Parent's guide
Critical illness cover for children in the UK — what it costs and how it works
Most insurers only offer children's critical illness as an add-on to a parent's policy. ChildShield is a standalone plan: one fixed price covers every child in your family, with cash paid straight to you if a covered serious illness, accident or hospital stay happens.
What the plan pays out
Included
- Serious conditions — cash lump sum of £5,000 (Standard) or £10,000 (Plus)
- Broken bones — £100 to £600 per bone depending on plan and break, covered worldwide
- Hospital stays — £50 (Standard) or £100 (Plus) per 24 hours, UK and Europe
- Accidents at home, school, the park or playing sport
- 24/7 virtual private GP for the whole family
- Unlimited claims, no excess, no per-child charge
Not included
- Private treatment costs (that is what private medical insurance does)
- Routine illnesses that do not require hospitalisation
- Sickness-related hospitalisation in the first 12 months
- Pre-existing conditions in the first 12 months
Standalone child cover vs an add-on to a parent's policy
| ChildShield | Typical children's add-on | |
|---|---|---|
| Needs an adult policy | No | Usually yes |
| Medical questions | None | Usually on the adult |
| Price | £6 or £11 a month, fixed | Depends on adult's age and health |
| Children covered | All of them, birth to 23 | Often limited, with age caps |
| Accidents and broken bones | Included | Often not included |
| Hospital stays | £50–£100 per 24 hours | Often not included |
| Excess | None | Varies |
Comparison is a general description of how children's add-ons are commonly structured, not a quote for any named product. Full ChildShield benefits are in the policy documents.
Frequently asked questions
Can both parents hold a plan for the same children?
Yes. Each parent can hold their own plan and each one pays out in full on a valid claim, so the family can receive two cash payments for the same event. It is a simple way to double the cover for the same children.
Does it still pay out if I have critical illness cover through work?
Yes. ChildShield pays on top of any critical illness or accident cover you already hold, including cover provided by an employer, and the payout is not reduced. If one parent is covered at work, the other parent can still take out a plan.
What is critical illness cover for children?
Critical illness cover for children pays a cash lump sum if your child is diagnosed with a covered serious illness. The money is paid directly to the parent, so it can be used for time off work, travel to hospital, childcare for other children, or anything else the family needs. ChildShield pays up to £10,000 for a covered serious illness and also covers accidents, broken bones and hospital stays in the same plan.
Can I get critical illness cover for my child on its own?
Yes. Many insurers only add children's critical illness as an extra on a parent's life or critical illness policy. ChildShield is a standalone child plan — you do not need to hold an adult policy, and there is no medical underwriting on the parent. It costs £6 or £11 a month and covers every child in the family.
How much does children's critical illness cover cost in the UK?
ChildShield costs £6 a month for Cover Level 1 or £11 a month for Cover Level 2 — roughly 20p a day. That single price covers every child in your family from birth up to age 23. There is no per-child charge and the price is fixed.
Does it cover all my children?
Yes. One plan covers every child in the family, from birth to age 23. Whether you have one child or five, the price is the same.
Are there medical questions?
No. There are no medical questions and no health screening. Acceptance is immediate and applying online takes about two minutes.
Are pre-existing conditions covered?
For hospitalisation, pre-existing conditions are covered once the plan has been held for 12 months. Accidents, broken bones, serious illness and the 24/7 virtual GP are covered from day one. Because there are no medical questions, an existing condition never stops you being accepted.
How is this different from adult critical illness cover?
Adult critical illness cover usually replaces lost income over the long term and is priced on the adult's age, health and smoker status. Children's cover is about the immediate costs a family faces around a diagnosis or accident — unpaid leave, hospital travel and parking, childcare. That is why it is a fixed low price with no medical questions, and why the payout is cash the parent can spend on anything.
Is critical illness cover for children worth it?
It comes down to what a serious diagnosis or accident actually costs a family in the first few months: unpaid time off work, daily hospital trips, parking, food and childcare for siblings — commonly hundreds or thousands of pounds. At about 20p a day for every child, with no excess and unlimited claims, a single claim typically covers years of premiums.
Are there claim limits or an excess?
No excess, and no cap on the number of valid claims. Each claim pays up to the benefit amounts set out in the MetLife Policy Booklet, and claiming does not increase your premium.
Who underwrites the plan?
ChildShield is underwritten by MetLife Europe d.a.c., one of the world's largest insurers. childshield.online is an authorised route to apply online.
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Start my applicationChildShield is underwritten by MetLife Europe d.a.c.