Level term
The same payout, whenever you claim during the term.
Suits: Families, and interest-only mortgages
No end date. Just the one inevitable one
Whole of life insurance
Cover that lasts as long as you do. Keep paying, and it pays out whenever you die, so the people you leave get something for certain.
A few minutes online. No sales calls, and no fee from us.
Other kinds of life insurance.
Whole of life costs more because it always pays. If you only need cover for a while, term cover is cheaper.
Decreasing term
The payout shrinks over time, and so does the price.
Suits: A repayment mortgage
Joint life
One policy for two people, paying out once.
Suits: Couples sharing a mortgage or bills
Family income benefit
A monthly income until the end of the term, not a lump sum.
Suits: Young families on a budget
Over 50s
A fixed payout, guaranteed acceptance and no health questions.
Suits: Funeral costs, from 50 to 80
Life insurance for smokers
The same cover, priced for nicotine. Honesty keeps it paying.
Suits: Smokers, vapers and nicotine users
Why choose whole of life?
It always pays out. No term to outlive, so your family gets the money, provided you keep paying.
Help with Inheritance Tax. Written in trust, the payout can help your family pay an Inheritance Tax bill.
Something to leave. An inheritance, or the funeral costs, whatever age you reach.
We compare it for you. Quotes from a panel of UK insurers, side by side, with no fee from us.
Cover from names you know.
Compare a panel of recognised UK insurers through one clear, straightforward application.
What’s covered, and what isn’t.
The short version. Your policy documents have every detail, and we’ll go through them with you.
Usually covered
- Death from illness or an accident, at any age, while you keep paying
- A terminal illness, on many policies
- Anywhere in the world, on most policies
Usually not covered
- Anything, once you stop paying: the cover ends and nothing comes back
- Suicide in the first 12 months
- Anything you didn’t tell the insurer when you applied
Premiums are either guaranteed, fixed for life, or reviewable, which the insurer can raise later. Check which you’re buying. Most whole of life protection has no cash-in value.
How it works.
Three steps, online, with a person on the phone if you want one.
- Step 1
Decide what it’s for.
An inheritance, the funeral, or an Inheritance Tax bill. That sets the amount.
Step 2Compare your quotes.
See guaranteed and reviewable prices side by side, and choose the one that fits.
Step 3Apply, then put it in trust.
The insurer checks your answers. Once it starts, we’ll help you write it in trust.
Whole of life questions.
Short answers to what people ask most, before they buy.
Why does it cost more than term cover?
Because the insurer knows it will pay out one day. Term cover only pays if you die during the term, which most people don’t.
Could I pay in more than it pays out?
Yes, if you live a long time. That’s the trade for knowing it will pay out whenever you die.
Do I pay forever?
Usually for life. Some policies stop taking premiums at a set age, such as 90, and the cover carries on.
How does it help with Inheritance Tax?
Written in trust, the payout sits outside your estate and can be used to pay the bill. It doesn’t reduce the tax itself. For planning, talk to a solicitor or a regulated financial adviser.
What if I stop paying?
The cover ends and, on most protection policies, you get nothing back. If money is tight, ask us about lowering the cover instead.
Can couples take it together?
Yes. A joint policy can pay out on the first death, or on the second, which is the one often used for Inheritance Tax.
Already have a policy?
Claims and changes are handled by your insurer: their number is on your policy documents. If you arranged it through us, call us on 01302 590 852 and we’ll help you find the policy and the right people.
For a claim, it helps to have:
- The policy number
- A death certificate
- The details of the executor or the trustees
- Bank details for the payment
Claim through the insurer
Their claims number and online form are in the policy documents. Most claims start with one call, and they’ll guide you from there.
Ask us to help
Can’t find the policy, or the insurer? Call us on 01302 590 852 and we’ll find it with you.
Useful information
Trusts
A trust decides who gets the payout, and keeps it out of probate. See trusts.
If an insurer fails
Life insurance is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which covers 100% of a claim if an insurer can’t pay. See fscs.org.uk.
Still need support?
Not sure whether you need cover for life or just for now? Ask a real person, with no sales pitch and no fee from us.
Monday–Thursday 9am–7pm, Friday 9am–3pm
