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Critical Illness Cover

Metfriendly's Critical Illness Cover gives you a lump sum payment of £25,000 if you contract a specified critical illness or have to leave the police service through illness or injury.

Critical Illness Cover

Metfriendly's Critical Illness Cover gives you a lump sum payment of £25,000 if you contract a specified critical illness or have to leave the police service through illness or injury.

To help get you started your first 12 months’ premiums are completely free.

The lump sum benefit is £25,000 tax-free. This rises to £50,000 for some of the medical conditions, if the event is triggered in the execution of Police duties.

Need information on a Critical Illness Cover Plan taken prior to 2023?

Our Critical Illness Cover

  • is affordable, £6.95 a month for non-smokers (just 23p a day) after the first 12 months
  • is designed with younger officers in mind (who have joined the Police Service within the last 3 years)
  • is a cheaper, more affordable alternative to Income Protection
  • provides additional protection to the Federation’s Reg 28 Insurance
  • includes medical retirement benefit for paid Police Officers and Staff only

Should you wish to have more cover than the Critical Illness Cover lump sum benefit we have more comprehensive Critical Illness Cover available as an option on our Life Insurance and Mortgage Protection life insurance plans.

Note: Critical Illness Cover is only available to those aged under 35. Those aged 35 or over could consider our Income Protection plan.

How much does Critical Illness Cover cost?

The monthly premiums are:

Non-smoker – £6.95

Smoker – £8.60

You must tell us of any change in your smoking status. Failure to do so will adversely affect any claim.

Cover under the plan will continue until age 40, if you leave the UK Police Service for any reason (including a career break), on death or following a successful claim.

The premium includes all costs for administration, claims and the fees payable for any medical examinations which we may ask you to attend.

Critical Illness Cover

The complete list of conditions we cover is set out below.

Cancerexcluding less advanced cases
Coronary artery by-pass graftswith surgery to divide the breastbone
Heart attackof specified severity
HIV infectioncaught from a blood transfusion, a physical assault or in the execution of your duty
Kidney failurerequiring dialysis
Major organ transplant from another donor
Strokeresulting in permanent symptoms
Terminal illnesswith death expected within 12 months
Third degree burnscovering 20% of the body’s surface area
Deafnesspermanent and irreversible
Loss of hand or footpermanent physical severance
Traumatic brain injuryresulting in permanent symptoms
Paralysis of limbtotal and irreversible
Blindnesspermanent and irreversible
Medical retirementfrom the Police Service (excluding mental and nervous conditions)

These headings are only a guide to what is covered. The full definitions of the illnesses covered and the circumstances in which you can claim are given in the policy document. Please see section 7.14 pre-existing exclusions section of the Critical Illness Cover policy document.

The policy definitions typically use medical terms to describe the illnesses and in some cases the cover may be limited. For example, some types of cancer are not covered; and, to make a claim for some illnesses, you need to have permanent symptoms.

Medical Retirement Cover

If you are medically retired for any reason other than a mental or nervous condition, and you are in paid employment with a UK police service, then you are entitled to make a claim.

We will pay you the fixed lump sum if your premiums are up to date, you meet the qualifying conditions, and either of the following events occur:

  • You are diagnosed with any of the critical illnesses listed in ‘What does the Critical Illness Plan cover?’, you survive the initial diagnosis by 28 days and you meet the other policy conditions for that illness.
  • The lump sum benefit of £25,000 rises to £50,000 for some of the medical conditions, if the event is triggered in the execution of Police duties. Claims for the enhanced benefit will need to be supported with an e-safety form (or equivalent).
  • You are in paid employment with a UK police service and are medically retired, except where due to a mental or nervous condition.

We will pay you the fixed lump sum if your premiums are up to date, you meet the qualifying conditions, and either of the following events occur:

  • You are diagnosed with any of the critical illnesses listed in ‘What does the Critical Illness Plan cover?’, you survive the initial diagnosis by 28 days and you meet the other policy conditions for that illness.
  • The lump sum benefit of £25,000 rises to £50,000 for some of the medical conditions, if the event is triggered in the execution of Police duties. Claims for the enhanced benefit will need to be supported with an e-safety form (or equivalent).
  • You are in paid employment with a UK police service and are medically retired, except where due to a mental or nervous condition.

The policy gives full details of the cover provided and includes all the definitions in the terms and conditions. The Critical Illness Cover policy document is available to view here should you wish to see this before making your decision. Additionally, the Money & Pensions Service provides useful financial information on its website moneyhelper.org.uk/en However, if you are still unsure as to the suitability of this plan, and wish to obtain personal advice, you should contact an independent financial adviser.

  • You can cancel for a full refund within 30 days of receiving your policy documents.  Simply contact our Member Services team on 01689 891454 or email [email protected]
  • If you wish to stop or cancel your plan after this, our friendly Member Services team will be able to help.

Metfriendly, Central Court, Knoll Rise, Orpington, BR6 0JA

Phone: 01689 891454 

Email: [email protected]