The majority of life insurance claims are attributed to heart attack, stroke, cancer and coronary disease, according to life insurer Norwich Union. And even if you survive, there’s a bit of a downside: you only get a partial life insurance payout and you become uninsurable for future illness.

This has led Norwich Union Australia to provide a “critical illness reinstatement” option for life policies. MD Allan Griffiths said the option is now adopted by one in five of Norwich’s customers.  It also allows clients to reinsure for any unrelated critical illness in the future.