Secure Your Future: Compare Life Insurance Quotes Today

The Cost of Life Cover

There are number of factors that determine the cost of life insurance, ultimately the insurer looks at the risk that they will have to pay out the large lump sum:

Age – If you are in good health, then life insurance will be cheaper if you are in your 20’s compared to in your 40’s for the same level of cover which is why it is advisable to start your cover as young as possible, but do take into consideration inflation and the cost of living from the start of your policy (for example if your policy started in 2020 the cost of living will be different in 2040)
Health – Your current health has an influence over the cost of a life insurance policy, providers will ask for your height and weight to see if you are overweight, you will be asked about previous health issues and then about any family conditions that may be hereditary.
Lifestyle – You are asked about the amount of alcohol you drink per week, the amount you exercise and if you have smoked in the past 12 months.
It is possible to find insurance cover from little as £10* a month, depending on your age and the policy value
Type – If the policy is decreasing term then the price will be lower because your pay-out reduces each year compared to a level policy that has the same policy value for the duration of the policy
Where you live – This is known as environmental factors that will look at factors such as air quality.

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What types of life insurance policies should I compare?

level term life insurance

When you compare a level life insurance policy you are comparing policies that pay out the fixed sum that you have chosen at any point of the term of the policy (usually the full amount will be paid out after year 1) This policy type is the most simple and easy to understand cover – The amount you receive will never change.

Key information

Pay out amount will remain same throughout policy
You are required to decide policy duration and the pay-out amount
The insurer will only pay out during the term duration you have agreed (between 10 – 50 years)
Your loved ones will be paid a fixed lump sum

Critical illness insurance policy

You can compare the prices of critical illness cover with level term or decreasing term or alternatively you can just take out critical illness cover to protect you financially if you are diagnosed with a life threatening or terminal illness.

Usually you are insured for a fixed amount that can be paid as a lump sum or paid monthly to you to cover any outstanding debts.

If you are very unwell and unable to work, you can make a claim on an integrated critical illness cover, your insurance policy provider usually pays out one lump sum to you and your policy would end. The insurance policy provider will not make any future payments to you or your loved ones.

Key information

If you are diagnosed with life threating or terminal illness, the insurer can pay out monthly or fixed lump sum
With us you can add critical illness cover to your policy
You can buy critical illness cover with or without life insurance cover

Decreasing term (Mortgage protection)

Decreasing term cover is also known as mortgage life insurance and mortgage protection insurance which is designed to protect debts that decrease over time, such as your residential mortgage.

Comparing these policies will provide cheaper prices than a fixed term policy because the amount paid out by the insurer under this policy reduces with time. For example, if you pass away near the start of your agreed policy term, your loved ones would get more pay out compared to the end of your policy terms.

Key information

The pay-out amount decreases over time
Its specifically designed to protect debts such as your mortgage
It can be cheaper than level term life insurance

Compare other types of affordable life cover

There are various other types of life insurance options available and your monthly premiums are based on your personal requirements and individual circumstances.

Joint life insurance policy for couples

If you are married or in a relationship, you and your partner can take out a joint policy cover which pays out in the event of one of you passing away. In most cases its can be cheaper to have a joint policy than two single polices. However, it only pays out for the first death and cover will end once lump sum paid. So in the long run it could be more cost effective to take 2 single premiums that run alongside each other’s.

New parent life cover comparison

Is you are planning on becoming parents or you have recently become a parent, it is very important to think about the future. If one of you passes away could you maintain paying the mortgage, house hold bills and childcare or would you need to stop working to look after the child? Having a lump sum could ease the financial stress and still allow you to remain in your property and stay in work.

Over 50’s life insurance cover

Any one aged from 50 to 79 can get a whole of life cover which doesn’t require medical assessment. There’s a short qualifying period and you can stop paying monthly premium when you are 85 or 90.

These insurance policies tend to be lower in value than a level or decreasing term and are primarily designed to cover the cost of a funeral and any immediate expenses. The maximum policy value tends to be around £25,000 but there are guaranteed acceptance schemes with no medicals required.

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Pre-existing medical cover

Unfortunately, not all insurance providers support pre-existing medical conditions which means when comparing pre-existing medical cover, you are only going to get quotes from a few insurance suppliers and you’ll also notice your premium will be higher than a normal policy.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition and didn’t want to pay the higher premiums you can still get a normal level term or decreasing term policy but you would need to exclude your existing medical condition from the policy and therefore you wouldn’t receive a pay-out on the stated conditions.

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Is life insurance the same as mortgage insurance?

No. Life insurance and are two different types of policy and it is important to understand the differences between them in order to ensure that you select the policy that is most appropriate to your individual circumstances.

Life insurance. There are many different types of life insurance policies available and they are designed to provide financially by way of a cash Pay out for your family and loved ones in the event of your death. By determining the level of cover that you require and the period most appropriate for you, a life insurance policy can do everything from paying for your funeral fees to paying off your mortgage or leaving an inheritance.

Many people choose a life insurance policy on a declining term basis, in order that the payoff reduces annually in correlation with the shrinking of their mortgage, ending at the same point that the mortgage is fully paid off. This is a way of safeguarding loved ones from having to deal with a large sum of debt should the person insured pass away during the term of the policy when there is still a considerable sum outstanding on the mortgage of the family home. Otherwise, the surviving family members may be unable to afford the payments without the income of the deceased. With this type of cover, if the person insured is still alive at the end of the term, the policy does not pay out.

Mortgage insurance. Often referred to as mortgage payment protection insurance, this is a policy that will cover your mortgage payments in the event that you find yourself unexpectedly out of work or, due to injury or illness, unable to work. Mortgage insurance is different to general income protection insurance in that it will only pay out up to 125% of your monthly mortgage payments or 50% of your monthly salary, whichever is greater, so is unlikely to be able to fully fund all of the outgoings that you are responsible for and would continue to need to pay in the event that you were out of work. For this reason, this type of policy is popular with couples who both earn an income and can supplement each other to a certain level in times of hardship.

There are different options for mortgage insurance and it is up to each individual to determine which is most appropriate for them, based on their personal circumstances and risk appetite. The most basic policy only covers you for unemployment if you are made redundant. The next level provides cover should you suffer a long-term illness or a serious injury which prevents you from working. Finally, the most comprehensive option covers redundancy, accident and illness. All mortgage insurance policies have a waiting time before you are able to claim and generally, the longer the waiting time, the cheaper your monthly premiums will be, however, it is important to ensure that you have sufficient savings or other sources of income to continue to pay your mortgage until such time as the policy begins paying out.

In short, the critical difference between these two policies is that life insurance only pays out in the event of your death, whilst mortgage insurance will pay out should you be unable to work, provided that the reason that you are unable to work is covered by your chosen policy.

What happens if I cancel my life insurance?

If you cancel your life insurance policy, your cover ends and should you pass away after cancelling your policy, the insurance company will not pay out as there will be no valid policy to pay out against. If you choose to cancel your life insurance policy during the cooling off period - usually the first 30 days from taking out the policy - you will receive your premiums paid to date back as a refund.

If, however, you cancel your policy after the cooling off period has ended, you will not be entitled to any refund on premiums paid and there may be an admin fee to pay as well. This varies depending on the provider, so it's something to check before deciding to cancel your insurance policy for cost-saving reasons.

The only exception to this rule is if you have a whole of life or permanent life insurance policy and have held it for a significant period of time (usually more than ten years). In this instance, you may have accumulated sufficient cash value that your insurance policy provider may be able to fund your premiums for a time, saving your money on your monthly payments without sacrificing your cover. Alternatively, your provider may offer you a surrender value, giving you some money back in exchange for cancelling your cover.

In order to get a definitive answer as to what your specific outcome would be should you cancel your insurance policy, you will need to speak with your provider.

Who would my life insurance policy be paid out to if I died?

When you take out a life insurance policy, you will be asked to nominate a beneficiary for your life insurance policy. This person could be your partner, child, other family member or a friend. It is up to you to select the person that you wish to receive a pay out in the event of your death and to tell that person that they are your beneficiary as they are responsible for raising the claim in the event of your death. If you do not wish for them to know that you have nominated them as a beneficiary while you are alive, you should ensure that it is recorded in your will so that they will be notified of the fact after you have passed away and be able to raise the claim and benefit from your policy.

Most people choose their partner or children to be beneficiaries on a life insurance policy in order that their surviving family members are able to continue to fund essential outgoings such as mortgage or rent payments and other bills and to continue to enjoy the quality of life that they are used to once the insured is no longer with them and contributing to the family finances.

This information will be available as part of your life insurance policy paperwork and most insurance companies will allow you to change your nominated beneficiary for a small fee at any point during the term of your policy, should you change your mind as to who you wish to benefit, or should your personal circumstances change.

Do I need life insurance if I'm single?

Electing to take out a life insurance policy is always a personal choice and a key consideration is whether someone that the insured provides care or support to would require financial assistance in the event that the insured were to pass away. If a single person supports an elderly parent or relative, or has children that they are raising on their own, it is likely that a life insurance policy would provide them with peace of mind that those people would have sufficient funds to continue to live their lives in the manner to which they had become accustomed should the insured die during the term of their policy.

Single people who run a business or are part of a business partnership may consider taking out a life insurance policy, either as a requirement of a business loan, or to provide financial certainty for business partners or family members who may require this money to maintain the business should the insured pass away with financial responsibilities that may otherwise not be covered.

On the other hand, a single person with no dependents and no debts or significant outgoings such as mortgage payments may decide that there is little benefit in taking out a life insurance policy as they have nobody to benefit from the Pay out in the event of their death. The exception to this would be if they were planning for the long term and saw the benefit in taking out a life insurance policy while they were young, healthy and unencumbered by debt and additional responsibilities.

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Do I need life insurance if I don't own my own home?

Whilst many people choose to take out a life insurance policy in order to ensure that their families are not left with an unaffordable mortgage to pay for in the event of the insured's demise, owning a home is not a prerequisite to taking out a life insurance policy. There is a benefit in anybody who has people who are financially dependent on them having a life insurance policy in order to provide for those people should they pass away.

This is especially important for people that do not have savings, investments or close family to rely on and whose dependents would risk being made homeless if the main or sole wage earner in the family were to die.

Calculating the cash Pay out for a life insurance policy should take into account an individual's personal circumstances and it is likely that a lower Pay out would be acceptable for someone who doesn't own a property on a mortgage, as they could elect to base the Pay out on their income over the course of a year or more instead, allowing their dependents financial security for a predetermined time, during which they would be able to find paid work to replace the lost income. Circumstances may have already changed, for example, a reduction in childcare costs from young children starting school or older children finishing university and getting jobs. Calculating the required Pay out on this basis is also likely to result in cheaper monthly premiums, which may make the decision to take out a life insurance policy more attractive.

What is 'no questions asked' life insurance and should I buy it?

A "no questions asked" life insurance policy is also known as guaranteed life insurance, as anybody who can afford to take out such a policy will be eligible, regardless of their age, medical history and occupation. These types of policy generally have a lower Pay out and higher monthly premiums than an ordinary life insurance policy but may represent a good choice for people in risky occupations with low personal savings who wish to ensure that their dependents are financially secure in the event of their death.

It is worth noting, however, that although no questions are asked at the outset, Pay outs will only be awarded should the insured die as a result of a condition or event that is covered by the policy. For example, the nominated beneficiary of someone who is chronically depressed and suffering from mental health issues who chooses this policy on the basis that they do not have to answer medical questions will not be eligible for a pay out if the cause of their death is determined to be suicide as this is an exclusion across many life insurance policies.

For someone who works in a low-risk occupation, has no or reasonably few existing medical issues and is under 50 years old, a standard policy is likely to provide greater protection at a significantly lower premium, so it is always worth comparing the level of cover and the monthly price of a variety of policies before selecting a guaranteed life insurance policy simply to avoid the need to answer medical questions at the outset.

If you are over 50 years old, you become eligible for an over-50s life insurance policy which provides whole of life cover at a fixed monthly cost, again without the need for a medical examination. This operates in a similar way to a guaranteed life insurance policy so it would be sensible to compare both options in order to select the one that offers best value for money and the right level of Pay out for your personal circumstances.

What is the application process for life insurance and what information do I need to give?

The application process for taking out a life insurance policy is simple. You need to choose the type of policy best suited to you. Do you want a single or joint policy, and do you need whole of life insurance that guarantees a Pay out on your death, regardless as to when that happens. Alternatively, do you need financial certainty for a defined term - for example, while you are paying off a mortgage or while you have dependent children at home? If you choose a term life insurance policy, you will need to decide whether you want a level term policy where the Pay out remains the same for the whole of the policy, or a decreasing term where the Pay out amount reduces annually in accordance with a reduction in outstanding mortgage payments or correlating to a reduced requirement to pay for childcare and other necessities.

Once you have selected the term of your policy, you need to decide the Pay out amount that you would require from the policy. In most cases, this is calculated based on your outstanding debts and financial commitments and potentially includes a buffer based on your salary for a predetermined period to ensure that your beneficiaries would be able to maintain their lifestyle should you no longer be there to provide for them. This is a vital step of the application process as setting the figure too high could result in unaffordable monthly premiums whilst setting it too low could leave your loved ones in financial difficulty in the event of your death.

You will need to answer a number of questions about your health, occupation and lifestyle when taking out a life insurance policy, unless you have opted for a guaranteed life insurance policy. These will include whether you smoke, drink alcohol or take recreational drugs, have any pre-existing medical conditions, your height and weight, hobbies and fitness level and your income and outgoings, including mortgage and debt repayments. The answers to these questions will allow the insurance provider to determine the level of risk that you pose to them and will aid them in determining the level of cover that they can offer you, and the price of your monthly premiums to provide that cover.

Once you and the insurer are happy that all information provided is accurate and that the monthly premiums are affordable, you will be able to take out the policy, which will only end when cancelled by you or in the event of your death.

How many life insurance policies can I have?

There is no legal limit to the number of life insurance policies that any individual can hold and it is quite common that somebody who has a limited amount of life insurance provided via a workplace group life insurance policy may choose to "top up" their personal level of cover by also taking out an individual life insurance policy to ensure that their family would be adequately provided for in the event of their death.

Others may choose to set up multiple life insurance policies to cater for different outcomes, for example, a declining term life insurance policy aimed at clearing their mortgage and any outstanding debts, with another whole of life policy with a Pay out amount designed to provide financial security for their dependents. They may choose to have multiple life insurance policies with a different nominated beneficiary on each, should they choose to use this method to leave a legacy or inheritance due to a lack of personal savings.

There are many reasons why someone may choose to hold multiple life insurance policies, but it is always sensible to consider the reasons for doing so, as it is likely to be more cost-effective to hold only one policy that caters for the most likely eventuality with a carefully determined Pay out amount and term based on your personal circumstances.

What should I do if my life insurance application is declined?

In the event that your application for a life insurance policy is declined, you should find out the reasons for it. Many providers have different acceptance criteria, so by understanding why your application has been turned down, you will be able to target a different company with different criteria, or seek a quotation for a guaranteed life insurance policy where no questions relating to health or lifestyle are asked.

Just because one company has turned you down does not mean that they all will, and it is very likely that you will be able to take out a suitable policy with a different provider. It is worth noting that a company that has more flexible acceptance criteria may be more expensive, so if the reason for your rejection relates to a health or lifestyle issue that you are willing to address, you may be able to take out your preferred policy in the future once this issue is no longer relevant. In this instance, it will require you to make a risk-based decision to either wait for the necessary timeframe to submit a new application with the original provider without any life insurance, or to take out a short term life insurance policy with a more flexible provider until such time as you can re-apply.

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What Gift Card Offers and Incentives Are Available with Life Insurance?

Many insurers now offer gift cards as incentives for taking out a policy. Here's what you need to know:

Gift card values typically range from £50 to £250
Offers often apply to policies with a minimum monthly premium
Some providers offer cashback instead of gift cards

Tip: While gift cards are nice, focus on the policy terms and coverage amount rather than short-term incentives.

How Do Life Insurance Calculators Help Determine Coverage Needs?

Life insurance calculators are handy tools that help you estimate how much life insurance you might need:

They consider factors like your age, income, and number of dependents
Some calculators factor in lifestyle factors and health conditions
They can give you a more accurate idea of the amount of cover you need

What Support Services Do Insurance Providers Offer?

Many life insurance policies now come with additional services:

Wellbeing support, including mental health counselling
Legal advice hotlines
Health and fitness programmes

These services often come at no extra cost and can provide valuable support throughout your policy term.

Why is Choosing the Right Life Insurance Provider Important?

Selecting the right insurer is crucial for several reasons:

Financial stability of the provider affects their ability to pay claims
Customer service quality can impact your experience, especially during claims
Some providers offer more flexible policies or better rates for certain health conditions

Research customer reviews and financial ratings before making your decision.

How Do You Make a Life Insurance Claim?

Making a claim on a life insurance policy involves several steps:

Notify the insurer as soon as possible
Gather necessary documents (death certificate, policy information)
Fill out claim forms provided by the insurer
Submit all required paperwork
Await the insurer's decision and pay out

The process typically takes a few weeks, but can be longer for complex cases.

How Does Life Insurance Change for Different Life Stages and Events?

Your life insurance needs to change as your life changes:

Starting a family often requires increased coverage
Taking on a mortgage might necessitate additional protection
As you near retirement, you might reduce your coverage

Tip: Review your life insurance every few years or after major life events to ensure it still meets your needs.

What Role Does Critical Illness Cover Play in Life Insurance?

Critical illness cover can be a valuable addition to life insurance:

It provides a lump sum payment if you're diagnosed with a specified serious illness
Common conditions covered include heart attacks, strokes, and certain cancers
This cover can be bought as a separate policy or added to life insurance for an extra cost

While it increases life insurance costs, it can provide crucial financial support during serious health crises.

Life Insurance Frequently asked questions

"But nothing in this world is said to be certain, except death and taxes" Benjamin Franklin.

Unfortunately, death can come to us at any time, and for many of us, we want to ensure our loved ones financial needs are met.

Life insurance is an insurance policy that pays out in the event of the policyholder passing away. Its normally taken to cover mortgages, funeral expenses or a lump sum to be given to loved ones.

If you have dependents, particularly young children or a family then a life insurance policy is something that would be recommended. It can cover any financial commitments that you have such as a mortgage or provide lump sum which could give your loved one’s financial security

There are 5 “terms” which are the most popular and these are:

Decreasing term insurance policy

Normally taken out with a repayment mortgage to cover this cost. As the amount owed on the property reduces over time so will the pay-out, this is the cheapest option to take out.

Level-term life insurance policy

This policy will pay a fixed amount of money at the time of death (as long as the policy is still active). You would select the amount that you want the lump sum to be and this would remain fixed over the term of the policy. This is normally more expensive than a decreasing term insurance policy

Joint life insurance policy

As the name suggests, it covers couples and will pay out once when the first partner passes away within the term of the policy

Whole of life insurance policy

Will guarantee to pay-out upon death, even if that comes at a ripe old age of 100 plus.

Over 50’s insurance policy

This policy is designed for people who are aged over 50. Its pay-out is smaller as it’s designed to cover funeral expenses so the policy value is typically between £1,000 and £25,000

This will depend on your financial commitments and whether or not you want to leave a lump sum after these commitments have been met. As a minimum you should cover your mortgage and funeral costs and then depending on your budget add a cash lump sum too.

This is very much dependent on the circumstances surrounding your situation and what you would want to leave your loved ones. There is also a critical illness add-ons you could select, this will pay-out if a critical illness is diagnosed by medical professionals to help with financial matters during your treatment

The cost of the policy is based on a number of factors, are you smoking, your age, previous medical conditions, current health, the term type (Level, Decreasing, Joint, etc..), the amount needed to be covered, the length of the policy and also if critical illness is added.

It’s possible to get a policy from the age of 18. Most people think of getting a policy if they have a mortgage and / or dependents. Premiums prices increase as age increases.

Certain financial institutions will insist upon it. However, it’s considered a good judgment call to take one out, as death could come at any time, and without life insurance in place, your loved ones may struggle.

It is important to review the level cover periodically to ensure that the current policy meets all of your needs, you can take out a second policy, add to an existing one or cancel the existing one and take a brand new one. We would recommend that you review the policy cover if there is a major circumstantial change such as moving home (to cover the new mortgage if this has increased), getting married or having a child (to leave a lump sum).

It’s a tax-efficient measure where the money is paid out into a trust, and not considered part of the estate when relevant bodies calculate inheritance tax.

Yes, but it could cost more, as it’s viewed as a higher risk. The most common pre-existing conditions which most companies cover, but not limited to are; asthma, diabetes and obesity.

You must make sure to declare ailments when taking out the life insurance cover as a failure to be transparent could void it.

You can still take out a traditional life insurance policy, but the prices will be higher than a 30 year taking out the policy, and there are upper age limits for when the policy will expire, typically this is between 70 and 75 or there is over 50s plan, where the monthly price is a lot lower but the pay-out is also a lot smaller and commonly taken out to cover funeral expenses. However, as it is a lump sum, the beneficiaries are able to spend it any way they see fit

If you missed the payment, contact your life insurance provider and explain why it was missed and seek to make alternative payments.

Certain policies will allow you to make a claim if you’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness and having less than 12 months to live

To get cheap life insurance quotes, there are a few strategies you can consider. First, it's important to compare quotes from multiple insurance providers. Each company may have different rates and coverage options, so shopping around is key.

Additionally, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help lower your premiums. Insurance companies often consider factors such as your age, overall health, and whether you smoke when determining the cost of your policy. By staying fit and avoiding tobacco products, you may be eligible for lower rates.

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How to compare life insurance cover?

The Cost of Life Cover

Do I need the cover?

What types of life insurance policies should I compare?

level term life insurance

Key information

Critical illness insurance policy

Key information

Decreasing term (Mortgage protection)

Key information

Compare other types of affordable life cover

Joint life insurance policy for couples

New parent life cover comparison

Over 50’s life insurance cover

Pre-existing medical cover

Life Assurance vs Life insurance

Is life insurance the same as mortgage insurance?

What happens if I cancel my life insurance?

Who would my life insurance policy be paid out to if I died?

Do I need life insurance if I'm single?

Do I need life insurance if I don't own my own home?

What is 'no questions asked' life insurance and should I buy it?

What happens if I die without life insurance?

How many life insurance policies can I have?

What should I do if my life insurance application is declined?

What Gift Card Offers and Incentives Are Available with Life Insurance?

How Do Life Insurance Calculators Help Determine Coverage Needs?

What Support Services Do Insurance Providers Offer?

Why is Choosing the Right Life Insurance Provider Important?

How Do You Make a Life Insurance Claim?

How Does Life Insurance Change for Different Life Stages and Events?

What Role Does Critical Illness Cover Play in Life Insurance?

Life Insurance Frequently asked questions

What's life insurance?

Why is important to have life insurance?

How many types of life insurance cover is there?

Decreasing term insurance policy

Level-term life insurance policy

Joint life insurance policy

Whole of life insurance policy

Over 50’s insurance policy

What amount would be the right level of cover?

What term of cover would be the correct one?

How do companies calculate the cost of a life insurance policy?

What age is the best age to get life insurance?

Will there be a requirement to take out a life insurance policy to get a mortgage?

How often should I review my life cover?

Why do some people put their life insurance policy into a trust?

Will life insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

What about if I am in my 50s?

What happens if a payment is missed?

Is it possible to get an early payment on a policy?

How to get a cheap life insurance quotes?

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