Is Zurich’s new Critical Illness policy a smart choice for businesses?

Swiss insurance giant Zurich made a splash last October by debuting its Group Critical Illness policy.

Like any other Critical Illness Insurance policy, it pays out a lump sum to a covered person when they are diagnosed with a critical illness.

But what does Zurich do differently? And how does it shape up against other insurers in the market, like Canada Life, MetLife and Aviva?

I quiz one of Hooray’s experts to get answers…

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Key features of Zurich’s Group Critical Illness policy

Let’s start with some key details. The first thing to note is that Zurich’s critical illness policy is adaptable depending on what you can afford and the features you want for your staff.

Key highlights of Zurich’s policy include:

• £500,000 maximum benefit payout for a successful claim
• Standard policy covering 15 illnesses for staff
• Standard policy also covers children, and an additional 11 child-specific conditions & surgeries
• Optional added cover for an extra 27 illnesses
• Optional cover for a spouse or partner
• Option to increase child cover up to £50k
• Cancer Drug Fund to cover the cost of cancer drugs worth up to £100,000
• Reframe Cancer Support Service – access to a dedicated expert and knowledge hub post-diagnosis
• Access to additional (no claims required) services, including employee assistance provider (EAP), virtual GP and second medical opinion service
• Coverage for people aged 16 to 70 years old

How does Zurich’s policy compare to the competition?

I asked Aleen Solly, Employee Benefits Consultant at Hooray, what she thought of Zurich’s entry into Group Critical Illness insurance.

She began by saying that, as a newcomer, Zurich was able to do things a bit differently.

“Zurich are relatively a new joiner to the risk market and therefore are not stuck in a traditional model like other providers.

“They have entered the Critical Illness market with a lot of thought about how they can offer benefits which support employees – and the benefits they offer are among the best in the market.

“Critical Illness Cover is like Group Life Insurance in that it is very clear whether a claim can be paid or not. However, Zurich are offering additional benefits that other providers do not.

“Zurich are the first insurer to offer the option to increase children’s cover from the market standard of £25,000 to £50,000 for an additional cost and also cover eleven child-specific conditions as standard.”

In March 2025, Zurich announced the policy would also include Reframe’s cancer support service. This gives employees access to advice and guidance from a dedicated expert and information hub should they be diagnosed with cancer.

You can find the right critical illness policy at the right price by contacting our friendly advisors on 01273 222805 or [email protected]. Get your free consultation and no-obligation quote!

Would Aleen recommend Zurich’s Group Critical Illness policy to clients?

When it comes to insurance, it’s never that easy. As Aleen explains:

“Like all other benefits and offerings, I will be recommending Zurich to clients if they offer the most competitive terms and their offering meets the requirements that clients have.

“Critical Illness Insurance offers a great option for companies wanting to offer employees financial support if employees are diagnosed with a critical illness and gives employees financial support when they need it the most.”

How can you be sure of making the right choice?

You really need to gather quotes from different insurers to find out who’s got the best policy for your business. However, this is a major research project! So why not make use of the free quote comparison services offered by Hooray?

Our friendly advisors have no biases or cosy insurer partnerships. We work across the market to find the best policies and price points for your business.

Simply hit the Get Quote button above and fill out a short form. No pressure sales; just good honest advice and clear pricing.