Be prepared with the best critical illness cover

No-one likes to think about falling dangerously ill, but if you've got dependents, it's vital to be prepared. What if the worst were to happen and you couldn't work – how would the bills be paid? What would happen to your family? It's these kinds of considerations that make critical illness cover a vital part of any life insurance policy or financial plan, and if you're looking for a new policy, we may be able to help.

The Moneyfacts Critical Illness Star Ratings

Moneyfacts has just completed its annual assessment of the standalone critical illness market and awarded its Star Ratings accordingly, which means that if you need a policy, we've found the ones you can trust. The Moneyfacts Critical Illness Star Ratings are based on the weighting of specific features – outside of product premiums – which are likely to be the most relevant to those looking to take out a policy that can support them in the event of a critical illness or injury.

Because we don't focus on price, you can be sure that you'd get the level of cover you really do need. Using our vast knowledge, gained from extensive analysis of these products, the Moneyfacts Critical Illness Star Ratings can help you choose, with confidence, a plan with flexible terms that covers a wide range of illnesses to the highest standard, offering complete protection in the unfortunate event that you need it.

"While it is good news that critical illness products have continued to evolve in recent years, the more extensive range of options that is now available and the high number of illnesses covered has made selecting the most suitable product a complex task," said Richard Eagling, editor of Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts. "The annual Moneyfacts Critical Illness Star Ratings provide valuable insight into the quality of the features and cover on offer, leaving consumers to assess the products' costs."

Below is a list of the companies that have been awarded the top Moneyfacts Critical Illness Star Rating; these could be well worth making a beeline for if you want to enhance your financial protection, as they offer the best critical illness cover around.

Find the best policy for you

The need to source the right critical illness policy can never be underestimated. While many life insurance policies offer critical illness protection as part of a package, you can find many standalone policies, too – including the ones we've highlighted above – so it's all about finding the policy that meets your needs.

You can find out more about critical illness cover and why you need it, together with how to choose the right policy for you, by reading our critical illness cover guide. Make sure to find out more about life insurance and other forms of income protection, too, and that way, you can be confident that you and your family will be financially protected no matter what happens.