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Best Top 10 Life Insurance Companies In The UK For 2025

Elaine Brookes Steve Case

Author: Steve Case - Insurance Expert

Reviewed & Fact Checked By: Elaine Brookes

Updated: 12th January 2025

best life insurance policy uk

When we’re evaluating life insurance companies, we’re looking first and foremost for two things:

  1. Is their cover the most comprehensive it can be?
  2. Are they offering policies at a competitive price?

With a bird’s eye view of the life insurance industry, we’re well-positioned to evaluate and compare these companies, so our recommendations are the best they can be for you. What companies come out on top?

Throughout the life insurance industry, there are many different companies offering insurance products. Some are generalists with every kind of cover you can imagine. Some are specialists, primarily offering narrower packages, such as Over 50s Life Insurance.

This means there’s arguably no singular best insurance provider in the UK. What works best for you might not work for your spouse, business partner, or adult children. Choosing the top 10 life insurance companies in the UK comes down to your unique situation and needs.

Compare The Best Life Insurance Companies And Receive Quotes That Meet Your Exact Requirements

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  • Our price match promise means we will find you the right cover for your personal circumstances at the lowest price possible. Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

Our goal is to make the process simpler for you. With that in mind, we have three options.

  1. Continue reading, learn about the UK’s top insurance providers, and pick one that suits your needs.
  2. Fill out our simple form and receive quotes from all of the UK’s top providers to compare plans directly.
  3. Call us on 0203 129 88 66 to start the process with our friendly and helpful agents.

The Ten Best Term Life Insurance Companies In The UK

With our unique perspective and insight into the companies offering life insurance cover in the UK, we’ve compiled a list of the best providers of term life insurance cover for 2025 and beyond.

The comments here are just a brief representation of our opinions; for a more detailed discussion, feel free to call or reach out and contact us any time.

best term life cover
Company Plan Name Comments
VitalityLife Comprehensive Cover or Combined Cover Our pick for the best value life insurance provider for term life insurance of all kinds for 2025.
Scottish Widows Protect Personal Also includes potential emotional support and practical support for clients through Scottish Widows Care
Nationwide Building Society Multi-Protection Many varieties of term life cover are available through Nationwide.
Legal & General Level or Decreasing Term Assurance Their general term life cover is also good, but their decreasing term is exceptional among similar offerings.
Sainsbury’s Bank Mortgage Protection Plan Often bundled with or sold alongside mortgages offered by the bank.
Barclays Bank Simple Life Insurance A simple form of term life cover with premiums as low as £6 per month.
Zurich Insurance Life Protection One of the most standard, high-quality life insurance plans available.
AA (From L and G) Mortgage Protection and family income benefit AA partners with Legal & General to offer high-quality life insurance plans.
Aviva Life Insurance The most “bread and butter” plan you can get from a provider in the UK.
LV= Flexible Protection Plans A variety of useful options to configure the perfect plan for you.

The Ten Best Whole Of Life Insurance Companies In The UK

We’ve read the reviews, experienced the claims—both the hits and the misses—and analysed many years’ worth of data to conclude that these ten insurance providers offer the best range of whole life insurance cover available to UK residents.

Please let us know if you have a uniquely positive (or negative) experience with one of these companies.

best whole of life cover
CompanyPlan NameComments
Zurich InsuranceAdaptable Life PlanTheir core offering is one of the top whole life insurance plans in the UK.
VitalityLifeVitalityLifeOur recommended best-value life insurance plan is in the whole of-life category.
NFUAIG Whole of Life InsuranceOur recommended best-value life insurance plan is in the whole-of-life category.
Royal LondonPegasus Whole of Life PlanIt includes single and joint life insurance cover options depending on your needs.
Legal & GeneralWhole of Life Protection PlanNo list of UK insurance providers is complete without at least one entry from Legal & General.
Scottish WidowsProtect Whole of Life CoverThe supplementary support offered by Scottish Widows is top-notch.
AegonWhole of Life Plans and Critical IllnessOne of the best whole-of-life insurance cover plans for inheritance tax planning.
AIG LifeWhole of Life Insurance or Care CoverageAIG offers several different highly-rated plans many people have good experiences with in the UK.
LV=LifeTime+Recently, they’ve added terminal illness cover to their already excellent LifeTime+ plan.
Old MutualProtect Guaranteed Whole of Life PlansAIG offers several different highly rated plans with which many people have good experiences in the UK.

If you need a quote for whole of life cover, please fill out our no-obligation form and get quotes from all of these providers and more in a matter of moments.

The Ten Best Over 50s Life Insurance Companies In The UK

Over 50s life insurance cover is often guaranteed based on your age, while other life insurance plans may decline to offer you options at all due to your age and the risk associated with it. They aren’t necessarily more expensive, but they may have additional terms you need to know.

Here are our ten picks for this year’s best over 50s insurance providers in the UK, based on our analysis of the quotes and offerings we see daily.

best over 50s cover
CompanyPlan NameComments
Smart InsuranceSmart Guaranteed Life Insurance Coverage (For Over 50s)
This is Insurance Hero’s top pick for over-50s cover. It does not require medical exams or health questions, offers flexible policies, global coverage, and accidental death benefits, and includes a Will Kit.
Foresters Friendly Society50+ Life CoverOffers potential bonuses. You only need to pay premiums until you’re 85.
Sainsbury’s BankOver 50s Life Insurance PlansCoverage can start as low as £5 per month. Offers added entry to Legal & General Wellbeing Support Facilities.
OnefamilyOver Fifties Life CoverageDefined payments are guaranteed not to increase. Guaranteed acceptance for anyone aged 50 to 80 in the UK. Immediate cover for accidental death in the first year.
Post OfficeOver 50s Life CoverageThe Insurance Hero top pick for over 50s cover. There are no medical exams or health questions, flexible policies, global cover, and accidental death benefits. Includes a Will Kit.
SunlifeGuaranteed Over 50 PlanGuaranteed acceptance from age 49 to 85. Cash payments up to £18,000. 100% payout rate, often within three days.
Royal LondonGuaranteed Lifelong Protection Plans100% payout rate. No further premiums after 30 years or after turning 90.
AvivaGuaranteed Lifelong Protection PlansThe same benefits as Royal London; essentially, the same plans from different firms.
Santander BankOver 50s Life InsurancePlans are backed by Aviva, the UK’s largest insurance provider. Monthly premiums don’t increase, and acceptance is guaranteed.
LV=50 Plus PlanGuaranteed acceptance for UK residents. Free bonus gift card after paying your third premium.

Seeking a quote for one of the best plans available? Whether you need term, whole, or guaranteed cover, all you need to do is fill out our simple form and get quotes from all these companies and more in your inbox.

Picking the Best Type of Cover for Your Situation

Understandably, people seek out the best life insurance. You don’t want to be stuck with a sub-standard policy. Some providers are better than others regarding policy exclusions, customer service, the speed of payouts from claims, and other issues.

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Getting direct advice from life insurance experts is the most important element to getting the best, most appropriate level of cover at the most affordable price.

While many websites with comparison charts exist, they tend to be biased, and software algorithms may be programmed to offer the option most beneficial to the broker earning a commission from the sale, not the best policy for you.

Here at Insurance Hero, we’re confident we can secure the best life insurance quotes you can get without commission-driven algorithms or comparison engines getting in the way. Call us, use our web form, or keep reading to learn more.

Life Insurance Offers Real Peace of Mind – is level term insurance suitable for you?

There’s always a chance that, in the event of your passing, your family could end up suffering for your absence. We don’t just mean in terms of missing you emotionally; that will happen no matter what.

Without your presence and ongoing financial support, your family may have to forfeit some of life’s benefits. Your granddaughter misses gymnastics lessons, your grandnephew misses out on music tuition, or your family has to skip holidays to keep paying for the family home.

Life Insurance Offers Peace of Mind

No one wants to know they’ve left behind more than their absence, right? Fortunately, a life insurance policy helps to guarantee that your loved ones won’t have to make sacrifices or skip out on personal growth because of those financial burdens and commitments.

It’s also not uncommon that a lender will require you to get some life insurance cover when you get a mortgage from them to buy a home.

Rather than picking whatever policy they offer you and giving them a commission for no reason, why not ensure you get the best cover for your needs? That way, you can ensure that your mortgage is paid if you pass, and more.

What Can Level Term Cover Life Insurance be Used to Pay?

Here are some examples of some costs that life insurance can be used to pay off, either immediately or on an ongoing basis in the form of an annuity or a managed lump sum.

Fixed Payout ExpenseAverage Cost
Cost of a college degree (including maintenance and tuition)£172,000
Cost of childcare over 10 years£105,000
Cost of music tuition for two children over 10 years£41,000
Gymnastics twice a week for two children over 10 years£33,000
Cost of childcare over ten years£58,000
Total£409,000

With these kinds of expenses on the horizon for anyone with a family, it just makes sense to get some kind of cover that can protect them in the event of your death and subsequent loss of your income.

Certain policies may also have added intangible benefits that can help even more. For example, a policy offering access to well-being facilities can help you with your health and keep you healthy and hearty for attending those milestones in your family’s lives.

Help Protect Your Family’s Future, Compare Top UK Insurers. Find Your Cheapest Quote ⏱ Takes About 60 Seconds

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  • Our price match promise means we will find you the right cover for your personal circumstances at the lowest price possible. Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

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Without life insurance protection, think about the things the people closest to you might have to give up.

  • Financial security, as they clear out your outstanding debts and monthly obligations in your name.
  • Their current lifestyle, as their funds have to go to expenses you previously covered.
  • Their home, if your mortgage can’t be covered, and they’re forced to move.
  • Your funeral—the average cost of a funeral in the UK is increasing every year and has reached £4,141.
  • As a portion of your estate, more money has to go to inheritance taxes.
  • Childcare, as they have to decide between living expenses and childcare costs.
  • Their futures, as the drain on their funds and lifestyle, give them less room for critical illness and medical issues that may arise in the future.

All of this and more can be ongoing repercussions for living and dying without life insurance cover while your family still relies on you.

Searching for the Best Life Insurance Cover in the UK? Here’s Why You Should Make an Enquiry with Us Today

We’re the place to be if you’re seeking the best possible cover in the UK. We aren’t biased or driven solely by commissions, so we have your best interests in mind, not our pocketbooks.

Here are some of the main reasons why you should fill out our form and get a no-obligation set of quotes from the best insurance providers today.

  • You can get lower premiums than you might elsewhere.
  • Our system is reliable, honest, and trustworthy.
  • Our UK-based staff are caring and concerned for your well-being.
  • You can get life insurance for as little as £8 per month. For some over-50s plans, you can see even lower rates.
  • Life insurance premiums for mums and dads are generally better than those from other insurers.
  • Specialist Life Cover protects your family without undue strain on your bank account.
  • We’re highly rated for our excellent customer service. We’ll make sure you get the cover you want today.
  • If you smoke or even vape, we can get you non-discriminatory rates from multiple providers.
  • You can get multiple policies for yourself and your spouse or a joint policy that covers both of you simultaneously.

Remember: the cheapest possible life insurance isn’t necessarily the best option. While cheap life insurance is certainly possible, you may be giving up cover or even qualifications for the death benefit in exchange, and nothing is worse than your family filing a claim only to be denied because you didn’t die the right way.

Finding the best life cover for critical illness to meet your needs and monthly outgoings can seem complicated. Even our top ten lists above are only a place to start and not a be-all, end-all list of your only options.

top life insurance companies in uk

That’s why we offer an alternative in the form of our free life insurance or critical illness cover advisory service. Instead of manually filling out forms and getting quotes from ten or more providers, comparing them when you barely understand the terms and terminology they use, and trying to muddle through it all, contact us.

The best companies life insurance – How do we know?

Our knowledgeable team of experts can screen the UK’s leading life insurance companies and ensure you find the best life insurance quotes available.

We stack up the best against the best and give you a customized, tailored list of the best providers, the most comprehensive policies, and the most ideal options for your unique circumstances.

Then, you can decide which is best for you. The one with the highest payout, the one with the best customer service, the one with the lowest fixed premiums, or some balance of these and other factors? The choice is always yours.

Understanding the Terms Used When Buying Life Insurance

Life insurance is a complex industry to understand. It’s one thing to grasp standard terms like premium and term, but it’s another to understand all the jargon and terminology the insurance industry and providers use in their quotes.

Let us help you work through it with resources like this one and through direct contact if you want to call and work with us directly. We’re more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

What is life insurance all about? So many people are confused with terms like increasing term policy and decreasing term policy

Deciding on the best life insurance policy is one thing. For the individual buying life insurance coverage, consider buying peace of mind.

After all, as a policyholder, you don’t generally gain anything from the policy directly. It can’t take effect until you die.

Of course, some policies offer options that can benefit you while you are alive, like cash loans against the policy’s value. If you think you may need that, consider it when evaluating policies.

What is Life Insurance About

Life insurance matters more to your loved ones and whether or not they’ll need to make a life insurance claim. It’s their financial future you’re providing with your life insurance.

It’s peace of mind for you to know that if the worst happens and you pass unexpectedly, your spouse, your family, and your descendants will still have a roof over their heads, their rent or mortgage covered, and their debts paid off in full.

Maintaining an acceptable lifestyle, putting food on the table, paying childcare costs, and paying off loans are all things the death benefit from a life insurance policy can do for your loved ones.

The loss of a household income earner – even if you’re retired and living off your pension – due to a critical illness or death can significantly impact household income, future spending, and security.

The higher your earnings in your golden years, the bigger your loss is in financial terms. Life insurance cover, even decreasing term cover, is financial protection for those closest to you whether you opt for an annuity or a cash lump sum, that goes the same.

How does life insurance work? – Find The Top 10 Life Insurance Companies In The UK.

You might wonder, how does life insurance even work? It’s one thing to buy coverage, but knowing how it all works under the hood is always a good idea. Buying the best life insurance or critical illness coverage is essentially like paying to enter into a contract.

As the policyholder, you keep paying to keep that contract alive. Like any other ongoing expense, if you stop paying, you cease receiving the benefits of the policy you’re holding.

The policy itself is the contract that you pay. The life insurance policy terms are set out when the plan requires the insurance company to pay the benefits promised in the document.

Like any contract, paying attention to the fine print is critical. As the insured, you have obligations to be met, as does the insurer.

Standard life insurance policies have exceptions that you might expect. For example, the policy provider generally will not pay out death benefits on the policy if the insured commits suicide within a specific timeframe after entering into the contractual agreement.

This ensures that no one can sign up for life insurance and then take their life for the financial gain of another. It’s an element of security against the insurance provider’s exploitation.

It’s also a safeguard against those with suicidal ideation or suicidal thoughts. If you believe your family or dependents would receive hundreds of thousands of pounds when you die, it’s an incentive to act on those thoughts; the clause in the contracts helps keep you safe as well.

How Does Life Insurance Work

The fine print part of the best company for life insurance – transparency is key

The fine print of each life insurance contract will state the terms necessary for the policy to remain valid. These are generally fairly standard; probably 80% of the contracts will be the same from provider to provider, but the remaining details in that 20% can vary.

For example, mortgage protection insurance contracts are only active until the mortgage is repaid. Term life insurance with a level or flat benefit remains active for the term, generally between ten and thirty years.

Life insurance providers pay out death benefits in the event of death. Some also pay out in the event of a critical illness, which is generally defined as an illness that is terminal and has less than a year of life expectancy.

For term life insurance cover, if you outlive the term, the premiums are not returned to you; you’re essentially left with nothing, though the preceding decades of peace of mind can’t be ignored.

Insurance providers pay out money on the death of their customers and technically make their money on their lives. Therefore, every policy is a gamble, and they perform sophisticated risk analysis on every customer to determine the appropriate terms and conditions.

How Much Life Cover Should You Have, and should you add critical illness cover?

How much life insurance? This is perhaps the most common question in the insurance business. Unfortunately, as with all similar questions, there’s no one answer.

top 10 life insurance companies

Instead, we ask you questions in return:

  • Do you have people in your life who would need financial assistance if they lost you from their life or if you suffered a critical illness?
  • How much would losing you impact everyone who is financially dependent on you?
  • How much of a salary would your household lose if you weren’t around to bring in a wage or receive a pension?
  • In your employment, does your employer have any death-in-service benefits that can assist your dependents?
  • Are you the principal breadwinner for your family or your dependents?
  • Have you been searching for the cheapest life insurance, the best life insurance, or something else, and have you not yet found the right cover?
  • If you add critical illness cover is that wise?

Answering these questions will help you determine the right kind of insurance to get and how much cover you seek in your policy.

What is the Average Cost of Life Insurance in the UK?

The cost to get life insurance, whether it’s a level term policy, critical illness cover, whole of life cover, or another kind of cover, will vary depending on the individual. However, you can use specific estimates and examples as a ballpoint figure.

Average Cost of Life Insurance in the UK

Consider a 38-year-old applying to a company like SunLife for a ten-year term life insurance policy. This young, healthy non-smoker passes their medical history questions. They are offered roughly £10 per month for £100,000 of cover. For each additional £100,000 they want, the rate goes up another £10 in a flat increase.

This same individual as a smoker could expect to pay double that, at a rate of £20 per £100,000 they want to receive in their cover.

This is because of all of the well-known health risks associated with smoking. Sometimes, you can find cheaper quotes, but they aren’t always available. It can also vary as to whether or not the insurance provider considers vaping to be in the same category as smoking.

Our life insurance comparison research into how much it costs for a £500,000 life insurance policy reveals that of consumers polled by Critical Research, most assume the average cost per £100,000 of cover is £51 per month. That means the reality is dramatically cheaper than what most people think.

The Three General Types of Life Insurance Cover With Great Customer Satisfaction

One of the hardest decisions you must make is what kind of life insurance cover you need. Life insurance cover comes in many forms, and picking the right kind of cover can be a significant decision you need to make before you even start looking at specific insurance providers.

It’s one thing to seek a quote for life insurance, but you can’t even take that first step without knowing what kind of life insurance you want.

Types of Life Insurance Cover

Remember, too, that various types of insurance cover each category, and riders and optional add-ons can change how they function even within those groups. That’s all part of why it’s so hard to pin down the best life insurance in the UK or elsewhere.

Considering Term Life Insurance With The Help Of a Financial Advisor With A Good Track Record

The first kind of life insurance is term life insurance. With term life insurance, you pick the amount of coverage you’re seeking and the duration of that coverage. For example, you might pick £250,000 for 30 years. If you pass within that 30-year term, the £250,000 will be paid to your beneficiary.

If you outlive the policy, though, it expires, and you have nothing to show for it. You can often choose to renew your coverage for another term or the remainder of your life, but it’s generally more expensive because your inherent risk is higher than it was 30 years prior.

You can also switch to a whole-of-life cover or another kind of cover instead if you prefer.

Term Life Insurance

There are three kinds of term life cover:

  • Decreasing term life cover. This is term life insurance chosen to cover a specific debt obligation, such as a mortgage. Say you bought a home five years ago on a 30-year mortgage. You might choose life insurance cover with a 25-year term for the total value of the mortgage. Each year, the coverage you get decreases based on your mortgage repayment. If you pass away, the cover pays out enough to repay the mortgage. If you don’t, you’ve paid off the mortgage by the time the term is up. Since the cost of living crisis and the return of higher interest rates, decreasing term life insurance is becoming more popular.
  • Level term life cover. This is the kind of cover described above; a flat term, a flat death benefit, and no changes over time. Everything remains constant throughout the policy. You know what you pay and what you get at the outset, and there will be no surprises.
  • Increasing term life cover. This kind of term life cover starts small, but the amount it pays out increases over time. It can be linked to inflation, given a fixed growth rate, or a flat increase yearly. The goal is to have a larger payout as life goes on and expenses, such as childcare and child education or late-life medical expenses, go up.

Term life cover is generally inexpensive – you can pay between £5 and £20 per month for every £100,000 of cover you get – with the knowledge that after the term is up, the policy has no remaining value.

Considering Whole of Life Insurance With A Financial Adviser

The second kind of life insurance is whole of life insurance. With this kind of cover, you purchase a policy that remains with you until you pass, whether in a tragic accident in your 50s or live to be 100. You pay into the policy; no matter when you pass, your death benefits are paid out.

This form of insurance, also known as life assurance, is often much more expensive than term cover because of the guarantee that it will pay out.

At the same time, it builds cash value like an investment account, can grow like an investment with interest, and you may even be able to borrow against it like a cash value loan.

While it might initially sound like whole life insurance is favourable—since it lasts for the rest of your life, there are drawbacks as long as you keep paying for it.

After all, as we’ve mentioned, insurance providers are taking a gamble on their customers. If every bet is a guaranteed loss, there must be another reason they offer their services.

best life insurance companies

Most whole life insurance providers conduct periodic reviews, usually every five years. These reviews assess your ongoing health and risk situation and determine whether your premiums need to change or increase.

Usually, they will. You can potentially lock in premiums when you first buy your cover, but they will generally be higher to account for it.

On the plus side, since the cover is lifelong, as long as you keep paying the premiums, you will have that cover, no matter what.

If you want to learn more, we have a whole guide to whole of life cover here. Please read it, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask us directly.

Considering Over 50s Life Insurance For Fast Life Cover Claims

The third kind of life insurance is over 50s life insurance. This form of cover is specifically available to people who are over the age of 50 but under the age of 80. Over 50s cover can range from £25,000 to £1,000,000 in cover, and is unique in that you don’t have to undergo medical screening or questioning to qualify.

You pay into the cover; your payout is guaranteed when you pass away. Often, there are other benefits, such as only needing to pay premiums until you reach the age of 85, cover if you move abroad, or additional care and support features for your golden years.

Insurance Hero also considers the reports of a ratings agency, and look for the highest rating and market share.

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Since over 50s life insurance cover is usually guaranteed, it will be more expensive than other kinds of cover, but you also generally don’t even need to undergo medical questioning or a health assessment. However, you may still be able to volunteer information that could benefit your rates.

Picking the Life Insurance Plan You Need With Or Without a Phone Based Service

What kind of cover do you need? It depends on your specific circumstances. Feel free to call us at the number listed above to discuss your unique situation and what you would benefit most from having.We’ll talk more about that later. For a quick summary, consider the purpose you’re buying insurance for.

Picking a Life Insurance Plan

Whole Life insurance is best if you want to leave a legacy for your loved ones and ensure your inheritance taxes are covered.

Decreasing term cover is the best option to protect a loan and ensure it’s paid off rather than handed down as a financial burden to your family. Some decreasing term life insurance is considered the best value cover for most personal circumstances.

Level term life insurance is the best option for covering ongoing, stable expenses such as living expenses and funeral costs.

If you’re over the age of 50 and you’re worried that the other kinds of insurance will be riddled with exclusions or may deny you entirely, over 50s life cover is the best.

It’s difficult to say more without knowing your exact situation, but plenty of information can help you make the right decision.

Is providing life insurance for your family more important than health insurance?

If you know that state-provided health provision in your area is good, you have a sensible repayment mortgage; if you get life cover at the best age, your life insurance premiums should be your priority.

Life Insurance Cover with Add-Ons with great independent reviews

Many basic life insurance plans cover you for a fixed amount when you pass, but there may be a way to expand that cover by using additional riders and added cover features.

Life Insurance Cover With Add-Ons

For example, you can get life insurance with funeral cover. The cost of funerals in the UK averages over £4,141 and is going up every single year. That’s a significant burden to put on your family immediately. Life insurance with a funeral rider can add an extra amount of cover that goes directly to funeral expenses.

A policy with an added £5,000 rider for funeral expenses can cover the funeral cost without eating into the normal amount of benefit paid out. Often, in cases where payout is slower, funeral expenses can be paid out faster to make sure the funeral is covered at least.

Another example is critical illness cover. Normally, life insurance can’t be paid out if you’re still alive for obvious reasons. It’s called a death benefit, after all. Critical illness cover, however, can pay out if you are diagnosed with a critical illness.

The top companies for life insurance generally offer critical illness cover as an option.

What is a critical illness, though? This can vary from insurance provider to insurance provider. The key term is “defined critical illness”, as it requires you to be diagnosed with a critical illness that the insurance provider defines and recognizes.

This can be something like a severe heart attack, stage 4 cancer diagnosis, or a degenerative disease that will progress fast enough you won’t live another year.

In these cases, if your insurance provider has a critical illness rider, you may be able to file for the claim “early” before your passing.

This has two significant benefits: the first is that you can accept the burden of filing the claim yourself rather than putting that on the heads of your loved ones in their time of need.

The second is that some of the money can be used for your own end-of-life care and arrangements rather than putting that burden on your own finances and family.

Some kinds of policies, like life assurance policies, can list defined critical illnesses as broad as pre-malignant tumours that are early-stage diagnoses, and haven’t spread.

This can vary between different insurance providers and even between individual policies. That’s why it’s so important to get the help of insurance experts like us at Insurance Hero.

What does sum assured mean in terms of UK life insurance companies?

When you have a policy quote that includes the term “sum assured”, what does it mean? The sum assured is the maximum amount of insurance coverage the insurer provides on the life insurance policy.

It’s also called the death benefit. Your beneficiary will receive this sum when you pass during the policy term, so insurance companies put some conditions on the benefit.

Understanding Sum Assured

One of the conditions is that you must die during the term of the policy. So, if you outlive the terms of a given policy, you aren’t entitled to the sum assured because you didn’t fulfil your end of the contract. Your life continues, and to many, that’s benefit enough.

For example, when a ten-year policy matures, the sum assured will not be payable if the policyholder is still alive.

Sum assured has another condition: you do not commit suicide after buying the insurance policy. However, this condition can vary from company to company, so it’s critical to read the policy documentation before buying any insurance plan.

If you die due to accident, murder, or other causes, your beneficiaries will generally receive the sum assured.

What are pre-existing medical conditions when it comes to life insurance?

Life insurance may not be available to everyone outside of guaranteed cover policies. The main reason is pre-existing medical conditions. But what are pre-existing medical conditions?

Understanding Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

The term describes medical conditions, illnesses, and injuries that existed before you apply for life insurance. A pre-existing condition can affect your life expectancy and, consequently, the cost of your life insurance policy.

If you suffer from a pre-existing condition, you’re at higher risk of dying within the term of a policy. Thus, the insurance provider will want to charge you more to compensate or potentially not even offer you a term policy.

What can constitute a pre-existing condition? Here are many real pre-existing conditions from real insurance providers.

The list is long, which isn’t even the full extent of what qualifies. This is why most life insurance policies require a medical examination and medical history screening unless otherwise exempted from the process.

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How To Easily Compare Life Insurance Quotes

The Differences Between Life Insurance and Assurance

Reduce Insurance Premiums by Comparison Shopping: How to Compare the Best Life Insurance Policies in the UK

Insurance companies are not the only providers of life insurance in the UK. Building societies, banks, high-street retailers, and even supermarkets can offer some of the best cover plans. Sometimes, a company even resells insurance cover from other companies.

For example, the Nationwide Building Society offers its members life insurance coverage. This coverage can be perfect, even better than the policies offered by Legal & General when the policies sold by Nationwide are from Legal & General. Legal & General offers some great life insurance rates.

It’s simply a special deal between the two organizations to offer their members an additional benefit. Where the plan is purchased can determine the premium, even if the policy differs between the two. This is why comparison shopping is so important.

Life Insurance Comparison Shopping

An affordable life insurance broker regulated by the financial conduct authority will deal with multiple life insurance companies to compare the best policies. Some brokers operate online; others prefer to work out of an office.

Any financial conduct authority-regulated broker can pass a portion of their commission fee to a policyholder to further incentivize purchasing a policy through them.

At Insurance Hero, we have always strived to offer our customers the best life insurance plans in the UK and the no-obligation quotes. We ensure you pay fair and suitable premiums, with no hidden terms and conditions or fine print jeopardising your peace of mind.

Some brokers rebate commissions throughout a policy term, giving you an ongoing premium reduction. UK residents can find the best or compare competitive life insurance quotes from online and offline comparison resources.

Some providers even have additional perks, such as gift cards and vouchers upon signing up or after paying a certain number of premiums.

Others offer access to otherwise restricted facilities and other wellness programs. In some cases, insurance providers can bundle and offer discounts for customers who purchase combined joint life insurance policies or combine their life insurance coverage with car, home, or travel insurance coverage.

Generally, if you have multiple quotes that are essentially identical, you can often pick the one that has the best added incentives, even if it’s just a difference of one plan giving you a £30 gift card.

The Option of Direct Purchasing of The Best Life Insurance Providers Cover

To discover which life insurance is best, some UK residents bypass cashback and price comparison sites and purchase their life insurance cover directly from a provider. Many people also choose to add additional riders like critical illness cover.

Different providers may be better than others based on age, smoking status, general health, the policy’s term, and other factors.

One person might find that LV= is the best insurance provider; others can compare the two and find that Aviva, Saga, or Zurich have better terms. All of these companies can offer competitive direct purchase rates.

Direct Purchase of Life Insurance

When buying life insurance, critical illness cover, single or joint policies directly, comparing the best insurance quotes is essential. The process, though, can be time-consuming.

Whatever the reason you’re seeking that cover, is that time and effort you want to spend? Instead, getting free, no-obligation advice from an unbiased source like Insurance Hero may be better.

Charts like our top ten insurance providers can give you a good place to start, but they lack detail. Since many different insurance products, possible health and wellness situations, financial needs, dependent levels, and individual differences are available, no one answer will ever suffice.

After identifying the most suitable insurance coverage for you, such as critical insurance coverage from one of the best life insurance companies, customers should use the guidance above and the information we provide to find the best plans or single policies with reasonable premiums from a good and reputable provider.

Remember, the best life insurance policy UK or level-term life insurance plan is not always the cheapest option. It’s the one that best matches your needs and circumstances, your medical history, and your financial situation.

Always read the terms and conditions and policy documentation provided in a quote to ensure you understand what you’re getting.

What If You Don’t Have Any Knowledge Of The Best Life Insurance Companies UK?

Life Insurance Cover?

You may have heard that the state has a system similar to the state pension, which pays some money to the families of individuals who die. If this is real, why have life insurance?

The system is called the Bereavement Payment Support System. It’s a health history and wellbeing service that began on the 6th of April, 2017.

For financial dependents who have lost or know someone who lost a civil partner, husband, or wife since the introduction of the support system, you may receive some compensation.

The amount you get varies, and you can read more here. There’s one certainty, however: it won’t be anywhere near what you would get from life insurance. Usually, the absolute most you can get is £3,500.

Life Insurance And Life Insurance Reviews are Fast Becoming a Necessity

In the past, life insurance was an added benefit for the wealthy or for those who wanted an additional luxury as part of estate planning.

However, with costs rising, salaries stagnating, and housing getting ever more expensive, it’s no longer a luxury but a necessity if you want peace of mind and financial security for yourself and your family.

Life Insurance is Becoming a Necessity

Which family members are providing the household salary? With many families these days being dual-income homes, losing a loved one can impact household finances, living expenses, income benefits, and credit scores.

Can your family or your dependents live comfortably on that pittance from the bereavement system? How much has the national insurance you paid over the years impacted the amount your descendants receive? Life insurance is such a better deal; it’s not even comparable.

Best Life Insurance UK Frequently Asked Questions

Below, we’ve covered a handful of the most frequently asked questions about life insurance that we receive. If your question isn’t on here, we’ve probably covered it elsewhere on this blog, but you can also contact us and ask directly. We’re always here to help.

Why Would The Best Companies For Life Insurance Not Pay Out?

There are many reasons why the insurance company might decide not to pay out life insurance. It all depends on the terms of the contract that has been signed.

Reasons Life Insurance May Not Pay Out

Some of the most common include suicide, non-disclosure, and people outliving the term life insurance policies they have taken out. To prevent insurers from not paying out, keep close attention to the details of the life insurance contract being presented to you.

My set period policy ends in 20 years. Could I save money by looking at policy options as of today?

Maybe, yes, as if your policy was unsuitable at the time, or your circumstances have changed you could get your monthly premium now.

What’s the Age Limit for Life Insurance With Premium Protection?

While there are no set limits for taking out life insurance, insurers commonly refuse to sign contracts with people who have passed a certain age threshold. Typically, that threshold is 80 years old.

Life Insurance Age Limit

Generally speaking, the best age to get life insurance is when you’re young, fit and healthy – between 20 and 30.

How Many Life Insurance Policies Can I Have in the UK?

No legal limit exists on how many life insurance policies you can take out. However, it is worth keeping in mind that having too many of them can be challenging to manage, not to mention the financial cost that goes along with it.

You should consider life insurance costs, as you might be better off with just one policy. The key to providing financial protection is to do it cost-effectively.

Most Life insurance is not an investment vehicle, it’s just a way you can match your individual circumstances to your family’s needs if the worst was to happen to you. You must choose your cover amount carefully and make sure you think of everything.

Top 10 Life Insurance Companies In The UK

Sure, your family will get multiple payouts in the event of your death. Still, you’ll also have to deal with numerous monthly premiums and the added trouble of your beneficiaries having to file multiple claims.

Convinced? Is it time to sign up for life insurance coverage? We’re here to help. Fill out our simple form, and you’ll have quotes ready to compare quickly.

Other things to consider when looking for the top 10 life insurance companies UK include:

  • House purchase cover with an interest only mortgage
  • Are the monthly payments practical if you have financial hardship and a substantial mortgage debt
  • Does the lump sum payment need to be controlled in some way so the beneficiaries do to misspend it? Is a lump sum payout that is staged more appropriate?
  • Is it better value for money for you to have income protection insurance and a critical illness policy rather than guaranteed payout decreasing cover life policy conditions?
  • To get the best quotes its wise to matain good health. A healthier lifestyle helped with nutritional advice, can reduct the probability of ill health and reduce insurance costs significantly.

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