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Life insurance pays out a cash sum to your loved ones if you die while your policy is active.
There are different types of policy, including:
Level term (family) insurance – pays out a fixed amount if you die during the policy term.
Decreasing term (mortgage) insurance – the payout reduces over time.
Critical illness cover – pays out if you’re diagnosed with a serious medical condition.
Most life insurance policies follow the same steps:
You pay a set amount of money each month or year. This is called your premium.
Your policy runs for a set period of time. This is called your term.
If you die during that term, your chosen beneficiaries receive a lump sum payout.
It's worth considering if your death could cause financial difficulties for someone you care about.
It may be a good idea if you:
Have children or dependants who rely on your income.
Share a mortgage or debts with a partner.
Want to cover funeral costs or household expenses.
💡 Top tip: There is no legal requirement in the UK to take out life insurance, but some mortgage providers require it.
Decide what type of life insurance you want. They pay out differently so choose if you want a fixed sum or payout that reduces.
You can take out a single policy for yourself or a joint policy with your partner. Joint policies pay out once, after the first death.
You can add critical illness cover, which pays out if you are diagnosed with a serious condition such as cancer or a stroke.
Complete an application with your personal, lifestyle and health details. You’ll need to declare any medical conditions.
The insurer reviews your application. They may ask extra medical questions or request a GP report to confirm your health status.
Once approved, you’ll receive your policy documents confirming your cover type, payout amount, term length and premium.
You’ll pay a set amount each month or year to keep your policy active. The cost depends on factors such as your age, health and chosen cover type.
If you die during the policy term your beneficiaries contact the insurer to start the claims process. Once the claim is approved, the insurer pays the agreed cash sum.
If you have term life insurance, your cover stops when the policy term finishes. No payout or refund of your premiums is made.
🚩 The most important thing is to make sure your premiums are affordable. If you stop paying them you lose your cover.
In the UK, a quick way to estimate how much life insurance cover you need is to multiply the salary of the highest earner in your household by 5-10.
It’s a simple way to make sure your payout would allow your family to keep up with regular bills and manage extra costs such as end-of-life care.
Some average household costs include:
Everyday bills: £1,657.67
Cost of raising a child (lone parent): £16,111
Unpaid care for children and elderly relatives: £16,773
Funeral costs: £5,140
You might also want your life insurance to include money that could replace the help you’d have given to your children if you were still around. For example:
University fees: 71% of parents contribute to their child’s higher education, spending on average £8,723 a year
House deposit: Family members contribute £27,400
Weddings: 36% of parents plan to contribute to their kids' weddings; most budget £1,000 – £5,000
There are two main options for life insurance:
Also called: Level-term insurance
Payout: Remains the same throughout your policy
Best for: Providing long-term financial security and support to your dependants.
Example: This type of policy could ensure that if you unexpectedly passed away you could still help your children with their house deposit or wedding when they grow up.
Fixed premiums: How much you pay never changes
Fixed payout: You know exactly how much money your beneficiaries will receive
Cost: Rarely the cheapest policy option
Not linked to inflation: Your payout will be worth less if the cost of living goes up
Also called: Decreasing-term insurance
Payout: Reduces in size over time
Best for: Covering large but shorter-term debts and expenses like mortgages.
Example: This type of policy could allow your loved ones to stay in their family home if you were no longer around to contribute to the mortgage payment.
Price: These policies are usually the cheapest type of life insurance
Specific: They can be used when you only want protection while you hold a lot of debt
Shorter-term protection: Payouts are highest when you first take out the policy
Not suitable for all mortgage types, including interest-only
Pays out if you are diagnosed with a serious illness.
Pays out a percentage of your salary if you temporarily cannot work.
A whole of life policy offering guaranteed cover and payouts.
Covers two people. Only pays out once, on the first death.
For people who have already been diagnosed with an illness.
Payout increases over time, generally in line with inflation.
Also known as life assurance, pays out whenever you die, rather than being restricted to a term.
Some businesses will pay out if staff die while employed by them.
Watch our short video guide for a quick overview of how life insurance works and what to consider when choosing a policy.
Critical illness cover pays out a cash sum if you’re diagnosed with a serious condition such as cancer, a heart attack or stroke.
It’s usually an add-on to a life insurance policy. Because they’re separate types of protection, you’re still covered if you die during your term, so could get both payouts. But check your documents - if you've bought a combined policy instead of an add-on, it'll only pay out once.
It offers wider protection than the terminal illness cover that comes with some life insurance policies. Terminal illness cover means your life insurance is paid out early if you have 12 months or less to live.
to be diagnosed with a serious illness than to die.
Most people aged 18 to 75 who are UK residents with the legal right to live in the UK can apply for life insurance. Your insurer will assess your individual application based on your age, health, and lifestyle, so eligibility is not guaranteed. Some providers may have different age limits or medical criteria.
No payout is made. If you outlive the term of a level term or decreasing term policy, the cover simply ends. You do not receive a refund of the premiums you have paid. If you still need cover, you can apply for a new policy, though your age and health at that point will affect the cost. Alternatively, a whole-of-life policy guarantees a payout whenever you die, regardless of when that is.
Protection insurance is a broad term for policies that provide financial support if you die, become seriously ill, or cannot work. Life insurance is one type of protection insurance, focused specifically on paying out if you die. Other types include critical illness cover, which pays out on diagnosis of a serious illness, and income protection insurance, which replaces part of your income if you are unable to work.
If you miss a payment, your life insurance policy may lapse, meaning you lose your cover and would not receive a payout if you died.
Most insurers offer a short grace period during which you can make up a missed payment without losing cover. Some policies offer a waiver of premium option, which keeps your cover active if you cannot work due to illness or injury.
Not as standard. Most life insurance policies pay a fixed amount, so the real value of your payout may decrease over time as the cost of living rises. Some policies offer an indexation option, which increases your cover (and premium) each year in line with inflation. This is worth considering if you are taking out a long-term policy.
It is not a legal requirement to have life insurance for a mortgage, but some lenders may insist on it as a condition of lending. Even if your lender does not require it, life insurance can help ensure your family can continue to make mortgage repayments if you die. You are free to choose your own life insurance provider; you do not have to use the one your lender suggests.
Yes. Your mortgage life insurance policy remains valid even if you pay off your mortgage early. The policy is a separate financial product and is not tied to your mortgage account. If you die during the policy term, the payout is made to your beneficiaries, who can use the money for any purpose.
No. Mortgage life insurance pays a lump sum if you die, designed to clear your outstanding mortgage balance. Mortgage protection insurance (also known as mortgage payment protection) covers your monthly mortgage payments if you are unable to work due to illness, injury, or redundancy. They protect against different risks.
Life insurance prices are tailored to your personal circumstances, including your age, your health, and the type of policy you want.
If you smoke, have a high BMI, have dangerous job, or have severe medical symptoms your premiums will likely be higher.
This is a level term insurance policy.
This is a decreasing term insurance policy.
This is an add-on to a life insurance policy.
Most life insurance policies will cover:
✔ Death from natural causes
✔ Death from illness
✔ Accidental death
✔ Death from suicide (but with a waiting period)
✔ Terminal illness (if included in the policy)
✔ Critical illness (if added as extra cover)
A life insurance claim could be refused for:
✖ Providing false or incomplete information when you apply
✖ Missing premium payments
✖ Death caused by risky or illegal activities
✖ Death linked to drug or alcohol misuse
✖ Suicide within the waiting period (usually 12–24 months)
✖ Death outside the policy term (for term life insurance only)
✖ Exclusions specific to your policy, such as certain high-risk occupations or travel
Yes, you can get life insurance with a medical condition.
You must declare it when you take out your insurance, otherwise your policy could be invalidated (it won't pay out).
Having a medical condition can increase your premiums, but it’s often not as expensive as people expect.
Case study: A 30-year-old non-smoker with well-controlled high blood pressure can get a £200,000 level term policy over 30 years for £7.96
Yes, smokers and vapers can still get life insurance. However, it will be more expensive because of the associated health risks.
💡 Top tip: If you quit, inform your life insurer. It is often possible to reduce your premiums once you've been a non-smoker for a couple of years.
If no one depends on your income, you may not need life insurance.
But if you plan to have children, buy a home, or share finances with a partner, it can be worth arranging cover early. Life insurance is usually cheaper the younger and healthier you are, and any health issues you develop won’t affect an existing policy.
Age 18-49 | Age 50-54 |
|---|---|
£22.42 | £37.21 |
📣 Did you know? While only 14% of under-40s in the UK have a long-term condition, that rises to 58% of people over 60
Yes. Many standard life insurance policies accept applicants up to around 75, although premiums are usually higher as health risks increase with age.
If you have severe pre-existing medical conditions or have been declined for standard cover, you may also want to consider over 50s life insurance. This type of policy guarantees acceptance with no medical questions, as long as you meet the age criteria.
As with standard life insurance, you choose a fixed monthly premium, but unlike standard life insurance you're covered for the rest of your life (as long as you keep paying your premiums) and the policy pays out a guaranteed lump sum whenever you die.
There are downsides to this type of cover. The payout is usually smaller than standard life insurance, and because you pay premiums for life, you could pay in more than your family eventually receives.
It’s a sobering truth that nearly one in five men and one in ten women
^ don’t make it to retirement age. Behind that statistic are real families suddenly faced with the emotional and financial shock of losing a loved one far too soon.We spend a lot of time thinking about pensions and long-term savings, but this highlights why life insurance matters right now. It’s not about you - it’s about protecting the people you love. The right cover can help keep a roof over their heads, pay the bills, and provide stability at the very moment they need it most.
Kara Gammell Life insurance expert
To make a life insurance claim, contact the insurer or policy provider. You’ll need:
The deceased’s name and policy number
A copy of the death certificate
Proof of your relationship to the policyholder
Once documents are received, the insurer will assess the claim and confirm when the payout will be made.
Most payouts are made within a few weeks to a few months, depending on how quickly documents are submitted and how complex the claim is.
Yes — you can cancel at any time.
If you cancel within 30 days, you’ll usually get a full refund. After that, premiums you’ve paid won’t be refunded.
Yes, you can usually extend your policy, though your insurer may reassess your health and update your premiums.
Yes, life insurance claims can be refused if:
The policy wasn’t active
Incorrect or incomplete information was provided
The death wasn’t covered under the policy terms
There’s evidence of fraud
The insurer must explain why they have rejected your claim. If you do not agree with their decision, you can appeal or complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
A life insurance payout gives your loved ones financial support after you die. The money can be used for anything they need, whether that’s covering day-to-day costs or helping them plan for the future.
Common uses include:
Mortgage or rent payments
Everyday household bills (utilities, groceries, transport)
Outstanding debts (credit cards, loans, car finance)
Funeral and burial costs
Childcare and education expenses
Replacing lost income for dependants
Medical or care costs for family members
Paying off business debts or commitments
A financial gift or inheritance for children or grandchildren
Covering future milestones such as weddings, house deposits or university fees
To help you find the right life insurance cover, we just need a few minutes of your time and the following information to get you a personalised quote:
Such as your name, address, date of birth, and occupation
Any pre-existing medical conditions and basic health information, such as height and weight.
For example, if you're a smoker or drinker, or engage in any activities that may be classed as dangerous
Including the type of life insurance you want, if you want to cover your spouse or partner, and how much you would like to pay
We only work with FCA-regulated companies, which means they meet strict standards for fairness, transparency and customer protection.
Found the perfect policy to safeguard your family's future? Have an extra reward on us.
Gift cards start at £35 for life insurance policies with monthly premiums of £10 or less and go up to £400
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Restrictions apply. One voucher per person. Not available to customers who previously received a voucher with a life insurance policy purchased after 1st May 2022. Offer end date 26/06/2026
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We’ve partnered with LifeSearch to give people more guidance when buying life insurance. If you’d like some help you can talk to LifeSearch free of charge.
MoneySuperMarket has a long-standing partnership with LifeSearch, one of the UK's leading protection advice specialists.
LifeSearch has been protecting people for over 25 years. Since 1998, they’ve helped over a million individuals, families, and businesses secure 1.7 million policies.
When you compare life insurance through MoneySuperMarket, you’ll see options from insurers LifeSearch work with — helping you find cover that fits your circumstances.
Your policy will always be taken out with the insurer you choose, but LifeSearch can support you at every stage, from applying for cover to making a claim. You can also manage claims directly through their website.
We receive a commission for referrals, but this never affects the price you pay for your policy.
➡️ Find out more about how MoneySuperMarket makes money
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Most term life insurance policies have both minimum and maximum age limits for when you can apply.
The upper age limit is usually between 65 and 80, depending on the insurer and the type of cover. Once your policy is active, it will continue until the end of the term you’ve chosen.
If you’re older, there are also specialist life insurance policies designed with higher or no upper age limits. Over 50s life insurance is one example.
Yes, there are no legal limits to how many protection insurance policies you can have at once.
It is common for people to supplement their life insurance with cover that financially protects them if they were unable to work for a prolonged period of time.
This cover can take the form of:
Critical illness cover - Pays out if you are diagnosed with a serious illness.
Income protection insurance - Pays out a percentage of your salary if you temporarily cannot work because of an accident, illness or redundancy.
A waiting period is a set amount of time at the start of a life insurance policy when certain causes of death or illness aren’t covered. If the policyholder dies during this period, the insurer may not pay out.
The most common waiting period applies to death by suicide, which is usually excluded for the first 12 to 24 months after the policy begins. This rule is designed to prevent immediate claims following the policy start date.
Some whole of life or over-50s policies also have a waiting period for death from natural causes, often lasting one or two years. During that time, the insurer will only pay out for accidental death; if death occurs from illness or natural causes, the policyholder’s premiums are usually refunded instead.
It is not a legal requirement to have life insurance for a mortgage, but some lenders may insist on it as a condition of lending. Even if your lender does not require it, life insurance can help ensure your family can continue to make mortgage repayments if you die. You are free to choose your own life insurance provider; you do not have to use the one your lender suggests.
Possibly. A pension is designed to provide an income during retirement, while life insurance is intended to provide financial support to your loved ones after your death.
Whether you need life insurance depends on your circumstances. If you have dependants, a mortgage or other financial commitments that would remain after your death, life insurance could still be worthwhile even if you have a pension.
If you get divorced or separate, you should review your life insurance as soon as possible.
If you have a single life insurance policy, you can usually keep it, but you may want to change the beneficiary so the payout doesn’t go to your ex-partner. Beneficiaries don’t change automatically, so you’ll need to update them with your insurer.
If you have a joint life insurance policy, you’ll normally need to take action. Your options may include:
splitting the policy into two single policies (if your insurer offers a separation benefit)
one person taking over the policy
cancelling the policy and arranging new cover
Be aware that cancelling and taking out a new policy later can be more expensive, as premiums usually increase with age and you may need new medical checks.
In some cases, divorce or separation agreements require life insurance to stay in place for the benefit of children or an ex-partner. If this applies to you, it’s a good idea to get legal advice before making changes.
Yes. Life insurance for the self-employed works the same way as for employees, but you won’t usually have employer benefits like death-in-service cover.
Life insurance can help protect:
family members who rely on your income
business partners or co-owners
the business itself, by helping cover debts or fund ownership changes
Some business owners also consider key person insurance, which is designed to protect a business if someone critical to its success dies.
You should review your life insurance whenever your circumstances change, including if you:
get married, separate or divorce
move in with a partner
have a child
buy or pay off a mortgage
start or leave a business
take on new financial responsibilities
Life insurance doesn’t update automatically, so you may need to change your beneficiaries, cover amount or policy type to make sure it still meets your needs.
Even without major changes, it’s a good idea to review your policy every few years.
Life insurance payouts are generally not subject to income tax or capital gains tax in the UK. However, if the payout forms part of your estate, it may be subject to inheritance tax if your estate exceeds the nil-rate band. Writing your policy into a trust can help ensure the payout goes directly to your beneficiaries without being included in your estate for inheritance tax purposes.
It depends on your insurer and policy type. Some providers allow you to adjust your cover level, extend or shorten your term, or add extras such as critical illness cover after your policy has started. Others may require you to take out a new policy if you want to make significant changes. Check your policy terms or contact your insurer to find out what options are available to you.
If you miss a payment, your life insurance policy may lapse, meaning you lose your cover and would not receive a payout if you died.
Most insurers offer a short grace period during which you can make up a missed payment without losing cover. Some policies offer a waiver of premium option, which keeps your cover active if you cannot work due to illness or injury.
Not as standard. Most life insurance policies pay a fixed amount, so the real value of your payout may decrease over time as the cost of living rises.
Some policies offer an indexation option, which increases your cover (and premium) each year in line with inflation. This is worth considering if you are taking out a long-term policy.
No payout is made. If you outlive the term of a level term or decreasing term policy, the cover simply ends. You do not receive a refund of the premiums you have paid.
If you still need cover, you can apply for a new policy, though your age and health at that point will affect the cost. Alternatively, a whole-of-life policy guarantees a payout whenever you die, regardless of when that is.
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No, at this time life insurance is not an eligible product for unlocking our SuperSaveClub rewards. It is also not included in our Price Promise.
Reviewed on 12 Jun 2026 by
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The page was fact checked by Alan Cairns on 11 June 2026 in accordance with MoneySuperMarket editorial guidelines.
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YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).
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Based on MoneySuperMarket data from February 2025
Based on MoneySuperMarket data from February 2025
Based on MoneySuperMarket data from February 2025
Based on MoneySuperMarket data from February 2025
Data based on the median price of life insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for decreasing cover in June 2026.
Data based on the median price of life insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for life insurance and critical illness cover in May 2026.
Use your card everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. This card is issued by Transact Payments Limited pursuant to licence by Mastercard International. Transact Payments Limited is authorised and regulated by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission.
Prepaid Mastercard value varies based on the first monthly premium of the policy and will be confirmed on the results page, T&Cs apply
Source: Royal London Critical Illness Cover Report, 2020. Figure based on Pacific Life Re's interpretation of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries' Continuous Mortality Investigation insured UK lives incidence rates and Pacific Life Re's estimated view of future trends. Incidence rates for the entire population may be different to those lives that take out insurance products. Data sourced 2025.
Data based on the median price of life insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for level cover in June 2026.
