Is critical illness cover worth taking out?

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We are really short on disposable income and have no life or critical illness cover for me or dh.
I know life cover is a must, but don't know about critical illness. We are with the TSB and will probably take the cover out with them.

Anyone vith any views around?

Thanks - looks like I'll have to do what I seem to have put off for too long and see an IFA.

Next dumb question: how do I find one? And do I have to have a home visit from someone with a briefcase and clipboard?

I think having a home visit would be better than dragging DD and DS to their office.. wonder if I can find one that would do that? If they are independent then it wouldn't matter who... or would it?

sorry to throw a spanner in the works but if you are considering protection you also need to consider income protection - which covers you if you are unable to work regardless of the illness you have.

Critical illness policies kick in when you are diagnosed with a specific numer of illnesses, which either lead to death of permanent and significant disability. So somethings that we might consider critical are not.

as mentioned you should really see an IFA who hopefully will provide you with advice relevant to your financial situation.

IFA's will visit your home if that is what you want. i would try and find someone who a friend or family has used and were happy with. but you can find one through here

www.aifa.net/

Have it all sorted now through a really lovely IFA bloke. Way cheaper than on internet too.
He works for a subsidiary of who I work for - wish I had noticed earlier.

Glad you've got it sorted Ruby, but just wanted to reiterate (for anyone else threadhunting!) what Herhonesty said - income protection, although more expensive, covers much more than critical illness. Criticall illness ONLY covers specific illness, and doesn't (well, didn't last time I checked) cover stress or back injuries, the two biggest causes of stopping work in the UK. Worth thinking about (and talking to an IFA about). www.unbiased.com also has IFAs.