.
In Singapore, critical illness insurance plans can be grouped by the type and stage of condition they cover:
A critical illness can create financial challenges beyond medical bills. Even if your hospitalisation costs are covered by MediShield Life or an Integrated Shield Plan, you may still face income loss, caregiving costs, transport expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lifestyle adjustments during recovery.
1 in 4 Singaporeans may develop cancer in their lifetime
No. 1 cancer affecting men: Prostate
No. 1 cancer affecting women: Breast cancer
Source: Singapore Cancer Society
There are six common types of critical illness insurance plans available in Singapore. The right option depends on your health profile, coverage needs, and whether you require protection for death, disability, or multiple critical illness claims.
A term cancer-only plan provides a lump sum payout if the insured person is diagnosed with a covered cancer. Unlike a comprehensive critical illness plan, it does not cover other major illnesses such as heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, or major organ transplant.
Cancer-only plans may be easier to qualify for because some insurers have simplified underwriting requirements and may accept applicants with certain pre-existing medical conditions. They can also be more affordable than comprehensive critical illness plans because coverage is limited to cancer-related conditions.
However, this narrower coverage means the policy will not provide protection against other critical illnesses. Cancer-only plans are generally most suitable for individuals who are unable to obtain traditional critical illness coverage or those who wish to supplement their existing protection with additional cancer coverage.
A single-payout critical illness plan provides a one-time lump sum benefit when the insured person is diagnosed with a covered critical illness. After a successful claim, the policy typically terminates and no further critical illness benefits are payable.
Unlike a term life insurance policy with a critical illness rider, this type of plan focuses primarily on critical illness protection and usually includes only a small death benefit. It does not generally provide meaningful coverage for death or total permanent disability.
This type of plan may be suitable for individuals who already have life insurance coverage but want dedicated protection against the financial impact of a critical illness diagnosis.
A term life insurance plan provides coverage for death and total permanent disability (TPD) during a specified policy term. Policyholders can enhance this protection by adding a critical illness rider, which provides a lump sum payout upon diagnosis of a covered critical illness.
Because the plan covers multiple risks under a single policy, it is often used by individuals with dependants, mortgages, or other financial commitments that would be difficult for family members to manage in the event of death, disability, or serious illness.
This type of plan can be a cost-effective way to obtain broad financial protection during your working years.
A whole life insurance plan provides lifelong coverage and can be enhanced with a critical illness rider. Unlike most term plans, which typically expire between ages 65 and 85, a whole life plan remains in force for life as long as policy conditions are met.
In addition to protection benefits, participating whole life plans may accumulate cash value through guaranteed and non-guaranteed benefits over time. This allows policyholders to surrender the policy in the future if they no longer require the coverage.
This type of plan is often chosen by individuals who want permanent protection against death, disability, and critical illness without worrying about policy expiry.
A multipay critical illness plan allows policyholders to make multiple claims for covered illnesses. Depending on the insurer, coverage may include early-stage, intermediate-stage, and severe-stage illnesses, as well as recurrence or relapse of certain conditions.
Compared with a single-payout plan, multipay coverage provides greater flexibility because the policy does not automatically terminate after the first claim. This can be valuable for individuals concerned about recurring illnesses or multiple health events over their lifetime.
Because the likelihood of multiple claims is higher, multipay plans generally cost more than traditional single-payout critical illness plans.
Multipay plans differ in how much they pay out across multiple early critical illness (ECI) claims. The table below compares the maximum ECI payout, expressed as a percentage of the sum assured, across selected multipay plans:
| Insurer | Plan name | ECI payout (% of sum assured) |
| AIA | Ultimate Critical Cover | Up to 200% |
| FWD | Future First w Total Care Rider | Up to 200% |
| Great Eastern | GREAT Critical Cover: Complete with Protect Me Again Rider | Up to 300% |
| HSBC Life | Super Criticare | Up to 600% |
| HSBC Life | Term Protector w Super Criticare | Up to 600% |
| Manulife | EarlyComplete Care Deluxe | Up to 400% |
| Prudential | PRUActive Protect w Protect Plus | Up to 500% |
| Singlife | Elite Term II w Multipay Critical Illness II | Up to 600% |
| Singlife | Multipay Critical Illness II | Up to 600% |
| Tokio Marine | TM MultiCare | Up to 900% |
A whole life plan with a multipay critical illness rider combines lifelong insurance protection with the ability to make multiple critical illness claims throughout the policy term.
This structure is designed for individuals who want permanent coverage while also maintaining access to future critical illness benefits after an initial claim. Depending on the insurer, benefits may include coverage for early-stage conditions, severe-stage illnesses, cancer recurrence, and multiple unrelated illnesses.
While these plans are typically among the most expensive critical illness options available, they also provide some of the broadest protection available in the market.
The best critical illness insurance plan depends on your health profile, budget, desired coverage scope, and preferred payout structure.
For those with pre-existing health conditions: AIA Diabetics Care, Manulife Critical SelectCare, PRUVital Cover, Singlife Essential Critical Illness
Most number of conditions covered: AIA Ultimate Critical Cover, China Taiping i-Care, China Life Term Guardian Plus, FWD Future First, HSBC Life Term Protector
Multipay critical illness term: Singlife Elite Term II with Multipay Critical Illness II, Singlife Multipay Critical Illness, Tokio Marine TM MultiCare
Whole life plan: AIA Guaranteed Protect Plus (IV), FWD Life Protection, Great Eastern Life Multiplier, HSBC Life Treasure III, Income Complete Life Secure, PRUActive Life V, Singlife Whole Life Choice
Prostate cancer is the number 1 cancer affecting males
Critical illness insurance plans differ in four key areas: the illnesses covered, the number of claims allowed, the duration of coverage, and whether death or disability benefits are included.
Understanding these differences can help you avoid paying for features you may not need while ensuring you have adequate protection against the risks most relevant to your situation.
The LIA Critical Illness Framework defines 37 severe-stage critical illnesses that are standardised across insurers in Singapore.
This framework helps consumers compare policies more easily because the core definitions remain consistent across insurance companies.
Condition | Coverage under early critical illness plans | Coverage under critical illness plans |
| Early – intermediate stage | Advanced stage | |
| Major cancer |
| A malignant tumour positively diagnosed with histological confirmation and characterised by the uncontrolled growth of malignant cells with invasion and destruction of normal tissue. |
| Heart attack |
| Heart attack of specified Severity |
| Stroke |
| Stroke with permanent neurological deficit |
| Paralysis |
| Irreversible Loss of Use of at least 2 entire limbs. |
| Lung failure |
| End stage lung disease |
| Liver failure |
| End stage liver failure |
| Kidney failure |
| End stage kidney failure |
Each LIA definition also sets out what does not qualify for a claim, even where the condition appears similar. The exclusions below follow the LIA Critical Illness Framework 2024 and apply wherever an insurer uses the LIA standard definitions for these conditions. These standard definitions are a minimum standard. Insurers may offer more favourable terms or cover conditions beyond the 37 listed.
Note that an early-stage condition excluded from a major (advanced-stage) definition may still be claimable under an early critical illness plan.
Major cancer
Heart attack of specified severity
Stroke with permanent neurological deficit
End stage organ failure
Neurological & Brain Conditions
Heart & Circulatory System
Cancer-Related Conditions
Organ Failure & Transplants
Infectious & Immune System Conditions
Others
However, note that not all cancers are covered by critical illness plans. Some cancers that are excluded include:
The number of conditions covered varies considerably across insurers. The table below shows the maximum number of conditions covered by each insurer’s critical illness plans.
| Insurer | Maximum no. of conditions covered |
| AIA | 150 |
| China Life | 173 |
| China Taiping | 161 |
| Etiqa / Tiq | ~93 |
| FWD | 174 |
| Great Eastern | 121 |
| HSBC Life | 170 |
| Income | 120 |
| Manulife | 149 |
| Prudential | 86 |
| Singlife | 135 |
| Tokio Marine | 128 |
Read more: Boost Your Cancer Coverage With Cancer and Critical Illness Plans
Critical illness insurance is designed to help individuals and families manage the financial consequences of a serious illness. While health insurance focuses on medical expenses, critical illness insurance provides a lump sum payout that can be used for any purpose.
If you need to stop work for months, or even years, the payout cushions your household expenses. Many Singaporeans rely on CI coverage to keep up with mortgage repayments, childcare costs, and daily living expenses while recovering.
Even with hospitalisation plans, recovery comes with extra costs. CI payouts can cover alternative treatments, mobility aids, home modifications, transport to follow-up visits, and caregiving help. This flexibility is a key reason many people add a CI plan on top of their MediShield Life or Integrated Shield Plan.
Some illnesses require permanent lifestyle changes, such as hiring long-term home care, reducing work hours, or switching careers. A CI payout provides financial breathing room so you can make these adjustments without stressing about money.
If your family depends on your income, critical illness insurance protects them from financial disruption. Many Singapore households choose CI coverage as part of their overall financial planning to safeguard their long-term stability.
Do note that CI plans do not cover every type of cancer or condition. Always check your insurer’s definitions and exclusions carefully.
Which plan suits me?
Yes. Health insurance and critical illness insurance serve different financial purposes.
Health insurance helps pay medical bills such as hospitalisation, surgery, medication, and chemotherapy. Critical illness insurance provides a lump sum payout that helps replace lost income and cover household expenses during recovery. Together, they protect against both treatment costs and income loss.
For a comprehensive understanding of how various insurance plans function to safeguard against unforeseen situations, you can refer to our insurance map.
Choosing a critical illness plan involves more than comparing premiums. Understanding your existing coverage, financial commitments, and health risks can help you select a policy that provides meaningful protection.
When deciding on insurance policies with a limited budget, we advise most clients to prioritise health insurance over critical illness plans.
Health insurance provides coverage for various medical expenses, including those associated with critical illnesses or accidents. It is important to first cover medical bills that may arise from unexpected emergencies, because the costs can be substantial depending on the required treatments.
Only thereafter should you consider a critical illness plan if you have extra budget after sorting out your medical insurance.
Consider the level of coverage you desire when choosing your plans. A critical illness plan, for example, covers you more broadly compared with a cancer-only term plan. This coverage of a bigger bucket of illnesses acts as a wider safety net, in case you’re faced with huge unexpected costs.
For most clients, we recommend they prioritise critical illness plans before they consider targeted cancer plans, because the wider coverage ensures greater peace of mind.
Your personal and family medical history should influence your coverage decisions. Individuals with a family history of cancer, heart disease, stroke, or other major illnesses may wish to prioritise plans that provide stronger protection for those conditions.
According to the National Cancer Centre Singapore, approximately 5% to 10% of cancer cases are linked to hereditary factors. Reviewing your family’s medical history can help identify areas where additional protection may be appropriate.
Different policies use different premium structures. Some plans have level premiums that remain fixed throughout the policy term, while others use yearly renewable structures where premiums increase with age.
When comparing plans, consider both the current premium and the long-term affordability of the policy. A lower premium today may result in significantly higher costs later if premiums increase annually.
Read more: How To File for Critical Illness Insurance Claims and Steps To Take Note Of
Breast cancer is the number 1 cancer affecting females
The amount of critical illness coverage you need depends on your income, household expenses, dependants, and existing financial resources.
Standard critical illness plans generally provide benefits only when an illness reaches a severe stage. Early critical illness plans provide payouts at earlier stages of illness, allowing policyholders to receive financial support sooner.
Because early critical illness plans cover more illness stages and increase the likelihood of a claim, premiums are usually higher than standard critical illness plans.
Based on Planner Bee’s data, around 95% of our clients opt for early critical illness coverage. The main reasons clients choose not to are budget constraints or, in some cases, age making the premiums less cost-effective.
At Planner Bee, we generally use the following planning benchmarks:
| Coverage type | Suggested coverage |
| Critical illness coverage | 5 years of annual income or household expenses |
| Early critical illness coverage | 2 years of annual income or household expenses |
These benchmarks provide a starting point and should be adjusted based on your financial commitments, dependants, and existing insurance coverage.
Try our insurance calculator to estimate the amount of critical illness coverage suitable for your financial situation.
Critical illness insurance is designed to protect against the financial impact of a serious illness by providing a lump sum payout that can be used for income replacement, household expenses, caregiving costs, and recovery needs.
The best critical illness insurance plan depends on your health profile, financial responsibilities, and existing insurance coverage.
Compare plan structures, coverage definitions, and payout features carefully before making a decision. If you’re unsure where to start, compare multiple plans and obtain a personalised recommendation based on your protection needs and budget.
What is the difference between critical illness insurance and health insurance?
Health insurance helps pay for medical expenses such as hospitalisation, surgery, specialist consultations, and treatment costs. In Singapore, this includes MediShield Life and Integrated Shield Plans.
Critical illness insurance provides a lump sum cash payout when you are diagnosed with a covered critical illness. The payout can be used for any purpose, including replacing lost income, paying household expenses, hiring caregivers, or funding recovery-related costs.
Both types of insurance serve different purposes and are often used together to provide more complete financial protection.
Is critical illness insurance worth it in Singapore?
Critical illness insurance can be worthwhile if you rely on your income to support yourself or your family. A serious illness may affect your ability to work for months or even years, creating financial strain beyond medical bills.
While health insurance helps cover treatment costs, critical illness insurance provides a cash payout that can help maintain your lifestyle, cover daily expenses, and support your recovery.
The value of critical illness insurance ultimately depends on your financial commitments, existing savings, and overall insurance coverage.
How many critical illnesses are covered in Singapore?
Under the Life Insurance Association (LIA) Critical Illness Framework, insurers in Singapore use standardised definitions for 37 severe-stage critical illnesses.
However, many insurers go beyond these 37 conditions by offering coverage for early-stage illnesses, intermediate-stage illnesses, and additional conditions not included in the standard framework.
The exact number of covered conditions varies by insurer and policy type, so it is important to review the policy wording carefully before purchasing.
What is an early critical illness plan?
An early critical illness plan provides a payout when a covered illness is diagnosed at an earlier stage, before it progresses to a severe stage.
For example, some plans may cover early-stage cancer, early heart conditions, or early-stage stroke-related diagnoses. This allows policyholders to receive financial support sooner during treatment and recovery.
Because early critical illness plans provide broader coverage and increase the likelihood of a claim, they generally have higher premiums than standard critical illness plans.
How much critical illness coverage should I buy?
The amount of coverage you need depends on your income, household expenses, outstanding debts, dependants, and existing financial resources.
As a general guideline, Planner Bee recommends:
These are starting points only. Your ideal coverage amount should be adjusted based on your personal financial situation and protection goals.
Can I claim from both health insurance and critical illness insurance?
Yes. Health insurance and critical illness insurance cover different risks, so it is possible to claim from both policies for the same medical event if you meet the claim requirements.
Health insurance reimburses eligible medical expenses such as hospital bills and treatment costs. Critical illness insurance pays a lump sum benefit upon diagnosis of a covered critical illness.
For example, if you are diagnosed with cancer, your health insurance may help pay for treatment while your critical illness policy provides a cash payout to support income replacement and other non-medical expenses.
What is not covered by critical illness insurance?
Critical illness insurance does not cover every medical condition. Common exclusions may include non-melanoma skin cancer, illnesses caused by drug abuse, self-inflicted injuries, and conditions that do not meet the insurer’s definition of a critical illness.
Coverage exclusions vary by insurer, so always review the policy wording carefully before purchasing.
Can I buy critical illness insurance if I have a pre-existing medical condition?
It depends on the insurer and your medical condition. Some insurers may offer coverage with exclusions, premium loadings, or reduced benefits, while others may decline the application.
Individuals with certain pre-existing conditions may find cancer-only plans easier to qualify for than comprehensive critical illness plans.
At what age should I buy critical illness insurance?
Many people purchase critical illness insurance during their working years, when they have dependants, financial commitments, and a greater reliance on employment income.
Buying coverage at a younger age may also help secure lower premiums and reduce the risk of exclusions arising from future health conditions.
Can I have more than one critical illness insurance policy?
Yes. There is generally no limit to the number of critical illness policies you can own.
If you are diagnosed with a covered critical illness, you may be able to claim from multiple policies, provided you meet the claim requirements of each insurer. Unlike health insurance, critical illness insurance is not based on reimbursement of actual expenses.
