to think that the main breadwinner in a family should have critical illness cover

[splendide]

DH and I are disagreeing on this! Would be useful to know what other couples do.

Martin Lewis says don’t bother but can’t remember why! Life insurance policy does pay out for terminal diagnosis though.

Yes.

We don't have it and DH is critical. I'm in the process of selling the house and downsizing, about 5 years earlier than I would like to do, in order to be mortgage free when I become the only wage earner.

Very very U.

I know a mummies boy who had it set to pay out to his parents and would not change that even when he got married, saying ‘but you’re young and can work, my parents need it more.’

Please do, my fiancé and I signed for our home/mortgage and he was diagnosed with a critical illness just 3 weeks later!!! 😢

I think both partners should. If a SAHP does the majority of the domestic stuff, they may need to pay for cleaners/after school clubs/nursery etc.

Having said that, we don't have it!

Yes we both have some version of critical cover.

I think it's smart, but I know a lot of people don't think it's worth carrying extra insurance policies. I'm a lone parent, and I carry life as well as critical illness insurance. I can't risk losing our home etc if I were to be diagnosed with cancer, and it runs in my family. If I were part of a couple and both working at least part time, I'd probably want us both to have it. But then according to my friends, I'm over-insured.

Yes. I'm a lone parent and have it.

In an ideal world then yes you should. Reality is that most people can't afford it. I have no idea about your finances so can't comment on your circumstances. I would love to have it but its a luxury out of my reach.

All well and good unless you have an illness that isn't critical but makes getting it unaffordable. We have life insurance etc. but we wouldn't get critical illness, unfortunately. We are paying off our mortgage aggressively and it will be done by the time we are early 40's.

Normally far too expensive

Ah, I tell a life. I've not got critical illness cover. I've got the one that covers my outgoings if I'm I'll. And another one forget what it's called that gives the kids a lump sum if I die. Cheery stuff.

Lie not life. Ffs.

It's pretty expensive. We are self employed and don't have it. We've built up our savings and paid off our mortgage as a priority. We also have pretty low outgoings. I think one of us could earn enough to keep us afloat.

YABU, it's very expensive and very limited for self employed people, completely unaffordable.

We both have one because my DH mum ( not bread winner ) died when he was young. Leaving two children under 9. The critical cover she had paid for the house which really helped at the time.

Of course they should it's bloody irresponsible not to

We looked at it but decided against it as it is so expensive.

Which has meant DH sees it as vital.

Yes.

We learnt the hard way when I got sick. DH has critical illness cover now. Would not be without it.

I have it as a SAHP. We'd be fucked if I got ill and DH had to pay for a FT nanny/cleaner etc.

On 'advice' we cancelled mine when I became a SAHM. 6 months later I was diagnosed with leukaemia. DH daren't take time off work due to risk of redundancy. We really struggled to cope with 3 small children.
I would HIGHLY recommend you both have it.
I am well now but I still wish I'd got that £150K payout!

Thanks all. I think majority agree with me. I think I should be covered.

At the moment DH and DS will be pretty wealthy if I die but we’d be fucked if I’m too sick to work.

Someone mentioned income protection insurance - that might be a better bet actually. I’ll do some more homework.

I'm with Martin Lewis on this one.
People tend not to be struck down with "critical illnesses" covered by policies.
Your far more lilkely to be unable to work due to chronic but boring illnesses that tend not to be covered: back pain, anxiety and depression, fibromyalgia.
Or even just plain old fashioned unemployment.
Keeping your fixed costs low and building up some savings is a better stratergy to weather the knocks in my view.

Err wow