Life Insurance Guides

Our guides to buying Life Insurance

Here at moneysupermarket.com we have put together a series of guides to help you get the best deal on your life insurance. Read our guides for tips on finding the right policy for your individual needs and learn how to lower your premiums with our money saving ideas.

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What is life insurance?

If you haven’t thought about life insurance yet, the best time to start is now. Our guide explains what life insurance is, and gives you all the information you need to get going

Single vs joint life insurance

If you’re in a couple, and especially if you have children, you should both have cover to protect your family. Your choice is between each having your own, separate policies, or having a joint policy that covers you both.

A family playing football in a field the boy is about to score against his dad

What does critical illness insurance cover?

Critical illness insurance might not be right for everyone, but is it right for you? Use our guide to find out what critical illness insurance really covers. See for yourself if it’s worth the cost and compare policies with the knowledge you need to find the best deal.

News & Guides

Terminal Illness Cover We can’t plan for a terminal illness, but adding terminal illness cover to your life insurance plan will help should the worst happen. Even if you are no longer here, terminal illness cover is a valuable protection to take care of you and your family.
How To Claim Life Insurance There’s plenty to think about when a loved one dies. Besides grieving, there are funeral arrangements, and if you handle the estate you need to know how to claim life insurance.
How does life insurance work? Getting life insurance is a big decision, so our guide explains everything you need to know about the different types of insurance and how they work
Do I Need Life Insurance For a Mortgage? Buying your first home can be the most exciting and the most stressful experience of your life. At this point in time, it’s so easy to get lost in the expenses that come with buying a house that it’s hard to differentiate between which ones you really need to be spending on and which ones you don’t.
Life Insurance Advice Prepare yourself for the life insurance application process with this handy guide that can help you find the right insurance cover for you.
Life insurance vs mortgage life insurance Find out if mortgage life insurance or standard life insurance is suited to your financial and family needs.
Life insurance Calculator With our simple to use Life Insurance calculator we’ll help you work out how much cover you need to protect you and the ones you love.
What is critical illness cover Not sure where to start with critical illness cover? It’s a handy add-on to your life insurance that can give you extra financial security when you need it most. Read our guide to find out more.
Writing your will Although it’s an unpleasant reality to face, writing a will is something we all have to do to ensure our belongings end up in the right hands when we die
What happens to debt when you die? Sorting out someone’s finances when they die is rarely simple. But while most of us think about the money to be counted up and handed on when someone passes away, their debts always seem like a bit of a grey area. Here’s what you need to know.
Is life insurance taxable? Did you know that your loved ones could face a tax bill, even on your life insurance pay out, if you die unexpectedly? Here’s what you need to know to make sure that doesn’t happen to the people you care about most.
Can you change your life insurance? Got life insurance? That’s great. But when your life changes, so should your life insurance. Here’s why it has to keep up, and how to make sure it does.
Medical records If your insurer has asked to see your medical records, there’s no need to panic.
Mis-sold life insurance Got a nasty feeling you’ve been mis-sold life insurance? Here’s our guide to making a complaint, filing a claim and getting your money back.
When should you get life insurance? Taking out life cover can help you financially support your loved ones when you die, but it can be difficult to know when is the right time to get a policy and what type of cover to buy. Our guide is here to help.
What is level term life insurance  In this guide, you’ll learn what makes level term life insurance different from other policy types. Find out if this life cover is right for you. 
How to find out if someone has life insurance When a relative dies, you may not know much about their financial affairs, and life insurance policies can go unclaimed. This guide explains how you discover and claim on a life insurance policy
Understand life assurance Life assurance and life insurance might sound similar, but they work in different ways. Our guide lays out the differences, so you have all the information you need to make the right choice
Is critical illness cover worth it? Critical illness cover can give you peace of mind if you were to become seriously ill and could no longer provide for your family financially. In our guide, we'll explain the basics and explain whether it's worth it.
Life insurance for young adults You might think you’re too young to need life cover, but taking out life insurance under 30 could save you money – and protect your loved ones should the worst happen
Life insurance and vaping It’s a commonly known fact that smoking will influence the cost of your life insurance – but will vaping also be taken into account? Our guide explains how providers view vaping when applying for life insurance.
Life insurance for smokers Being a smoker can increase your life insurance premiums by more than half. Discover more about life insurance for smokers in this handy guide.
Multiple life insurance policies When it comes to life insurance you aren’t only limited to having one active policy covering you. However it doesn’t always make sense to have multiple live insurance policies – find out if it will suit your requirements
Family life insurance During these uncertain times, there are life insurance policies that can help you financially protect your loved ones’ futures, and we can ensure that you get our most competitive deals while doing so.
Whole-of-life insurance Whole of life insurance is a life insurance policy that guarantees you will be covered throughout your life and your family will get the entire lump sum pay-out you intend to leave them when you die. This cover provides peace of mind that your loved ones will have financial security.
Benefits and Disadvantages of Putting Life Insurance in Trust Discover the benefits and disadvantages of putting your life insurance in trust
Do I need life insurance? There are a number of reasons why you might consider taking out life insurance. Whether you’re buying a house, starting a family or simply want to take care of your loved ones when you leave, this guide can help you decide the best options for you.
How much life insurance cover do I need? In this guide, we’ll walk you through the different reasons for needing life insurance and explain how to find the perfect cover for you.
Life insurance for diabetics Read our guide to find out how diabetes can affect life insurance and how you can still get a good deal on your policy.
What is increasing term life insurance? With an increasing life insurance policy, your pay-out will increase the longer your policy is active. Our guide will outline how it works and whether it’s right for you.
What is term life insurance? Term life insurance policies will give you life cover for a limited time. In this guide, we'll outline how term life insurance policies work and whether a term policy is right for you.
Death-in-service cover Many employers will offer a death-in-service benefit to their employees which will pay your dependents a specific sum if you were to die while you’re on their payroll. 
The benefits of life insurance Life insurance can help your loved ones after you’ve gone – but some insurers will include benefits that can help you, too
Types of life insurance In this guide, we’ll outline the different types of life insurance available along with the benefits of each so you can decide which one is right for you.
Life insurance and your health Looking after your health can cut the cost of life insurance. Read on to find out more about how your lifestyle choices affect life insurance premiums
Life insurance for women Life insurance ensures our loved ones are taken care of financially when we’re gone. But women can have additional things to consider, as this guide explains