Login

UK 2025: 1 in 4 Britons Face £1M Illness Risk

UK 2025: 1 in 4 Britons Face £1M Illness Risk 2025

Shocking UK Forecast: A quarter of Britons face over six months off work due to illness or injury before retirement, potentially costing £1 million+ in lost lifetime income and career stagnation. Is your LCIIP shield robust enough to protect your earning power and family's future?

UK 2025 Shock: 1 in 4 Britons Face 6+ Months Off Work Due to Illness/Injury Before Retirement, Fueling a £1 Million+ Lifetime Income Loss & Career Stagnation – Is Your LCIIP Shield Protecting Your Earning Power & Family's Future?

The silent threat to your financial future isn't a stock market crash or a sudden recession. An astonishing one in four working-age Britons will be forced out of work for six months or longer due to an unexpected illness or injury before they reach retirement age.

This isn't just a temporary setback. For many, it's a catastrophic financial event that triggers a domino effect: depleted savings, mounting debt, career derailment, and a potential lifetime income loss exceeding a staggering £1 million.

Your ability to earn an income is your single most valuable asset. It pays for your home, your children's education, your holidays, and your retirement dreams. Yet, it is the asset we are least likely to insure.

This guide is an urgent wake-up call. We will dissect the reality of the UK's long-term sickness crisis, expose the inadequacy of the state's safety net, and provide a definitive blueprint for constructing your personal financial fortress: the LCIIP Shield (Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection). The question is no longer if you need to protect your earning power, but how comprehensively you will do it.

The Stark Reality in 2025: Unpacking the Statistics

The 'it won't happen to me' mindset is a dangerous gamble. The latest figures paint a sobering picture of the health challenges facing the UK workforce.

According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of people economically inactive due to long-term sickness has surged to a record high of over 2.8 million in 2025. This represents a dramatic increase of nearly 700,000 people since the pre-pandemic period. This isn't a fringe issue; it's a mainstream crisis affecting households in every corner of the country.

Why is this happening? The reasons are complex and multifaceted, driven by a perfect storm of factors:

  • Mental Health Crisis: Conditions like stress, depression, and anxiety are now a leading cause of long-term absence, accounting for a significant portion of claims. The pressures of modern life and work are taking a heavy toll.
  • Musculoskeletal (MSK) Conditions: Back pain, neck and upper limb problems, and other MSK issues remain a primary driver of long-term incapacity, affecting millions.
  • The Rise of Chronic Illness: Advances in medicine mean more people are surviving serious conditions like cancer, heart attacks, and strokes, but often living with long-term health implications that prevent a return to full-time work.
  • An Ageing Workforce: As people work later in life, the probability of encountering a health issue that impacts their ability to work naturally increases.
RankPrimary Cause of Long-Term Absence (6+ months)Key Statistics & Trends (2025 Data)
1Mental Health ConditionsOver 1.4 million absences linked to depression, stress, anxiety.
2Musculoskeletal (MSK) IssuesAccounts for ~30% of all Fit Note episodes.
3Cancer1 in 2 people will get cancer; many require extended time off.
4Cardiovascular DiseaseHeart attacks & strokes are major causes of sudden incapacity.
5Neurological ConditionsIncludes conditions like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) & Parkinson's.

Sources: Office for National Statistics (ONS), NHS England, Association of British Insurers (ABI)

The £1 Million+ Lifetime Income Loss: A Devastating Calculation

The financial fallout from a long-term health crisis extends far beyond a few missed paycheques. Consider a 35-year-old earning the UK average salary of £35,000. A five-year absence from work doesn't just mean a loss of £175,000 in direct salary. It means:

  • No Pension Contributions: Five years of missed employer and personal pension contributions, which, thanks to compound growth, could equate to a loss of over £100,000 from their final retirement pot.
  • Missed Pay Rises & Promotions: The career ladder is frozen. Colleagues advance, earning promotions and significant salary increases. Re-entering the workforce five years later often means starting on a lower rung, if a return is possible at all.
  • Career Stagnation: The long-term impact of being 'out of the game' can lead to a permanently lower earnings trajectory.

When factored over a remaining 30-year career, the total potential loss – combining direct salary, lost promotions, and stunted pension growth – can easily surpass £1,000,000. This is the true, devastating cost of being unprepared.

The Domino Effect: How Long-Term Absence Derails Your Life

A sudden stop in your income is the first domino to fall. What follows is a cascade of financial, professional, and personal consequences that can unravel a lifetime of hard work.

1. Financial Devastation

Initially, you might rely on company sick pay, but this is often short-lived. Once that runs out, you fall onto the state's minimal safety net.

  • Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): This is the legal minimum your employer must pay. We'll explore this in detail shortly, but it's rarely enough to cover even basic bills.
  • Depleting Savings: Any emergency funds you've painstakingly built are the first to go, often vanishing within months.
  • Incurring Debt: Credit cards, personal loans, and borrowing from family become the only way to stay afloat, digging a deeper financial hole.
  • Risking Your Home: The inability to meet mortgage or rent payments is the most terrifying prospect for many, putting the very roof over your family's head at risk.

2. Career Stagnation

The professional cost is just as severe. A long-term absence creates a chasm in your CV that is difficult to bridge.

  • Skills Atrophy: Technology, processes, and industry standards evolve quickly. A multi-year absence can leave your skills outdated and irrelevant.
  • Loss of Momentum: You lose professional networks, visibility, and the momentum that drives a career forward.
  • The Return-to-Work Challenge: Many find it impossible to return to their previous role or seniority. They may be forced into lower-paying, less demanding jobs, fundamentally altering their career path and future earnings potential.

3. Personal & Family Impact

The strain is not just financial. The psychological burden can be immense.

  • Mental Health Toll: The stress of financial worry combined with the underlying health condition can lead to a severe decline in mental well-being for both you and your loved ones.
  • Relationship Stress: Financial pressure is a leading cause of conflict and breakdown in relationships.
  • Impact on Children: The ripple effect hits the next generation. Plans for university funding, extracurricular activities, or even just family holidays are put on hold or cancelled entirely.
Get Tailored Quote

The State's Safety Net: Can You Really Rely on Statutory Sick Pay?

Many people assume the government will provide a sufficient safety net if they become too ill to work. This is a dangerously flawed assumption. The primary support available is Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).

SSP in 2025 stands at just £116.75 per week.

It is payable by your employer for a maximum of 28 weeks. After that, it stops completely.

Let's put that into perspective. This amounts to roughly £506 per month. Now, compare that to the average monthly household expenditure in the UK.

Average UK Monthly Outgoings (Family of 4)Estimated CostCould SSP Cover It?
Mortgage / Rent£1,200No
Council Tax£180No
Gas & Electricity£250No
Water Bill£40No
Groceries£600No
Transport / Fuel£200No
Total Essentials£2,470No (Covers only 20%)

As the table clearly shows, SSP is not a safety net; it is a pittance that fails to cover even the most basic of living costs. It is not designed for long-term support. Once the 28 weeks are up, you may be able to apply for other means-tested benefits like Universal Credit, but this is often a complex, stressful process with no guarantee of a positive outcome, and the support levels are still far below what's needed to maintain a typical family lifestyle.

Forging Your LCIIP Shield: Your Personal Financial Fortress

Relying on luck or the state is not a strategy. The only viable solution is to create your own robust, multi-layered financial defence system. We call this the LCIIP Shield, a coordinated strategy using three core types of personal insurance:

  1. Life Insurance
  2. Critical Illness Cover (CIC)
  3. Income Protection (IP)

These are not interchangeable products; they are distinct tools designed to protect you against different financial shocks. When combined, they form a near-impenetrable shield for your income, your assets, and your family's future.

Pillar 1: Income Protection (IP) – Your Monthly Salary Lifeline

If you could only choose one policy to protect your financial well-being while you are alive, it should be Income Protection. It is the cornerstone of the LCIIP shield.

What is it? Income Protection insurance pays you a regular, tax-free monthly income if you are unable to work due to any illness or injury. It acts as a direct replacement for your salary, continuing to pay out until you can return to work, your policy ends, or you retire.

It is arguably the most comprehensive form of financial protection because it covers almost any medical condition that prevents you from doing your job.

Key Features of Income Protection:

  • Cover Amount: You can typically insure up to 50-70% of your gross (pre-tax) salary. This is designed to be close to your take-home pay, providing enough to live on without disincentivising a return to work.
  • The Deferred Period: This is the waiting period between when you stop working and when the policy starts paying out. You can choose this period to align with your employer's sick pay policy or your savings. Common options are 4, 8, 13, 26, or 52 weeks. A longer deferred period means a lower monthly premium.
  • The Payment Period: This is how long the policy will pay out for. It can be for a fixed term (e.g., 1, 2, or 5 years) or, crucially, long-term, paying out right up until your chosen retirement age (e.g., 65 or 68). For true peace of mind against the risks we've discussed, a long-term payment period is essential.
  • Definition of Incapacity: This is the single most important detail in any IP policy.
    • 'Own Occupation': The gold standard. The policy pays out if you are unable to do your specific job. For example, a surgeon with a hand tremor could claim even if they could still work in a different role.
    • 'Suited Occupation': Pays out if you cannot do your own job or any other job you are suited to based on your skills and experience. This is less favourable.
    • 'Any Occupation': The most restrictive. Only pays out if you are so incapacitated you cannot do any kind of work at all. This should generally be avoided.

Real-Life Example: Meet Sarah

  • Profile: Sarah is a 38-year-old marketing manager earning £50,000 per year. She has a mortgage, two young children, and her employer provides 3 months of full sick pay.
  • Her IP Policy: She takes out an 'Own Occupation' Income Protection policy to cover 60% of her salary (£2,500 per month). She chooses a 13-week deferred period to match her work sick pay, and a long-term payment period until age 67.
  • The Incident: Sarah is diagnosed with severe clinical depression and anxiety, and her doctor signs her off work for an extended period.
  • How her Shield Works: For the first 13 weeks, she receives her full salary from her employer. From week 14, her Income Protection policy kicks in, paying her a tax-free income of £2,500 every month. This money allows her to continue paying the mortgage, cover bills, and feed her family without financial stress, enabling her to focus fully on her recovery. The policy would continue to pay her for years if needed, right up until her retirement age.

Pillar 2: Critical Illness Cover (CIC) – The Lump Sum Support System

While Income Protection replaces your monthly salary, Critical Illness Cover is designed to provide a large, tax-free lump sum of cash immediately upon diagnosis of a specific, pre-defined serious condition.

What is it? A CIC policy pays out once, providing a financial windfall at a time of immense emotional and physical stress. It is designed to absorb the significant one-off costs associated with a life-changing diagnosis.

How Critical Illness Cover Complements Income Protection:

Think of it this way: if your financial house is on fire, Income Protection is the fire engine that arrives every month with more water (income). Critical Illness Cover is the huge water bomber that drops a massive amount of water (lump sum cash) on the fire right at the start.

Key Uses for a CIC Payout:

  • Clear Your Mortgage: This is the most common use, removing the biggest financial burden from your family's shoulders instantly.
  • Cover Private Medical Treatment: Access specialist treatments, therapies, or drugs not available on the NHS.
  • Adapt Your Home: Make necessary modifications like installing a stairlift or converting a bathroom.
  • Replace Lost Income of a Carer: Allow a spouse or partner to take significant time off work to care for you without financial penalty.
  • Create a Financial Buffer: Simply provide breathing room to handle unexpected costs and reduce stress.

The list of conditions covered is extensive, but policies always include the "big three" which account for the majority of claims.

RankTop Critical Illness Claims (UK)Percentage of Claims (Approx.)
1Cancer60%
2Heart Attack12%
3Stroke7%
4Multiple Sclerosis4%
5Other (Benign Brain Tumour, etc.)17%

Source: Association of British Insurers (ABI)

It's vital to check the policy definitions carefully, as the criteria for a payout can vary between insurers. This is where expert guidance is crucial.

Pillar 3: Life Insurance – The Ultimate Family Safeguard

The final pillar of the shield addresses the ultimate risk. While many critical illnesses are survivable, some are sadly terminal. Life Insurance provides a financial backstop for your loved ones in the event of your death.

What is it? A policy that pays out a tax-free lump sum to your beneficiaries if you pass away during the policy term.

Why it's essential: It ensures that your family can maintain their standard of living, remain in the family home, and fund their future aspirations even if you are no longer there to provide for them.

Key Types of Life Insurance:

  • Level Term Insurance: The payout amount remains the same throughout the policy term. Ideal for covering an interest-only mortgage or providing a lump sum for family living costs.
  • Decreasing Term Insurance: The payout amount reduces over time, usually in line with a repayment mortgage. This is the most affordable way to ensure your mortgage is always paid off.
  • Whole of Life Insurance: Guarantees a payout whenever you die, as it has no end term. Often used for covering funeral costs or for inheritance tax planning.

A crucial tip for any life insurance policy is to place it 'in trust'. This is a simple legal arrangement that ensures the payout goes directly to your beneficiaries, bypassing your estate. This means the money is paid out much faster (weeks instead of months or years) and is typically not subject to Inheritance Tax.

The Synergy of the Shield: How LCIIP Works Together

To truly understand the power of the LCIIP shield, let's see how the three pillars work in concert.

Case Study: David, a 42-year-old Engineer

  • His Shield: David has a £200,000 Decreasing Term Life Insurance policy combined with £75,000 of Critical Illness Cover to protect his mortgage. He also has a separate long-term Income Protection policy set to pay out £2,200 a month after a 6-month deferred period.
  • The Event: David suffers a major heart attack and requires bypass surgery.
  • Pillar 2 in Action (Critical Illness Cover): His CIC policy pays out a £75,000 tax-free lump sum. David and his wife use this to pay off a large chunk of their mortgage, instantly reducing their monthly outgoings. They also use part of it to pay for private physiotherapy to speed up his recovery. The financial pressure is immediately lifted.
  • Pillar 1 in Action (Income Protection): David's employer pays him for 6 months. After this, his IP policy kicks in. He starts receiving £2,200 tax-free every month. This replaces his lost salary, allowing them to manage their (now lower) bills and live comfortably while he focuses 100% on his rehabilitation, which takes 18 months before he can return to part-time work.
  • Pillar 3 in the Background (Life Insurance): Throughout this ordeal, David's £200,000 life insurance policy remains active. It provides constant peace of mind that if his condition were to worsen and prove fatal, his family would be able to clear the rest of the mortgage and have a substantial sum left over for their future.

This scenario demonstrates how the three policies work together, each plugging a different financial gap at a different stage of a health crisis.

How to Build Your LCIIP Shield: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide

Building your financial shield may seem complex, but it can be broken down into manageable steps.

  1. Audit Your Situation: Before you can protect yourself, you need to know what you're protecting. Tally up your monthly income, essential outgoings (mortgage, bills, food), debts, and any savings. This will reveal your 'protection gap'.
  2. Check Existing Cover: Dig out your employment contract. What sick pay do you receive, and for how long? Do you have any 'death in service' benefits (typically 2-4x your salary)? This is a good start, but remember it's tied to your job – if you leave, you lose it.
  3. Define Your Needs: Based on your audit, decide on your ideal numbers. How much monthly income do you need from an IP policy? How large a lump sum would you need from a CIC policy to make a real difference? How much Life Insurance do you need to clear debts and provide for your family?
  4. Seek Expert, Independent Advice: This is not the time for guesswork. The insurance market is vast, with dozens of providers and policies, each with different definitions and prices. Navigating this alone is fraught with risk. An expert broker like WeCovr is your essential partner. We analyse your specific needs and use our expertise to search the entire market, comparing policies from leading UK insurers like Aviva, Legal & General, Royal London, and Zurich. Our goal is to find you the most comprehensive cover for your budget, ensuring there are no hidden clauses or unwelcome surprises when you need to claim.
  5. Be Honest & Apply: When applying, you must provide a full and honest account of your medical history and lifestyle. Failing to do so could invalidate your policy.
  6. Review Regularly: Your LCIIP shield is not a 'set and forget' product. Life changes. A new mortgage, marriage, the birth of a child, or a significant pay rise are all trigger points to review your cover to ensure it's still fit for purpose.

At WeCovr, we champion a holistic approach to our clients' long-term security. We believe that protecting your health is as important as protecting your finances. That’s why, as a unique benefit to our customers, we provide complimentary access to CalorieHero, our proprietary AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app. It's a simple, effective tool to help you manage your health goals, demonstrating our commitment to your well-being that goes beyond the policy document.

Conclusion: Your Earning Power is Your Greatest Asset – Protect It

The statistics for 2025 are not a forecast; they are a reality playing out in homes across Britain today. The risk of being unable to work for a long period is real, and the consequences are devastating. A 1-in-4 chance is not a risk worth taking when your family's home, your children's future, and your own financial dignity are on the line.

The state will not save you. Employer benefits are temporary and non-transferable. The only person who can truly safeguard your future is you.

By understanding the distinct and complementary roles of Income Protection, Critical Illness Cover, and Life Insurance, you can construct a powerful LCIIP shield. This isn't an expense; it's an investment in certainty. It's the purchase of peace of mind. It’s the guarantee that no matter what health challenges life throws at you, a financial crisis will not be one of them.

Don't let a random health event dictate the rest of your life. Take control, assess your risk, and build your shield today. Your future self will thank you for it.


Why life insurance and how does it work?

What is Life Insurance?

Life insurance is an insurance policy that can provide financial support for your loved ones when you or your joint policy holder passes away. It can help clear any outstanding debts, such as a mortgage, and cover your family's living and other expenses such costs of education, so your family can continue to pay bills and living expenses. In addition to life insurance, insurance providers offer related products such as income protection and critical illness, which we will touch upon below.

How does it work?

Life insurance pays out if you die. The payout can be in the form of a lump sum payment or can be paid as a replacement for a regular income. It's your decision how much cover you'd like to take based on your financial resources and how much you'd like to leave to your family to help them deal with any outstanding debts and living expenses. Your premium depends on a number of factors, including your occupation, health and other criteria.

The payout amount can change over time or can be fixed. A level term or whole of life policy offers a fixed payout. A decreasing term policy offers a payout that decreases over the term of the cover.

With critical illness policies, a payout is made if you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness with a remaining life expectancy of less than 12 months. While income protection policies ensure you can continue to meet your financial commitments if you are forced to take an extended break from work. If you can’t work because you’ve had an accident, fallen sick, or lost your job through no fault of your own, income protection insurance pays you an agreed portion of your salary each month.

Income protection is particularly helpful for people in dangerous occupations who want to be sure their mortgage will always be covered. Income protection only covers events beyond your control: you’re much less likely to be covered if you’re fired from your job or if you injure yourself deliberately.

Questions to ask yourself regarding life insurance

Just ask yourself:
👉 Who would pay your mortgage or rent if you were to pass away or fall seriously ill?
👉 Who would pay for your family’s food, clothing, study fees or lifestyle?
👉 Who would provide for the costs of your funeral or clear your debts?
👉 Who would pay for your costs if you're unable to work due to serious illness or disability?

Many families don’t realise that life, income protection and critical illness insurance is one of the most effective ways to protect their finances. A great insurance policy can cover costs, protect a family from inheriting debts and even pay off a mortgage.

Many would think that the costs for all the benefits provided by life insurance, income protection insurance or critical illness insurance are too high, but the great news is in the current market policies are actually very inexpensive.

Benefits offered by income protection, life and critical illness insurance

Life insurance, income protection and critical illness insurance are indispensable for every family because a child loses a parent every 22 minutes in the UK, while every single day tragically 60 people suffer major injuries on the UK roads. Some people become unable to work because of sickness or disability.

Life insurance cover pays out a lump sum to your family, loved ones or whomever you choose to get the money. This can be used to secure the financial future of your loved ones meaning they would not have to struggle financially in the event of your death.

If it's a critical illness cover, the payout happens sooner - upon diagnosis of a serious illness, disability or medical condition, easing the financial hardship such an event inevitably brings.

Income protection insurance can be very important for anyone who relies on a pay check to cover their living costs, but it's especially important if you’re self-employed or own a small business, where your employment and income is a bit less stable. It pays a regular income if you can't work because of sickness or disability and continues until you return to paid work or you retire.

In a world where 1 in 4 of us would struggle financially after just four weeks without work, the stark reality hits hard – a mere 7% of UK adults possess the vital shield of income protection. The urgency of safeguarding our financial well-being has never been more palpable.

Let's face it – relying on savings isn't a solution for everyone. Almost 25% of people have no savings at all, and a whopping 50% have £1,000 or less tucked away. Even more concerning, 51% of Brits – that's a huge 27 million people – wouldn't last more than one month living off their savings. That's a 10% increase from 2022.

And don't even think about state benefits being a safety net. The maximum you can expect from statutory sick pay is a mere £109.40 per week for up to 28 weeks. Not exactly a financial lifeline, right?

Now, let's tackle a common objection: "But I have critical illness insurance. I don't need income protection too." Here's the deal – the two policies apply to very different situations. In a nutshell:

  • Critical illness insurance pays a single lump sum if you're diagnosed with or undergo surgery for a specified potentially life-threatening illness. It's great for handling big one-off expenses or debts.
  • Income protection, on the other hand, pays a percentage of your salary as a regular payment if you can't work due to illness or injury. It's the superhero that tackles those relentless monthly bills.

Types of life insurance policies

Common reasons for getting a life insurance policy are to:
✅ Leave behind an amount of money to keep your family comfortable
✅ Protect the family home and pay off the mortgage in full or in part
✅ Pay for funeral costs

Starting from as little as a couple of pounds per week, you can do all that with a Life Policy.

Level Term Life Insurance
One of the simplest forms of life insurance, level term life insurance works by selecting a length of time for which you would want to be covered and then deciding how much you would like your loved ones to receive should the worst happen. Should your life insurance policy pay out to your family, it would be in a lump sum amount that can be used in whatever way the beneficiary may wish.

Decreasing Term Life Insurance
Decreasing term life insurance works in the same way as level term, except the lump sum payment amount upon death decreases with time. The common use for decreasing term life cover is to protect against mortgage repayment as the lump sum decreases along with the principal of the mortgage itself.

Increasing Term Life Insurance
Increasing term life insurance aims to pay out a cash sum growing each year if the worst happens while covered by the policy. With increasing term life cover amount insured increases annually by a fixed amount for the length of the policy. This can protect your policy's value against inflation, which could be advantageous if you’re looking to maintain your loved ones’ living standards, continue paying off your mortgage in line with its repayment schedule and cover your children’s education fees.

Whole of Life Insurance
Whereas term life insurance policies only pay out if you pass away during their term, whole of life insurance pays out to your beneficiaries whenever this should happen. The most common uses for whole life insurance are to cover the costs of a funeral or as a vehicle for your family's inheritance tax planning.

Family Income Benefit
Family income benefit is a somewhat lesser-known product in the family of life insurance products. Paying out a set amount every month of year to your beneficiaries, it is the most cost-effective way of maintaining your family's living standards to an age where you'd expect them to be able to support themselves financially. The most common use would be for a family with children who are not working yet so are unable to take care of themselves financially.

Relevant Life Insurance
Relevant Life Insurance is a tax-efficient policy for a director or single employee. A simple level term life insurance product, it is placed in a specific trust to ensure its tax efficiency. The premiums are tax deductible and any benefit payable should a claim arise is also paid out tax free, which makes it an attractive product for entrepreneurs and their businesses.

Important Fact!

There is no need to wait until the renewal of your current policy.
We can look at a more suitable option mid-term!

Why is it important to get life insurance early?

👉 Many people are very thankful that they had their life, income protection, and critical illness insurance cover in place before running into some serious issues. Critical illness and income protection insurance is as important as life insurance for protecting your family's finances.

👉 We insure our cars, houses, bicycles and even bags! Yet our life and health are the most precious things we have.

Easily one of the most important insurance purchases an individual or family can make in their lifetime, the decision to buy life, income protection, critical illness and private medical health insurance can be made much simpler with the help of FCA-authorised advisers. They are the specialists who do the searching and analysis helping people choose between various types of life insurance policies available in the market, including income protection, critical illness and other types of policies most suitable to the client's individual circumstances.

It certainly won't do any harm if you speak with one of our experienced FCA-authorised insurance partner experts who are passionate about advising people on financial matters related to life insurance and are keen to provide you with a free consultation.

You can discuss with them in detail what affordable life, income protection, critical illness or private medical health insurance plan for the necessary peace of mind they would recommend! WeCovr works with some of the best advisers in the market.

By tapping the button below, you can book a free call with them in less than 30 seconds right now:

Our Group Is Proud To Have Issued 800,000+ Policies!

We've established collaboration agreements with leading insurance groups to create tailored coverage
Working with leading UK insurers
Allianz Logo
Ageas Logo
Covea Logo
AIG Logo
Zurich Logo
BUPA Logo
Aviva Logo
Axa Logo
Vitality Logo
Exeter Logo
WPA Logo
National Friendly Logo
General & Medical Logo
Legal & General Logo
ARAG Logo
Scottish Widows Logo
Metlife Logo
HSBC Logo
Guardian Logo
Royal London Logo
Cigna Logo
NIG Logo
CanadaLife Logo
TMHCC Logo

How It Works

1. Complete a brief form
Complete a brief form
2. Our experts analyse your information and find you best quotes
Experts discuss your quotes
3. Enjoy your protection!
Enjoy your protection

Any questions?

Life, income protection, and/or critical illness insurance are safety nets, very important at a difficult time. If anything happened to you before your cover ends, your life or critical illness insurance would pay a lump sum to your family and/or you (if you took a critical illness or income protection cover) to help cover the losses. Being diagnosed with a critical illness can be devastating, and it won't help matters to be also worrying about how you would cope financially. With a life, income protection, or critical illness policy, you can choose how much cover you need, how you want the policy to pay out, and whether you want cover for both you and your partner. Income protection insurance pays you a regular income if you can't work because of sickness or disability and continues until you return to paid work or you retire. Also known as permanent health insurance, it is quite important for anyone who relies on a paycheck to cover their living costs, but it's particularly important if you're self-employed or own a small business, where your income might be a bit less stable.

Life, income protection, and critical illness insurance pay out millions to families every day. Your expert will explain to you that you need to be honest and open when applying for your insurance.

If you're single with no dependants then it may be that you don't need life assurance. However, if you were to become seriously ill and unable to work, you may benefit from a critical illness or income protection policy. They can help you keep up to date with your rent, bills, food, and other expenses.

It's free to use WeCovr to find life, income protection, and critical illness insurance - we never charge you for quotes. Critical illness, income protection, and life insurance is an investment that pays many times over for you and/or your loved ones.

Life, income protection, and critical illness insurance are important financial products that insurance companies take a lot of care and diligence, so speaking to real human beings ensures that they understand your requirements fully so that you can get the right cover.

All of our partners are carefully vetted and authorised by the FCA, which means they are held to the highest standards that the FCA expects from them and treat all customers fairly!

Our insurance partners give us a few pounds when you take out a policy with one of their experts.

The cost of life insurance depends on several factors, including your age, occupation, health status, and the level of coverage you choose. Your life insurance policy is tailored to your needs, and the cost can vary based on the sum assured, policy term, and other factors.

Some life insurance policies offer an option to add critical illness cover as a rider or as a separate policy. This provides a lump sum payment if you are diagnosed with a critical illness covered by your policy, offering financial support during a difficult time.

Yes, life insurance is available to self-employed individuals to provide financial protection for their loved ones in the event of their death. It ensures that your family can maintain their standard of living and cover expenses such as mortgage payments, bills, and education costs.

If you outlive your life insurance policy and it expires without a claim, you will not receive any payout. Term life insurance policies are designed to provide coverage for a specific period, and once that period ends, the policy terminates without any residual value. However, you can typically renew or purchase a new policy if you still need coverage.

Critical illness insurance provides a lump sum payment if you're diagnosed with a serious illness covered by your policy, offering financial support during a difficult time. It can help cover medical expenses, mortgage payments, and other financial obligations while you focus on recovery.

Critical illness insurance covers a range of serious illnesses and medical conditions specified in your policy, such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, and organ failure. The lump sum payment can be used to cover medical treatment, ongoing care, and living expenses during your recovery.

The cost of critical illness insurance varies depending on factors such as your age, health status, lifestyle, and the level of coverage you choose. Our experts can provide personalised quotes to help you find affordable coverage.

Yes, you can have critical illness insurance alongside your health insurance coverage. Critical illness insurance provides additional financial protection specifically for serious illnesses, complementing your health insurance benefits.

Critical illness insurance policies typically have exclusions for pre-existing conditions and certain medical conditions not covered by the policy. It's essential to review the terms and conditions of your policy to understand what is and isn't covered.

Some critical illness insurance policies may provide coverage for recurring illnesses, while others may not. It's crucial to review the policy terms and understand the specific conditions under which you can make additional claims for recurring illnesses. Your insurer can provide more details on their coverage for recurring critical illnesses.

Yes, you can customise your life insurance policy to suit your individual needs and circumstances. Options may include choosing the sum assured, policy term, premium payment frequency, and additional riders for enhanced coverage.

If you miss a premium payment for your life insurance policy, your coverage may lapse, and your policy could be terminated. However, many insurers offer a grace period during which you can make the payment to keep your policy active. It's essential to contact your insurer to discuss your options if you're unable to make a payment.

Yes, you can typically change the beneficiary of your life insurance policy at any time by completing a beneficiary change form provided by your insurer. It's essential to keep your beneficiary designation up to date to ensure that the proceeds are distributed according to your wishes.

Term life insurance provides cover for a fixed period, such as 10, 20 or 30 years, and pays out a lump sum if you die during that time. It’s often chosen to protect a mortgage or to provide financial support while dependants still rely on your income. Whole-of-life insurance is designed to last for the rest of your life and guarantees a payout whenever you die, as long as premiums are maintained. It’s usually more expensive than term insurance and is sometimes used to help with inheritance tax planning or to leave a guaranteed legacy.

Some term life insurance policies offer the option to convert to a whole life insurance policy without the need for a medical exam or new underwriting. This conversion feature allows you to maintain coverage beyond the term of your policy and provides lifelong protection.

Some life insurance policies offer accelerated death benefits or living benefits that allow you to access a portion of the death benefit if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness. This feature provides financial assistance to help cover medical expenses and other costs during your final months.

While having savings can provide a financial cushion during tough times, income protection insurance offers additional security by replacing a portion of your income if you're unable to work due to illness or disability. It ensures that you can maintain your standard of living and cover essential expenses even if your savings are depleted.

Yes, self-employed individuals can claim income protection insurance if they're unable to work due to illness or disability. Income protection provides a regular income stream to replace lost earnings, helping self-employed individuals cover their living expenses and business costs during periods of incapacity.

The waiting period, also known as the elimination period, is the length of time you must wait after becoming unable to work due to illness or disability before you can start receiving benefits from your income protection insurance policy. Waiting periods typically range from 30 to 90 days, but longer waiting periods may result in lower premiums.

Income protection insurance is designed to provide financial support if you're unable to work due to illness or disability, not for redundancy. However, some policies may offer optional redundancy cover or unemployment cover as an additional benefit, providing a lump sum or monthly payments if you're made redundant.

The tax treatment of income protection insurance benefits depends on whether the premiums were paid with pre-tax or after-tax dollars. Benefits from policies funded with after-tax dollars are typically tax-free, while benefits from policies funded with pre-tax dollars may be subject to income tax. It's essential to consult with a tax advisor to understand the tax implications of your income protection insurance benefits.

Income protection insurance provides a regular income stream if you're unable to work due to illness or disability, while critical illness insurance provides a lump sum payment if you're diagnosed with a covered critical illness, such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke. Critical illness insurance offers financial support to cover medical expenses, living costs, or other obligations during your recovery.

Income protection insurance policies typically have a waiting period (also known as an elimination period) during which you do not receive benefits. If you become unable to work before this waiting period ends, you will not receive any income protection benefits until the waiting period has elapsed. It's important to have sufficient savings or other financial resources to cover your expenses during this initial period.

Many income protection insurance policies allow you to increase your coverage amount if your income rises, without the need for additional underwriting or medical examinations. This feature, sometimes called a 'guaranteed insurability option,' ensures that your coverage keeps pace with your increasing income and financial obligations.

The maximum age to purchase critical illness insurance varies depending on the insurer and the specific policy. While some insurers may offer critical illness insurance up to age 70 or beyond, others may have lower age limits. It's essential to check with insurers to determine their age eligibility criteria for purchasing critical illness insurance.

Whether you can get critical illness insurance if you have pre-existing conditions depends on the insurer's underwriting guidelines and the specific medical conditions. Some insurers may offer coverage with exclusions for pre-existing conditions, while others may decline coverage altogether. It's essential to disclose any pre-existing conditions when applying for critical illness insurance and discuss your options with insurers.

While health insurance provides coverage for medical expenses, critical illness insurance offers financial protection for broader expenses associated with a serious illness, such as lost income, household bills, and lifestyle changes. Critical illness insurance complements health insurance by providing additional financial support during a challenging time, ensuring that you can focus on recovery without worrying about financial burdens.

If you don't make a claim on your critical illness insurance during the policy term, you won't receive a benefit payout. However, having critical illness insurance provides peace of mind knowing that you're financially protected if you're diagnosed with a covered critical illness during the policy term. It's a form of financial preparation for unexpected events and offers valuable protection for you and your family.

If you outlive your critical illness insurance policy and don't make a claim for a covered critical illness during the policy term, the coverage will expire, and you won't receive a benefit payout. Critical illness insurance provides financial protection for a specific period, typically until a specified age or policy term, and offers peace of mind knowing that you're prepared for the unexpected.

Yes, many insurers offer optional riders or add-ons that you can add to your critical illness insurance policy for enhanced coverage. Common riders may include waiver of premium, which waives future premium payments if you become disabled, or return of premium, which refunds a portion of your premiums if you don't make a claim during the policy term. It's essential to review available riders with insurers to customise your coverage to meet your specific needs.

To make a claim on your critical illness insurance policy, you'll need to notify your insurer of your diagnosis and submit a claim form along with any required medical documentation, such as medical reports, test results, and physician statements. Once your claim is reviewed and approved by the insurer, you'll receive the lump sum benefit payment, which you can use to cover medical expenses, living costs, or other financial needs during your recovery.

As we age, the likelihood of encountering health complications increases for us all. In the event that you develop a severe medical condition, critical illness protection can assist with the expenses of crucial bills – enabling you to concentrate on recuperation or adjusting to your new health circumstance.

The typical expense of a Critical Illness protection policy will fluctuate based on aspects such as your age and medical background. As per our investigation, you can secure a policy starting from as low as £8 (for a non-smoking 21-year-old individual).

The most prevalent critical illnesses in the UK are cancer, cardiac arrest, and cerebrovascular accident (stroke).

Cancer is one of the primary causes for critical illness insurance claims in the UK. Cancer constitutes over 80% of critical illness cover claims for females and about 45% of critical illness claims for males.


Learn more


...

Who Are WeCovr?

WeCovr is an insurance specialist for people valuing their peace of mind and a great service.

👍 WeCovr will help you get your private medical insurance, life insurance, critical illness insurance and others in no time thanks to our wonderful super-friendly experts ready to assist you every step of the way.

Just a quick and simple form and an easy conversation with one of our experts and your valuable insurance policy is in place for that needed peace of mind!

Important Information

Since 2011, WeCovr has helped thousands of individuals, families, and businesses protect what matters most. We make it easy to get quotes for life insurance, critical illness cover, private medical insurance, and a wide range of other insurance types. We also provide embedded insurance solutions tailored for business partners and platforms.

Political And Credit Risks Ltd is a registered company in England and Wales. Company Number: 07691072. Data Protection Register Number: ZA207579. Registered Office: 22-45 Old Castle Street, London, E1 7NY. WeCovr is a trading style of Political And Credit Risks Ltd. Political And Credit Risks Ltd is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is on the Financial Services Register under number 735613.

About WeCovr

WeCovr is your trusted partner for comprehensive insurance solutions. We help families and individuals find the right protection for their needs.