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Guardian: Biggest Cover Upgrade Yet

Journalist: David Stirling, Newspage

ended 08. May 2025

Guardian have improved some of their critical illness definitions and uniquely, upgraded all their existing customers - here's their release:

At Guardian, we’re always looking for ways to improve our critical illness cover to make sure we're providing the best possible cover. 

That's why we've announced our biggest cover upgrade yet.

Across our adult and children's critical illness cover, we've added 5 new definitions, upgraded 24 definitions, made 16 neutral wording changes and rewritten 3 definitions to clarify where we won't pay a claim.

The end result is better all-round cover for existing customers at no extra cost. These changes are now live for all new and existing customers.

More about our cover upgrade promise

Our cover upgrade promise is our promise to policyholders that if we improve our critical illness definitions for new policyholders after their cover has started, we'll give those improved definitions to them as an existing policyholder.

This means they can claim on any of the definitions listed in their policy terms and conditions, or any improved definitions we subsequently add.

Usually, we'll give these improvements to existing policyholders for free. If we can't give them to our policyholders for free, we'll give them the opportunity to pay to add these definition improvements to their cover.

3 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Ranald Mitchell
Director at bad credit mortgage specialists Charwin Mortgages
Guardian are setting the standard for what critical illness cover should be. Too often, policyholders are sold peace of mind but left battling definitions when it matters most. This upgrade is a step in the right direction, putting people before policy wording. The industry needs to follow suit. Critical illness cover must be reliable at claim, not riddled with caveats.
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Editor
David Stirling
Independent Financial Adviser at Mint Wealth
Guardian has long stood out with its distinctive approach to protection, and its latest enhancements raise the bar even further. One of the most impactful changes is the introduction of payments upon being placed on an NHS waiting list, so no longer requiring treatment to be completed first. This shift could be life-changing, offering much-needed financial support earlier in a diagnosis when it’s often most critical.

What makes this development even more impressive is that it’s being extended to existing customers at no extra cost. This decision highlights the insurer’s genuine dedication to keeping its protection modern, inclusive, and responsive to real-life needs. It’s a meaningful step forward and a testament to Guardian’s customer-first philosophy.
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Editor
Michelle Lawson
Director at Lawson Financial
This should be standard not unique. Guardian just do this right. Ensure all customers benefit from their product enhancements rather than having a multitude of legacy policies and grey areas. The only insurer where you fully know what you get and have confidence at the point of claim of retrospective improvements.