VitalityLife Critical Illness Review

VitalityLife is an insurance company which provides a range of life assurance and health-related insurance products.

In this guide:

• The History of VitalityLife
• What Critical Illness policies does VitalityLife offer in the UK?
• How much does Critical Illness coverage from VitalityLife cost?
• What do customers say about VitalityLife?
• The pros and cons of VitalityLife Critical Illness Insurance
• Claiming from VitalityLife

The History of VitalityLife

VitalityLife initially started trading as PruProtect in 2007, as a joint venture between Prudential PLC and Discovery Limited. Prudential PLC was an established UK insurer, founded in London in 1848. Discovery Limited was a leading South African-based financial services group, established in 1992 with aspirations to expand overseas operations. The two companies together launched the PruProtect brand. In 2010, Discovery Limited increased its shareholding in PruProtect to 75%. In November 2014, Discovery Limited became the outright owner of PruProtect and rebranded it as VitalityLife. Since then, VitalityLife has become well-known for their collaboration agreement with Barclays Premier League football clubs – Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool FC. They have also sponsored community activities which focus on wellness and being healthy. In 2018, VitalityLife’s Brand Ambassadors included Ellie Simmonds, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Joe Root, Jonny Wilkinson, Maro Itoje and Lord Sebastian Coe. In 2018 VitalityLife won the Celent Model Insurer Award for Operational Excellence. This award recognized the company’s commitment to delivering quality service and products to their customers.

What Critical Illness policies does VitalityLife offer in the UK?

VitalityLife is a leading UK insurance provider offering Critical Illness policies designed to provide financial protection and peace of mind in the event of being diagnosed with a serious illness. The policies are designed to pay out a lump sum amount which can be used as the policyholder chooses, such as paying for medical bills, making home adaptations or helping to support family members. The VitalityLife Critical Illness policies offer cover for over 40 different illnesses, including cancer, heart attack and stroke. Policyholders can also opt for additional cover for their partner or children, which means that if they are diagnosed with a covered critical illness, their partner or children could also receive a payment. There is also an accelerated payment provision should the policyholder suffer from early stage cancer that can be treated. The policies are designed to give policyholders control over how they manage their finances if they are diagnosed with a serious illness. They provide flexibility in terms of how much cover is taken out and how long it lasts, as well as providing an option to make any changes to the policy if circumstances change in the future.

How much does Critical Illness coverage from VitalityLife cost?

Critical Illness cover from VitalityLife is priced differently depending on the age of the customer and the level of cover they require. For a UK customer aged between 18 and 40, a minimum £50,000 Critical Illness cover costs approximately £13 per month. For customers aged 41 to 50, this cost increases to approximately £17 per month. For customers aged 51 to 60, the cost is around £23 per month. Finally, for customers aged 61 to 64, the cost is approximately £32 per month. These prices can increase if the policyholder chooses to increase their level of cover or add additional features such as children's cover.

What do customers say about VitalityLife?

A summary of the latest Trustpilot reviews:

✅ Helpful and friendly when setting up an account and explaining the point system and rewards available.

✅Helpful getting online accounts set up, app downloaded and linked to fitness tracker

✅Well informed, pleasant and thorough without a lengthy spell on the phone.

❌ Customer service difficult to navigate

❌ Partner completely ignored when asked for her FIIT workouts to be added

The pros and cons of VitalityLife Critical Illness Insurance

Pros:

- VitalityLife offers a range of Critical Illness policies that are tailored to fit the individual needs of their customers. All policies cover a wide range of illnesses, from heart attacks and strokes to cancer and major organ transplants.

- VitalityLife’s Critical Illness policies also provide customers with access to financial support at the time of diagnosis. This includes a cash payment that can be used to pay for medical expenses, household bills, or other costs associated with the illness.

- Customers can also opt to have their premiums refunded if they are unable to work due to their illness.

- VitalityLife provides additional benefits such as access to specialist medical advice, financial planning services, and discounted hospital stays.

Cons:

- Some of VitalityLife’s Critical Illness policies have high premiums, which may be difficult for some people to afford.

- Coverage may not be as comprehensive as some other providers, and not all pre-existing conditions may be covered.

- There is also a waiting period before you can make a claim on your policy, so it is important to read the policy carefully and understand what is covered and when you can make a claim.

Claiming from VitalityLife

According to data from the Association of British Insurers, VitalityLife pays out 97.5% of Critical Illness claims it receives. This figure has been increasing steadily over recent years, with a 97.1% payout rate in 2018 and 96.9% in 2017.