Protecting Children Without Overcomplicating Cover – A Guide for Advisers

In the past, if parents wanted CIC for their children, they often had to take out critical illness cover themselves, even if they didn’t really need or want it. But times have changed.

Today, if a client primarily needs Income Protection, or perhaps only wants Life Cover, they can still secure critical illness protection for their children without compromise.

Below, I’ve summarised some of the main options available because the more informed we are as advisers, the better equipped we are to build plans that truly reflect what clients care about most.

 1)        Stand-Alone Children’s CIC

AIG Life

AIG stands out as one of the only providers in the UK to offer stand-alone Children’s Critical Illness Cover, meaning parents or legal guardians don’t need to apply for adult CIC themselves.

🔹 Available for children aged 30 days to 18 years (or up to 22 if in full-time education).

🔹 Pays a lump sum on diagnosis of a specified critical illness.

🔹 Multiple children can be covered under one policy.

For families who want robust children’s cover without the commitment to adult CIC, this is a powerful option.

 2)        Adding Children’s CIC Without Adult Critical Illness

Several insurers allow clients to add children’s cover to a Life or Income Protection policy, even if they don’t include adult CIC. Here’s a quick overview:

Guardian Royal

Add to Life or IP. £10k–£100k cover. Flexible add-on, comprehensive cover.

 Vitality

 Add to Life or IP policies. £25k–£100k cover. Over 115 conditions, extra hospital benefits.

Zurich

 Add to Life or IP. £10k–£100k cover. Standard and enhanced options are available.

These options open the door to much more tailored advice, ensuring parents don’t feel forced into unnecessary products to protect their children.

 3)        Friendly Societies Leading the Way

It’s not just the big insurers innovating here. Friendly societies are also stepping up:

Cirencester Friendly

Free Children's CIC of £2,500 with your IP policy. 10 serious conditions

British Friendly

£1,000–£25,000 cover. 78 conditions (58 full, 20 partial). No survival period, flexible life event add-on

British Friendly, in particular, has made waves by offering extensive children’s cover with no survival period, a significant differentiator in the market.

 Why This Matters

When advisers know these options, it empowers them to build protection plans that are genuinely client-focused rather than product-focused.

It means:

• Families can protect their children without unnecessary extra cover.
• Clients with tighter budgets can still put robust safeguards in place.
• You demonstrate clear expertise and added value, which sets you apart.

If you haven’t revisited Children’s CIC in a while, now’s the perfect time. This is one of those areas where knowledge alone can transform the advice you give and the outcomes your clients experience.