When critical illness insurance came into the UK during the mid 1980's, people did not know a great deal about it. Some companies tried to market critical illness insurance but were unsuccessful. The real success came in the 1990's with over 100,000 policies sold. Gradually critical illness cover became popular. Thus, in the year 1997, around 633,000 policies sales were already registered. By the end of 1998, a sum of 2.25 million critical illness policies could be counted in the UK.

Nowadays, medical improvements have made it easy for diseases to be detected early. As a matter of fact, death rates have decreased and survival benefits claims may have increased. This could represent a fact of concern for many critical illness insurance companies. Statistics show that 1.2 million people may still be alive today after having undergone a critical illness such as heart attack. Furthermore, as per www.heartstats.org, March 2007, it is estimated that 2.6 million of people may still be alive today after experiencing a critical illness such as coronary heart disease. Also, death rates for people over the age of 75 may have decreased by 39 percent during the last 10 years. Similarly, life expectancy for people under the age of 65 may have increased by 44 percent over a decade.

Moreover, according to the Office for National Statistics 2005, in the year 2004, about 2.3 percent men of all ages may have suffered from a critical illness like heart attack. No men aged between 16-44 had contracted this disease. Additionally, 2.6 percent aged between 45-64. 8.4 percent aged between 65-74 and finally 8.3 percent aged 75 or more may have all contracted the same critical illness.

As for women, again in the year 2004, about 1.8 percent of women of all ages may have been victims of the critical illness, heart attack. Figures registered no women aged between 16-44 had contracted heart attack. Furthermore, 1.8 percent aged between 45-64, 5.1 percent aged between 65-74 and finally 6.7 percent aged 75 or higher may have contracted a critical illness like heart attack.

In addition, arthritis and rheumatism is another critical illness that affects many people in the UK. According to the Arthritis Research Campaign 2002, around 8 million people may have been suffering from this disease. About 3 million people may have already been disabled. This critical illness is mostly common among aged people. As a result, osteoarthritis may be the most common joint disorder carrying approximately 1 million victims followed by rheumatoid arthritis which may register about 350,000 patients.

Here are some statistics by the Office of National Statistics 2005, in the year 2004 concerning the critical illness, arthritis and rheumatism for both men and women.

5.2 percent men of all ages contracted this critical illness followed by 1.1 percent aged between 16-44. Also, about 7.9 percent aged between 45-64, around 11.0 percent aged between 65-74 and nearly 13.6 percent aged 75 or more all contracted arthritis and rheumatism. These figures show an increasing rate of this critical illness according to the age.

As for women, around 8.5 percent women of all ages had contracted arthritis and rheumatism followed by about 1.5 percent aged between 16-44. Furthermore, approximately 11.2 percent aged between 45-64, nearly 19.4 percent aged between 65-74 and 22.3 percent aged 75 or higher had been victims of this critical illness. According to these statistics, there had been more women patients than that of men.

You may now be fine and in good health. A critical illness may strike at any time and may shatter your life, if you are not secured. Taking out a critical illness cover can protect you from certain uncertainties you might encounter in the future.