What is Protection?

Being prepared for what's around the corner

One of the pleasures of life is its uncertainty - none of us can truly predict what's around the corner. But sometimes what's in store isn't a pleasant surprise. Have you ever thought how your family would manage if you were to die unexpectedly, or be diagnosed with a critical or terminal illness?

This is where protection comes in. Life cover can support your family if you die or become terminally ill. But the need for some kind of financial protection doesn't stop there. That's because medical scientific advances mean that illnesses that were previously often fatal - such as stroke, cancer and heart disease - now have more and more survivors. And these survivors live on for several years, not just a few months.

But where does that leave you and your family. Having to come to terms with an illness is hard enough - but you may also have the worry of being unable to pay your mortgage and other household bills if you are unable to return to work.

Protection is there to help our families if we should die prematurely - but it's also there to help us if we suffer a disability or illness and survive.

Have you thought how you or your family would cope?

There are 3 main types of protection:

• Life Cover which pays a lump sum if you die
• Critical Illness Cover which pays a lump sum (or monthly payment) when you suffer from one of a list of specified illnesses. Some examples include cancer, heart attack and stroke.
• Income Protection provides you with a monthly income if you are unable to work because of sickness, an accident or disability.

In addition, Unemployment Cover is available when you take out another benefit within a 'Mortgage Plan'. It will pay a monthly income if you become unemployed through no fault of your own.

Please note that we don't cover all critical illnesses and exclusions and limitations apply. We don't cover all forms of cancer. Full details including terms and conditions and exclusions and limitations can be found in our product literature.