The UK Stress Index: Could your daily life be affecting your life insurance premiums?
Stress is a natural part of modern life, whether that’s a looming deadline, a hectic school run, or a last-minute bill. But while occasional pressure is normal, even expected, our latest research shows that for many people, stress has gone far beyond the odd bad day.
According to our new Stress Index, stress is no longer just a short-term inconvenience. For a growing number of Brits, it’s a constant, unrelenting presence in their lives and when stress goes unmanaged, the consequences can be serious.
While stress on its own won’t directly impact your life insurance, the health conditions it leads to absolutely can. Chronic stress can take a significant toll on both mental and physical health, which in turn can affect your finances.
Dr Sophie Dix, mental health specialist at MedExpress explains, “Left unchecked, chronic stress can increase the risk of serious health conditions, including high blood pressure, anxiety, depression and even heart disease.”
Our research found that nearly a quarter of adults (24%) said they feel stressed every single day, with financial pressure named as the leading cause. That means 1 in 4 people could be facing a creeping health risk - one that’s not only affecting their wellbeing, but potentially their finances too.
The Stress Index results
1 in 4 (24%) feel stressed every single day
9 in 10 experience stress more than once a month.
Cost of living, household bills, unexpected expenses, low wages, and health issues rank as the UK’s biggest stressors.
Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) say stress has had a serious impact on their mental health, affecting their work, relationships, or daily life.
Almost 1 in 6 (14%) are dealing with chronic stress and facing constant pressure with no clear end in sight.
What’s stressing out the UK?
To dig deeper into the nation’s mental load, we’ve built a Stress Gauge, breaking down the top causes of stress across the country.
How stressed is your region?
To pinpoint the nation’s pressure points, we’ve created a UK Stress Heat Map, revealing where stress levels are soaring and which regions are most at risk.
Londoners, take note: The capital ranks as one of the most stressed-out regions in the country. Whether it’s sky-high living costs, long commutes, or relentless work pressure, daily stress is stacking up fast. Explore the map to see how your region compares.
How can stress affect your life insurance policy?
Stress itself doesn’t automatically affect life insurance, but linked health conditions, such as high blood pressure, can. That’s why it’s so important to take action early to help manage stress. To protect both your health and your cover, we recommend:
Reviewing your life insurance policy to ensure it reflects your current health, lifestyle and needs
Monitoring your wellbeing regularly and recognising when stress is becoming more than just temporary pressure
Speaking to a GP or health professional if symptoms persist or begin interfering with daily life
Kara Gammell, Life Insurance Expert at MoneySuperMarket, explains: "Taking steps to help manage stress and seeking advice and support from your doctor can reduce its effect on your long term health. Life insurance helps bring peace of mind that if something were to happen to you, your loved ones would have protection against the financial impact such as lost income, unpaid debts (including mortgages) and funeral costs. With life insurance policies from MoneySuperMarket starting at just £2.69
^ a month, it's an affordable way to help protect your family's future.”
Proactive stress management isn’t just good for your mental and physical health; it could also help you avoid complications when it comes to your cover.
By raising awareness of the long-term risks of unmanaged stress, we hope to empower people to take early action, for the sake of their health, and their financial future.
Methodology:
*Chronic or long term stress is defined as the body’s reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure that persists over time and negatively affects your wellbeing and health.
*Research conducted by Censuswide surveying 1,500 UK adults in June 2025.
