Joint life insurance with critical illness cover is one policy for two people that pays a single lump sum when the first of them is diagnosed with a covered illness or dies, and on the combined plans described here the policy then ends. What happens to the other person's cover after that payment, and what moves the price, are the two things worth checking before you choose.

Joint plans vary on survivor cover and price, so an FCA-authorised broker can set out how each would suit the two of you. Requesting that call is free, and the form on this page takes your first details.

Can a couple take joint life cover with critical illness?

Yes, though insurers build it in different ways. Aviva's Life Insurance+ policy summary (AL50001 02/2026) says: "With a joint policy, the two people can have different cover. So, one could have life cover and the other could have life and critical illness cover." Legal & General (L&G) takes another route: its policy summary (QGI14786, October 2026) describes critical illness cover as added alongside life insurance as a separate policy, with its own terms booklet.

Critical illness can also be bought without any life cover. Aviva's direct page for its Critical Illness Plan says that it does not pay out on death, and that a joint policy can be taken out for two people. Combined versus add-on critical illness compares the two designs, and life and critical illness cover for one person covers a single life.

How does a joint critical illness payout work?

The design most couples meet is first event: one lump sum, paid once. Aviva's summary says that for joint policies "we’ll pay out when the first of the two people covered makes a claim", and describes the "joint life first event" option this way: "The policy will pay out when the first person either dies, suffers from a critical illness or meets our definition of terminal illness (Depending on which cover type you selected)."

DocumentPays whenAfterwards
Aviva, Life Insurance+ (February 2026)The first of the two people covered dies, is diagnosed with a covered critical illness or meets the terminal illness definition, depending on the cover chosenThe policy ends, unless the optional extra care cover applies
Aviva, Critical Illness Plan (direct page, read 26 October 2026)A listed critical illness; nothing on deathPays once; if one person dies, the policy still covers the other
L&G, Life Insurance (policy summary, October 2026)The first death or terminal illness diagnosisPays once, then ends; replacement cover option
L&G, Critical Illness Cover, a separate policy (same summary)The first covered critical illness; nothing on deathPays once, then ends; replacement cover option
Royal London, Personal Menu Plan (July 2025)Either person: death, terminal illness or a critical illness that meets a definitionPays once, then the cover stops

Aviva's second-event option, paying only when both people have died or met its terminal illness definition, is only available with level and increasing life cover, so it excludes critical illness; what a joint life policy is explains it. Whether an illness qualifies, and any survival period, is covered in when critical illness cover pays out.

What happens to the other person's cover after a claim?

When the lump sum is paid, the policy has done its job, so the person who did not claim has no cover left unless the insurer allows it to be continued. The options differ by insurer, and some apply whether the first claim is for an illness or, on a combined plan, a death.

L&G's Critical Illness Cover terms (QGI14872, October 2026) say: "If a valid claim is made for a critical illness, you can request to continue cover for the other life insured as a new single life policy." The request has to be made within six months of the claim being paid. The new policy has the same amount of cover, ends on that person's 75th birthday or one year after the original expiry date, whichever comes first, and L&G says "The premiums and terms and conditions of the new policy might change or be different to those of the original policy." The person must agree, and health questions may lead to a full application, so cover is not certain to be offered. No new policy can be created after a claim under the extra benefits that come with L&G's critical illness cover. Its Life Insurance terms offer a similar replacement after a death or terminal illness claim, also within six months, ending at an earlier age.

Royal London calls its version joint life reinstatement. Its July 2025 plan details allow it after a paid claim on the death, terminal illness, critical illness or total permanent disability of one person, and only for the other person covered. The other person has to agree. The premium is based on the original cover's terms, Royal London's pricing when the original cover was applied for and that person's age at the time; extra premiums and exclusions carry over, and the amount can be no higher than the cover in force at the claim. The term must meet Royal London's minimum and cannot outlast the original cover, so too short a remaining term rules the option out. The plan details add: "You can only reinstate your cover once."

Whether Aviva's joint plans give the other person a way to carry on cover after a claim is worth asking about when the broker rings.

Splitting a joint policy because you separate is a different route, which L&G does not allow once either person has had a valid critical illness claim; see what happens to a joint policy after divorce.

What drives the cost of joint life and critical illness cover?

Aviva's summary says: "Your premiums depend on what type and amount of cover you choose, as well as your personal circumstances, which can include factors such as your age, occupation, health, lifestyle, and smoking habits." On a joint policy that means two sets of details.

  • Who has critical illness cover. Adding it usually raises the premium. Aviva's summary says that on a joint policy the critical illness benefit can be added for one or both people, so one of you can have life cover only.
  • The older person's age. Aviva's direct page says that for a joint Critical Illness Plan the maximum age of 64 applies to the oldest person covered. L&G's October 2026 summary lists a maximum buying age of 67 for critical illness cover and 77 for life insurance.
  • Whether the premium is fixed. Aviva offers guaranteed or reviewable premiums with life and critical illness cover; reviewable premiums are looked at every five years.

One joint policy against two single ones is compared in joint vs individual life insurance, and prices in what critical illness insurance costs and what joint life insurance costs. Because both of your details go into the price, the quickest way to see actual numbers is to ask a broker to run them, which the form here sets in motion.

Frequently asked questions

Is a joint critical illness payout paid once or twice, and to whom?

One lump sum is paid, not one each. L&G's terms use "you" for whoever has the legal right to the cover amount once a valid claim is made, which could be a trustee, assignee or personal representative. Its summary adds that L&G's separate Critical Illness Cover cannot be issued or assigned into a trust. See who receives a critical illness payout and putting a policy in trust.

If one of us dies, does a joint critical illness policy still cover the other?

It depends on the design. Aviva says that with its Critical Illness Plan, which does not pay on death, the policy still covers the other person. Aviva's Life Insurance+ and Royal London's Personal Menu Plan pay on the first death and then end. L&G's separate Critical Illness Cover does not pay on death.

Can only one of us have critical illness cover on a joint policy?

On Aviva's Life Insurance+, yes, because the two people can have different cover. For other insurers, the broker who calls you can check whether they allow it.

If joint cover with and without critical illness is on your shortlist, a broker can talk it through after you complete the form here.

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