Joint life insurance

Compare joint life insurance from £11.03^{^} per month

Get a quote

Policies for couples and business partners
Compare tailored quotes from leading UK insurers in minutes
Free advice service & UK based advisors

Get a quote

What is joint life insurance?

Joint life insurance is a type of a type of life insurance that works in the same way as a single life insurance policy, but it can cover two people under the same policy.

It is designed mostly for married couples, long-term partner, friends who may share a mortgage, and business partners.

If you or your partner dies or either of you are diagnosed with a terminal illness, the other one will receive a guaranteed pay out from your joint policy.

This can be a cheaper option but it only pays out one lump sum. Once your policy has paid out to your beneficiary or into a trust, your cover will end.

Another benefit of choosing a joint policy is that it can be easier to manage, especially for couples, because you only need to pay one set of premiums to one insurance provider.

How does it work?

Here is how most joint life insurance policies work:

Providers will need to get some basic information about you and your partner to take out a policy that covers both of you.
There are different types of life insurance policies, and whichever you choose the premium you have to pay will be set from the start. If any changes happen to you or your partner, such as if you are diagnosed with a health condition, you will need to inform your insurer and your premiums may change.
You will be asked to name a beneficiary or beneficiaries who will receive a pay out when the first person on the life insurance policy dies. If you put your life insurance in a trust, which can help with planning for inheritance tax, a trustee will be appointed who will manage the money if a claim is made on the policy.
We offer quotes for ‘first death’ policies, which means that a claim can be made on your life insurance when the first partner passes away or if they have a terminal illness and have a life expectancy of less than 12 months.
Once your policy has paid out, your life insurance policy will expire, and the lump sum can be used to support your partner and family

Family protection- level term

Level term life insurance, often referred to as family life insurance, has a fixed benefit that stays the same for the whole term of your policy. No matter when a claim is made, the surviving partner will receive the whole amount of your life insurance pay-out.
Your premiums are fixed at the start of your policy, so your policy will get more expensive as you age, but if there are any major life changes to either person - such as a new health condition or if you quit smoking - you must inform your provider.
Mortgage protection- decreasing cover

Decreasing term life insurance, often associated to mortgage life insurance, decreases in cover over time, usually in line with your mortgage repayments. This cheaper option is specially designed to cover repayment mortgages and decreasing debts.
Whole of life

Whole of life insurance has no term limit, so will cover you and your partner for your entire life. These types of policies are usually more expensive and can include an investment element which may increase the pay-out if it performs well to help fight the effects of inflation.
MoneySuperMarket don't offer quotes for whole of life insurance policies. However, you can learn more about this type of policy from our guide to whole of life insurance.
Critical illness cover

While critical illness cover is not a life insurance policy, you can add it to a standard joint life insurance policy, which will cover you and the other policyholder for certain critical illnesses.
When you make a claim for critical illness, you or your partner will receive the full benefit amount of your life insurance policy. After a claim for critical illness has been made, the policy will end. This means that neither policyholder will have life insurance cover and a new policy will need to be taken out.

Advantages
- Easier to manage as there is less admin if you only have one policy to pay and update, rather than two separate policies or providers
- Usually a cheaper option than taking out two individual policies
- Both partners pay the same amount, and receive the same benefits
- Protects a joint asset, such as a mortgage, if either partner were to die
Disadvantages
- One pay out per couple, so if the surviving partner dies, no further payment would be made to beneficiaries
- Some policies can't be split, so you might have to get new cover if you no longer need a joint policy
- Both policyholders can affect the price, so if one policyholder has pre-existing medical conditions or is a smoker, it could drive up the cost of your policy

Your age

The older you are, the more expensive your premiums are likely to be because there is a higher risk of a claim being made on the policy. Policies start from just £2.74^{^} a month for under 30s.

How dangerous your job is

If your job involves substantial hazards or poses a risk to your health, it's likely to increase the price of your policy. If you are a firefighter, for example, your premium is likely to be higher than someone employed as a librarian.

If you smoke or vape

If you are a smoker or vaper the price of your premiums will almost certainly be higher, due to the associated health risks. Each insurer will have different rules over how it defines a smoker so check the small print.

For comparison, non-smokers pay on average £19.88^{^} , whereas smokers can expect to pay £27.97^{^} .

Some policies, such as those for over 50s, may not require a medical first.

Policy length and level of cover

A policy which offers a bigger final payout will generally require bigger payments from you.

Prices are also linked to the expected length of the policy, with a shorter policy usually requiring higher premiums.

Comparing quotes

Since different insurance providers offer differently-priced policies, shopping around is one of the most effective ways to save money and find the best deal for you.

What should my life insurance cover?

How much your life insurance covers will depend on your reasons for taking out life insurance. Some of the most common reasons for taking out life insurance are:

Paying off debts like a mortgage or loan
Financially supporting a partner or family
To cover expenses related to children
Covering funeral expenses
Giving a gift

When taking out a life insurance policy, you will need to consider these expenses and keep in mind that the cost may be affected by inflation by the time a claim is made on your policy.

If you don’t have a mortgage or any dependents, for example, you may not need a life insurance policy.

While if you have a mortgage and your partner, such as a stay-at-home parent would struggle to pay it and other everyday costs without your income, a policy could be invaluable.

Finding the right balance between cover and cost can be a challenge.

Over insuring yourself can lead to an unnecessarily expensive policy while under insuring yourself can put your partner at risk of not getting enough support from your policy.

If you’re not sure how much cover you need, why not use our handy life insurance calculator?

To use it, you simply need to answer a few questions about your finances, and we’ll give you a recommendation for the right amount of life insurance cover.

Calculate my life cover

Our expert says…

It’s estimated that 46,300 dependent children are bereaved of a parent each year, according to the charity Child Bereavement UK, and while life insurance isn’t something most of us want to think about, it provides important financial protection for surviving partners and dependents.
A joint life insurance policy is usually a cheaper option, and by insuring two lives on a single policy, you can secure peace of mind knowing your loved ones are protected, regardless of who passes away first.
It’s important to get the right policy and amount of cover too, so if the worst were to happen the policy can provide financial support to those left behind.

Rebecca Goodman Personal Finance & Insurance Expert

Free shopping gift card

Get up to £400^ to spend on a variety of retailers when you buy life insurance through MoneySuperMarket.

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 for policies with monthly premiums over £90.

See our terms and conditions for more information.

^{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 30th April 2026}

Get a quote

Life insurance | £400 Shopping incentive | Table

Quick and convenient

Compare quotes from trusted insurers in one place avoiding the time and hassle of researching each insurer individually
Quotes tailored to you

We ask the right questions and tailor our quotes so you can get the right cover to suit your needs.
Save money

We make it easy to compare lots of deals in one place so you can quickly find insurers offering the best value for your budget and save money on your premiums

Get a quote

All life insurance guides

Trusted Service Awards Winners

MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.

img-feefo-platinum-trusted-service-award-2026

Thanks and best service
Daljeet Singh
08/10/2023
Easy to sort out and everything was as needed
Craig Bairstow
04/10/2023
Got exactly what I wanted, for the right price and with no hassle whatsoever, just answer a few simple questions and away we go
Robert198146
07/04/2023
Pros: Super easy, much much easier than I had anticipated and insuring for large amounts was a lot cheaper than I thought also. Cons: no
sophie
01/11/2022

Tell us about yourself

We’ll ask you a few questions about you and your partner and your policy choices to help us find policies that meet your requirements
We'll fetch our best quotes

Our quotes come from our panel of top UK life insurance providers. Browse our deals to find the cover you want for the best price
Choose the deal you want

Once you’ve found the right policy, a click will take you straight to your chosen provider’s website for you to finish your application

Get a quote

Prefer to speak to someone about life insurance?

We’ve partnered with LifeSearch to give people even more guidance when buying life insurance. If you’d like some help deciding what kind of cover you need, talk to LifeSearch free of charge.

Give them a call on 0800 197 3178.

Opening hours are:

Monday to Friday 8 am to 8 pm
Saturday 9 am to 2 pm
Sunday 10 am to 3:30 pm

Is joint life insurance cheaper than single?

If you are a young couple in good health, joint life insurance is likely to be cheaper than buying two single policies.

However, in instances where one partner is a higher risk to insure – being considerably older or with a history of medical issues – a joint policy might end up being more expensive than two single policies.

It’s also important to remember that joint policies will only pay out once despite covering two people. So, buying two single policies may sometimes be worth the extra cost to provide an additional benefit to support any children or loved ones.

What do I need to apply for a joint life insurance policy?

When applying for a life insurance policy, there are a few questions that you’ll need to answer. These include:

The full names of you and your partner
Your date of birth
Your occupation
Your medical history
Smoker status
Your mortgage value (if you’re applying for mortgage life insurance)

It’s important that both you and your partner answer these questions as honestly and accurately as possibly. Failing to do so may put you at risk of your claim being denied if your provider suspects that you have provided fraudulent information.

What happens if both joint life insurance policyholders die?

In the unfortunate situation where both people named on a joint life insurance policy die at the same time, the life insurance will be paid out to a beneficiary.

Typically, the primary beneficiary of a joint life policy is the other person named on the policy but you can have multiple beneficiaries named on a policy. A policy without a beneficiary may be held in probate, which can delay the pay-out being sent to the right people.

For couples with children, it's common that they would name their children as beneficiaries on their life insurance policy. However, insurance companies will not directly give the pay-out to any child under 18. Instead, it will be given to a guardian that has been appointed in your will. They will then be responsible for managing the money until the child is 18.

The simplest solution to this issue is to have your life insurance pay out into a trust with a named trustee in charge of managing the funds. Trustees are usually family members, close friends, or legal professionals who will distribute the funds according to your wishes.

What happens if a couple with a joint policy divorces or separates?

If you take out your policy as a married couple and then divorce, your insurance will still cover both parties unless you contact your provider to change the terms manually.

If you and your partner separate during the term of a joint life insurance policy, the cover can’t be divided. You can ask your insurer to split the policy into two separate policies, but that is done at their discretion.

Your insurer will no doubt apply terms and conditions to separating a policy. For example, they may ask you to inform them within six months of the separation. Be prepared for your monthly premiums to increase, and you may well be asked to update your health and lifestyle information.

Alternatively, in the case of separation, many providers offer the choice for one party to take over the policy. From then on, they will be solely covered by the policy, and it will be up to them to pay the premiums.

What is 'second death' life insurance?

Second death joint life insurance policies will pay-out only after both people named on the policy have died. This is different to first death policies, which will pay out when the first person has died.

First death policies are typically used to help support the surviving partner whereas second death policies are usually intended to pass on larger estates to children or family.

Can I cancel joint life insurance?

You can cancel your life insurance policy at any time by contacting your provider. There is usually a cooling-off window of up to 30 days where you can cancel and receive a refund for anything you have paid. After the cooling-off period, if you cancel your policy your premiums won’t be returned, and some providers may charge a cancellation fee.

Can non-married couples take out joint life insurance?

Yes, joint life insurance can be taken out by couples that aren't married. The terms of the policy won't change if you and your policy partner aren't married, although you will need to make sure that the pay-out goes to the right people by either naming them as your beneficiary or writing the policy in trust.

Because the lump-sum of a life insurance policy is tax free, it can be beneficial to more than just families. Business partners, for example, can use a joint life policy to maintain their business if one of them passes away. Friends with joint financial commitments like a mortgage can also use a joint policy to pay off the debt.

Can a joint life insurance policy be put into a trust?

Yes, a joint life insurance policy can be put into a trust. Some life insurance policies are automatically written in trust when you apply for them but in other cases you may need to set it up yourself.

There are a lot of benefits to having your life insurance written in trust, including avoiding probate and inheritance tax.

To find out how trusts work with a life insurance policy, read our guide 'Understanding the role of trusts in life insurance'.

Can I get a joint life insurance policy if I'm over 50 years old?

In many cases, you can still take out joint life insurance if you're over 50. However, most providers of regular or joint life insurance have age limits for when you can apply and the maximum term of your policy.

Maximum entry age to apply for regular joint life insurance can range from 60 to even 80 years of age for some providers, but you will be required to provide information about your medical history when applying for these policies. If you are over 50 years of age and have pre-existing medical conditions, there is a possibility that you may not qualify for regular life insurance cover.

If this is the case, there are other options available. Over 50s life insurance is a type of policy that offers guaranteed cover without medical checks. This type of policy can only be purchased for individuals and because of its cost may not be suitable for everyone.

Can I take out life insurance on my partner?

Yes, it is possible to take out life insurance on your partner but there are some conditions to this.

If you are taking out life insurance on behalf of another person, you will need to demonstrate that you have 'insurable interest'. This means that you would have provable financial loss if they passed away. This is something that would need to be recognised by the law.

For example, you would experience a financial loss if you own a shared mortgage or were joint owners of a business, and so would have a viable reason for taking out a life insurance policy.

However, you need consent from the other person to take out life insurance on them and in most cases will need a financial advisor to set up the policy as it cannot be applied for in the same way as a standard life insurance policy.

What are the considerations for blended families and LGBTQ+ families with joint life insurance?

Same sex marriages and civil partnerships are legally recognised in the all parts of the UK, so setting up a joint life insurance policy works in the same way for LGBTQ+ families as it would for heterosexual and cisgendered couples. The other partner on the policy would be the primary beneficiary and the pay-out would typically go to them, regardless of gender or marital status.

If you want the pay-out of the policy to go to someone other than the other policyholder, you will need to name them as a beneficiary or set up a trust with instructions for the trustee on how to distribute the funds.

Why should new parents consider joint life cover?

Joint life insurance is a good choice for new parents as it makes sure you're both covered under one policy. This means you only have to pay one monthly or annual premium and you would both be covered until one of you died.

Super save with MoneySuperMarket

You work hard to earn your money, and we don’t think you should waste a penny of it paying over the odds on your household bills. That’s why at MoneySuperMarket, we’re on a mission to save Britain money.

Whip your credit score into shape with Credit Score
Super save over and over again with Energy Monitor
There are always more ways to save with MoneySuperMarket

So how do we make our money? In a nutshell, when you use us to buy something, we get a reward from the company you’re buying from.

You might be wondering if we work with all the companies in the market, or if our commercial relationships with our partners might make us feature one company above another. We’ve got nothing to hide, and we want to give you clear answers when it comes to questions like these, so we’ve pulled together everything you need to know on this page.

Reviewed on 3 Apr 2026 by

Alicia Hempsted

Insurance Expert

Accurate as of 27 March 2026.

Based on the 10 percentile of monthly premiums our customers were quoted less than £3.95 for pet insurance based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket in the month of December 2024 where only 1 pet was included in the quote.

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).

ABI data 2023

Source: Association of British Insurers (ABI), 2024. https://www.abi.org.uk/news/news-articles/2024/8/record-numbers-take-out-pet-insurance-for-their-four-legged-fur-ends/ Data sourced November 2025.

Based on the 51st percentile of monthly premiums our customers were quoted per month for dog insurance based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket between January 2026 and March 2026 where only 1 pet was included in the quote.

Based on the 51st percentile of monthly premiums our customers were quoted per month for cat insurance based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket between January 2026 and March 2026 where only 1 pet was included in the quote.

SuperSaveClub restrictions and T&Cs apply. Click here for details.

Based on the 51 percentile of monthly premiums our customers were quoted less than £10.2 for pet insurance based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket in the month of March 2026 where more than 1 pet was included in the quote and none of the pets had pre-existing medical conditions

Based on the 51 percentile of monthly premiums our customers were quoted less than £12.65 per month where the customer requested lifetime pet insurance based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket in the month of March 2026 where only 1 pet was included in the quote and the pet didnt have pre-existing medical conditions

Based on the 51 percentile of monthly premiums our customers were quoted less than £11.9 per month where the customer requested time limited pet insurance based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket in the month of March 2026 where only 1 pet was included in the quote and the pet didnt have pre-existing medical conditions

Based on the 51 percentile of monthly premiums our customers were quoted less than £13.73 per month where the customer requested max benefit pet insurance based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket in the month of March 2026 where only 1 pet was included in the quote and the pet didnt have pre-existing medical conditions

Based on the 51 percentile of monthly premiums our customers were quoted less than £3.96 per month where the customer requested accident only pet insurance based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket in the month of March 2026 where only 1 pet was included in the quote and the pet didnt have pre-existing medical conditions

Based on 1 visit per month – average ticket value £15.30 (Oct 24)

T&Cs and restrictions apply, see here for more information

T&Cs apply to SuperSaveClub and Price Promise.

SuperSaveClub restrictions and T&Cs apply. Click here for details.

T&Cs apply

20% multi-pet discount for any additional cat or dog you choose to insure with Scratch & Patch on the same policy. Additional pets can be added once you have clicked through to the Scratch & Patch website.

T&Cs apply

Amazon.co.uk Gift Card restrictions apply, see www.amazon.co.uk/gc-legal for further information.

Shopping Gift Card value varies based on the first monthly premium of the policy and will be confirmed on the results page

Based on Pet Insurance enquiries on MoneySuperMarket between 2025-01-01 and 2025-04-01 where the quote was for all covertype.

Based on the 51 percentile of monthly premiums our customers were quoted less than £12.88 for pet insurance based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket in the month of April 2024 where only 1 pet was included in the quote and the pet did have a pre-existing medical conditions

T&Cs and restrictions apply, see here for more information

T&Cs apply, click here for more information

Based on the 51 percentile of monthly premiums our customers were quoted less than £10.96 for pet insurance. Based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket in the month of January 2025 where only 1 pet was included in the quote and the pet didn't have pre-existing medical conditions

Based on the 51st percentile of annual premiums our customers were quoted per month for dog insurance based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket between January 2026 and March 2026 where only 1 pet was included in the quote and was more than 1 year old.

ABI data 2023

Based on the 51st percentile of annual premiums our customers were quoted per month for cat insurance based on quotes created on MoneySuperMarket between January 2026 and March 2026 where only 1 pet was included in the quote and was more than 1 year old.

Joint life insurance

Compare joint life insurance from £11.03^ per month

Get a Shopping Gift Card

Compare life insurance quotes

What is joint life insurance?

How does it work?

Family protection- level term

Mortgage protection- decreasing cover

Whole of life

Critical illness cover

Advantages

Disadvantages

Your age

How dangerous your job is

If you smoke or vape

Policy length and level of cover

Comparing quotes

What should my life insurance cover?

Our expert says…

Free shopping gift card

Get up to £400^ to spend on a variety of retailers when you buy life insurance through MoneySuperMarket.

Quick and convenient

Quotes tailored to you

Save money

Can life insurers access my medical records?

What is income protection insurance?

How do I get life insurance if I have a pre-existing condition?

How do I find a relative’s life insurance policy?

Trusted Service Awards Winners

Tell us about yourself

We'll fetch our best quotes

Choose the deal you want

Prefer to speak to someone about life insurance?

Is joint life insurance cheaper than single?

What do I need to apply for a joint life insurance policy?

What happens if both joint life insurance policyholders die?

What happens if a couple with a joint policy divorces or separates?

What is 'second death' life insurance?

Can I cancel joint life insurance?

Can non-married couples take out joint life insurance?

Can a joint life insurance policy be put into a trust?

Can I get a joint life insurance policy if I'm over 50 years old?

Can I take out life insurance on my partner?

What are the considerations for blended families and LGBTQ+ families with joint life insurance?

Why should new parents consider joint life cover?

Super save with MoneySuperMarket

Alicia Hempsted

Compare joint life insurance from £11.03^{^} per month