Reasons to buy cheap life insurance with us
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Which life insurance brands do we work with?
We compare 12 of the leading life insurance brands in the country, including:
What is life insurance and how does it work?
Life insurance is a type of insurance contract which pays out a lump sum to your dependants should you pass away or be diagnosed with a terminal illness during the term of the contract, in order to provide for them after you're not around. The cost of a policy is determined by a number of factors including your age, health and lifestyle.
Why buy life insurance with us?
Find the right life insurance policy and protect your loved ones with MoneySuperMarket
Leading UK providers
We work with a number of the UK’s leading life insurance companies to offer you high quality cover
at a competitive price
It doesn't take long
Fill in a few details about your age, health and circumstances and you’ll be able to compare life insurance quotes quickly
Buy online
Some prices will be accurate, guaranteed and underwritten, so you can buy immediately online. For others you’ll need to confirm details with the insurer
How much does life insurance cost?
The cost of your premiums will depend on your age, health, occupation, whether you smoke, the amount of cover you take out and the length of the term.
£13.89*
The average monthly premium for a non-smoker
£18.70*
The average monthly premium for a smoker
Age | Average monthly premium |
|---|---|
16-24 | £6.42 |
25-34 | £11.40 |
35-44 | £16.89 |
45-54 | £20.58 |
55-64 | £21.86 |
65+ | £20.68 |
*51% of customers who went on to purchase achieved a quote based on the figures above for level term, life-only (without critical illness cover) single person policies. MoneySuperMarket data November 2018 to October 2019.
Our expert says
Our expert says
What do you need to get a quote?
Finding the right life insurance policy is easier when you compare your options with MoneySuperMarket. You’ll be asked to provide:
Information about your health
Insurers will need details about you and your family’s health and medical history, including pre-existing medical conditions
Information about your lifestyle
Insurers will also ask about your lifestyle habits, including whether you smoke and drink
Your age and occupation
The younger you are when you take out a policy, the cheaper it’s likely to be. Your occupation can also affect how much you pay
Your partner’s details
If you want joint cover, you’ll need to have your partner’s health and lifestyle details to hand, as well as their occupation
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Unlike some of our competitors, MoneySuperMarket is not owned by an insurance company. So we can offer the best value, with savings delivered straight to you.
We combine independence, so we can negotiate the best prices, with excellent technology, to find the best value products and services.
What type of life insurance do you need?
There are a number of different types of life insurance so it’s important to consider what’s right for you.
Level term insurance
Pays a fixed amount if you die during the term of the cover. Both the sum insured and your monthly payments remain the same, so your family will know exactly how much they will receive and premiums won’t rise due to inflation.
Joint life insurance
Covers two people, but will only pay out once. Depending on the policy, it will either pay out when the first person dies, or when both policyholders have died.
Single life insurance
Covers one person. Some couples take out two single policies so that their beneficiaries get two payouts. These policies are usually more expensive as a result.
Decreasing term insurance
Decreases over time, with the amount of cover usually reducing in line with your mortgage repayments. It is often a cheaper option, but you’ll need to consider whether the payout is sufficient to support your dependants.
Over 50s life insurance
For anyone aged over 50. The advantage of over 50s life cover is acceptance is guaranteed so you don’t have to answer any health questions or pass any medical test.
Critical illness cover
Pays out a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with a serious illness during the term of your policy. It can provide financial support if you had to stop working.
Take out life insurance through MoneySuperMarket and receive a £100 Amazon.co.uk Gift Card**
Take out life insurance through MoneySuperMarket and receive a £100 Amazon.co.uk Gift Card**
How much does life insurance cost?
The average monthly cost of life insurance is £14.56*, according to MoneySuperMarket data.
The cost of life insurance can depend on the type of cover you choose (single or joint life insurance) and the term of the policy (level or decreasing term).
Your monthly payments will also depend on the amount of cover you take out and your health and lifestyle.
*The average cost above is based on a level term, life-only (without critical illness cover) single person policy. MoneySuperMarket data November 2018 to October 2019.
How much life insurance do you need?
The amount of life insurance you take out should ideally be enough to cover your mortgage repayments and the needs of your family if you were no longer around.
The average cover amount that consumers purchasing single level term life insurance look to take out is £140,000. The average cover amount that consumers searching for joint life insurance look to take out is £175,000, according to MoneySuperMarket data from November 2018 – October 2019.
When should you get life insurance?
It’s worth thinking about life insurance if you have a partner or child who relies on you financially, and they would struggle to pay the mortgage, rent or other bills if you were no longer around.
Do you need life insurance to take out a mortgage?
Life insurance isn’t a legal requirement, but most mortgage lenders will ask you to take out appropriate cover. You don’t need to take out life cover from your lender – you can buy it elsewhere.
What does it mean to put a life insurance policy in trust?
Putting your life insurance policy in trust lets you name the people you want to receive your life insurance payout (your trustees).
There are different types of trusts available depending on your individual or family circumstances.
Putting your life insurance policy in trust also protects the payout from inheritance tax.
When should you update your life insurance policy?
It can be a good idea to think about updating your life insurance policy if:
Your health or lifestyle has changed
Your financial situation has changed (your salary or mortgage might have increased)
Your family has grown
Your relationship with your dependant has changed – although you will need to check your insurer can do this for you
If you are not able to update your existing policy, you may be able to find a policy with a different provider that better suits your new situation. It’s always a good idea to get a personalised quote to see if your current insurance is the best option that’s available to you.
Can you get life insurance if you have a pre-existing medical condition?
If you have a pre-existing medical condition you should still be able to get life insurance, but you may need to compare your options online.
If you have a more complex condition and you’re finding it difficult to get a price online, a broker or adviser – such as our partner LifeSearch - can help you find a provider that will cover you.
You’ll most likely need to share additional medical information and copies of any tests with the provider to help them understand the risk level of your condition. You’ll be asked to sign a medical release form and the insurer will then request this information from your doctor.
You can end up paying more because of this risk. But it’s important to declare any pre-existing medical conditions when taking out life insurance because if you don’t, your insurer can refuse to pay out for any claims.
What happens to your life insurance policy if you can’t meet your payments?
If you are not able to work because of an illness or injury – which then means you’re unable to afford your monthly life insurance payments – a waiver of premium could mean you’ll be covered during this time.
This will need to be added to your policy as an additional level of cover and it will need to be taken out from the start of your life insurance policy.
Can you claim on your own life insurance policy for a terminal illness?
If you’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness and a doctor has given a prognosis of less than 12 months to live, you may be able to make a terminal illness claim on your own life insurance policy.
This means you would receive the payout now – instead of your dependant receiving the payout once you’ve passed away – and this can help to cover the cost of not being able to work during your final months and getting your affairs in order.
Some insurers offer terminal illness cover as part of their standard life insurance policy. Other insurers require you to add terminal illness cover as an extra level of cover. There will be terms and conditions with both options so you’ll need to read the policy documents to make sure you would be covered.
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