Skip to content

Protect · Critical illness

Set up group critical illness cover without the benefits admin

A tax-free lump sum after a serious diagnosis. Kota helps you compare insurers, set up cover and manage it in one system, with HRIS sync and no spreadsheets.

Benefits / Critical illness

Critical illness cover

Active
Members covered
128
Benefit amount
£50,000
Conditions covered
40

Members

  • AMAlice MorganCovered
  • SMSam MurphyCovered
  • JEJamie EllisCovered
  • NDNina DuboisCovered
  • JvDJasper van DijkCovered

Powering benefits for 100,000+ employees

  • Remote
  • PayFit
  • carwow
  • Poolside
  • Cloudsmith

Why offer group critical illness cover?

  • Support

    Financial support when it matters most

    It pays on diagnosis of a covered condition, rather than after months off work, and covers costs income protection doesn’t, like mortgage arrears or one-off expenses.

  • Protection

    Completes your protection package

    It works alongside income protection and death in service, bridging the gap between illness, long-term absence and the worst case.

  • Cost

    Strong protection at a manageable cost

    Group rates make it more affordable than individual policies, and cover levels can fit your budget and team size.

  • Wellbeing

    Peace of mind for your people

    It lets employees focus on recovery rather than financial pressure, and shows their wellbeing matters to you.

About group criticalillness cover

What is group critical illness cover?

Group critical illness cover pays employees a lump sum, usually tax-free, if they’re diagnosed with a serious illness covered by the policy. Your whole workforce is covered under one scheme, with no individual underwriting up to the free cover limit, though pre-existing condition exclusions may apply. Policies typically cover 20 to 40 or more conditions, depending on the insurer and cover level.

Commonly included

  • Cancer
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Kidney failure
  • Major organ transplant

Critical illness cover vs. income protection

Critical illness cover

Pays
A one-off lump sum
When
On diagnosis of a listed condition, whether or not they can still work

Income protection

Pays
A monthly income, a share of salary
When
After a waiting period, while they can’t work

They’re complementary, and many employers offer both.

A lump sum, whenthey need it most.

Employees can use the payout however they need: medical costs, the mortgage, childcare, or time away from work while they recover.

See pricingBook a demo

How Kota handlesgroup critical illness cover

Instead of a separate broker on top of your platform and HRIS, Kota handles critical illness cover in one system, connected to your HRIS.

Compare

Critical illness cover

ProviderUnumCanada LifeFreedom
Conditions524744
DefinitionsEnhancedABI+ABI
Partial payoutsYesYesNo
Per person / mo£7.40£6.85£5.90

Policy wording compared by Kota

Who offers groupcritical illness cover?

Insurers you can set up with Kota.

UK, Ireland and Europe

and more

How much does groupcritical illness cover cost?

Premiums are calculated at group level, so they cost less than individual policies. Here’s what shapes your premium:

  1. 01

    The size of your workforce

    Most insurers need three to five lives for a group scheme. Smaller teams may pay slightly more, as risk is spread across fewer people.

  2. 02

    The age profile of your team

    Average age is one of the strongest drivers of price. Younger teams pay less.

  3. 03

    The cover level you choose

    A higher fixed benefit, or a larger multiple of salary, means a higher premium.

  4. 04

    The conditions covered

    Policies covering more conditions, or paying partial benefits for less severe diagnoses, cost more.

Example scenario

A tech company with 50 employees, averaging 32 years old, chooses a fixed benefit of £50,000. The annual premium could be roughly £3,500 to £6,500, or around £70 to £130 per employee per year.

Based on sample data. Quotes may vary.

Tax implications in UK and Ireland

United Kingdom

Premiums are an allowable business expense. They’re a benefit-in-kind, so you pay Class 1A NICs on them and employees pay income tax, usually through their tax code. The lump sum is paid tax-free.

Ireland

Premiums are a deductible business expense. Employees pay income tax, PRSI and USC on the premium value as a benefit-in-kind. The lump sum is generally tax-free.

“Employee experience is fantastic. The app is clean, intuitive, and puts all of the control back to the employee.”

Paul C.Protex AI

How it works in Kota

From first quote to payout, in three steps.

  • Choose your cover level

    Set a fixed benefit, often £25,000 to £50,000 (or €30,000 to €60,000), or a multiple of salary. Then confirm eligibility and your start date.

  • Compare and enrol

    Kota compares insurers on conditions, definitions and price, then enrols your people from your HRIS, with no individual medical underwriting up to the free cover limit.

  • Diagnosis, then payout

    After a covered diagnosis and a short survival period, usually around 14 days, the claim is submitted to the insurer. If it meets the policy definition, a lump sum is paid for the employee.

Frequentlyasked questions

How much does group critical illness cover cost?
It depends on team size, age profile, cover level and conditions covered. As a guide, a 50-person team with a £50,000 benefit could pay around £70 to £130 per employee per year.
Is critical illness cover worth it for small businesses?
Group schemes are available from three to five lives, and group rates cost less than individual policies. Whether it suits you depends on your budget and existing cover, and Kota can show you quotes to compare.
Is group critical illness cover taxable?
In the UK, premiums are a benefit-in-kind, so employees pay income tax on them, but the lump sum is paid tax-free. In Ireland, premiums are taxed as a benefit-in-kind and the payout is generally tax-free.
Can a critical illness claim be refused?
Yes, if the diagnosis doesn’t meet the insurer’s policy definition, even within a covered category. That’s why definitions matter when comparing providers.
What happens to cover when an employee leaves?
Cover ends when they leave. Some insurers let them convert to an individual policy without further underwriting. Kota removes leavers from the policy automatically through your HRIS.

Focus on the outcomes,not the admin

See the plans and the price before you decide. No pressure, no obligation.