According to a Life Insurance Association Singapore (LIA) study1 done in 2022, Singaporeans have a 74% Critical Illness (CI) protection gap. Get peace of mind and focus on your recovery with critical illness insurance, which provides a lump sum payout for a list of covered critical illness conditions from early, intermediate and advanced stages.
Find a critical illness insurance plan for you
Key benefits and features
Critical health insurance offers added protection and peace of mind when you need it most, and may offer the following benefits and features*.
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Lump-sum payout on diagnosis Receive a cash benefit upon diagnosis of one or more covered critical illness
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Coverage for major illnesses Protection for conditions such as cancer, heart attack and stroke (subject to policy terms)
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Financial support during recovery Receive a payout that may help cover medical bills, treatment costs and daily living expenses so you can focus on treatment and recovery
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Flexible protection options Choose a critical illness plan that fits your needs and financial goals
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Enhanced peace of mind Helps replace lost income during active treatment, giving breadwinners confidence that their family's financial needs remain taken care of.
*Refer to respective Product Pages and Product Summaries for full details on specific plans.
Plan options and comparison
| Plan name | Coverage | Key features | Ideal for |
| Manulife Early CompleteCare |
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Individuals seeking comprehensive critical illness insurance with multi-stage protection and multi-claim2 flexibility |
| Critical SelectCare |
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Individuals with existing health conditions3. |
| Manulife EarlyCancer Protect | Covers all stages of cancer with lump-sum payout upon diagnosis or death | Simplified underwriting (few health questions, no medical check-up required) | Individuals looking for focused cancer protection and simplified application process
|
Frequently asked questions
Critical illness insurance provides financial protection if you are diagnosed with a serious medical condition covered under your policy. It typically pays out a lump sum upon diagnosis of conditions such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke, helping you manage treatment costs and everyday expenses during recovery. This type of cover, also known as critical care insurance or serious illness insurance, is designed to support you financially when you need time away from work to focus on your health.
A critical illness can impact your income, savings and long-term financial goals. A critical illness plan may be suitable if you want to:
Protect your income and lifestyle should a serious illness affect your ability to work.
Safeguard your family's financial security by ensuring ongoing expenses and commitments can still be met.
Reduce the financial impact of treatment and recovery so you can focus on getting better.
Preserve your savings and future plans without having to dip into funds set aside for key life goals.
Choosing the right critical illness insurance plan depends on your personal and financial situation. Taking a structured approach can help you select coverage that better supports your needs.
Assess your income level: Consider how much financial support you would need to manage daily expenses if you are diagnosed with a serious illness and are unable to work.
Review your dependents: Think about whether others rely on your income and ensure your coverage can help support their ongoing financial needs.
Understand your occupation: Evaluate your job stability and risk level, especially if your work involves higher stress or physical demands.
Consider your lifestyle risks: Consider factors such as travel, activity levels and health habits that may influence your exposure to critical illnesses.
Check your existing insurance coverage: Review current policies to identify any gaps or overlaps so you can choose appropriate additional protection.
Critical illness insurance pays you a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a critical illness that is covered by the insurance plan.
Like critical illness insurance, a multi-pay critical illness insurance policy provides you with a lump sum payout if you are diagnosed with a critical illness, with the additional benefit of making subsequent claims for certain recurring critical illness conditions.
Depending on your chosen insurance plan, critical illness insurance will cover one or more critical illness conditions, which can include early, intermediate and advanced stages.
The cost of critical illness insurance depends on factors such as your age, health condition, coverage amount and the type of plan you choose. Generally, premiums are higher for more comprehensive coverage or higher benefit payouts.
You can buy a critical illness insurance plan by selecting a suitable policy based on your protection needs and completing an application through an insurer or financial advisor. Once your application is approved, your coverage will start according to the policy terms.
1. LIA 2022 Protection Gap Study on the Economically Active (EA) mortality and critical illness protection gap: https://www.lia.org.sg/media/3974/lia-pgs-2022-report_final_8-sep-2023.pdf)
2. Only applicable to Deluxe plan
3. You must be between 40 to 70 years old and pass the underwriting questions to qualify.
Terms and conditions apply. Please refer to the respective Product Summary for a specific definition.
This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Protected up to specified limits by SDIC.
The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
Information is correct as of 14 August 2026.