Login

UK Dementia 1 in 3 Britons Face Devastating Cost

UK Dementia 1 in 3 Britons Face Devastating Cost 2025

UK 2025 Data Reveals Over 1 in 3 Britons Born Today Will Develop Dementia, Fueling a Staggering £4 Million+ Lifetime Financial Catastrophe of Erased Savings, Lost Legacies & Unfunded Care – Is Your LCIIP Shield Your Familys Unseen Foundation Against This Cruel Reality?

The Unseen Tsunami: Understanding the UK's Dementia Crisis

A quiet, creeping tsunami is gathering force across the United Kingdom. It’s not a wave of water, but a neurological tide that threatens to overwhelm families, drain life savings, and rewrite the future for millions. The latest 2025 data from Alzheimer's Research UK paints a stark and sobering picture: more than one in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.

This isn't a distant, abstract statistic. It's a profound, personal challenge that will touch almost every family. It represents a future where memories fade, independence is lost, and the emotional toll is matched only by a devastating financial impact. We are facing a national health crisis that doubles as a personal financial catastrophe.

The numbers are staggering. A severe, long-term dementia diagnosis can trigger a lifetime financial fallout exceeding £4.2 million for a family, a vortex of unfunded care costs, lost earnings for both the individual and their carer, and the complete erosion of a carefully built legacy. The family home, intended as a cornerstone of security and inheritance, often becomes the first asset sacrificed to fund escalating care needs.

While medical science races for a cure, a different kind of protection is available right now. It's a financial shield that can stand between your family and ruin. Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection (LCIIP) insurance is no longer a 'nice-to-have'; it is arguably the most critical, yet overlooked, foundation for securing your family's future against the cruel reality of dementia.

This guide will dissect the true cost of dementia in the UK, reveal the shocking inadequacy of state support, and demonstrate how a robust personal insurance strategy can provide the funds, the choices, and the peace of mind that the state simply cannot.

The Staggering Financial Reality of Dementia in 2025

The emotional cost of watching a loved one disappear into the fog of dementia is immeasurable. The financial cost, however, can be calculated, and the figures are terrifying. It’s a multi-faceted assault on a family's wealth, attacking from all angles.

The concept of a £4 Million+ lifetime financial catastrophe may seem extreme, but for a dual-income, higher-earning family facing a premature, long-duration diagnosis, it's a grimly plausible scenario. This figure isn't just about care home fees; it's a combination of direct costs, lost income, and evaporated wealth.

Let's break down the typical financial burdens:

1. Direct Costs: The Unrelenting Drain

This is the most visible part of the financial iceberg. As dementia progresses, the need for professional care becomes inevitable, and the costs are relentless.

  • Domiciliary (Home) Care: In the early to mid-stages, families often opt for care at home. A person needing just four hours of care per day could face a bill of over £45,000 per year.
  • Residential Care Homes: When living at home is no longer safe, a care home is the next step. The average cost for a standard residential place is now £970 per week, or £50,440 per year.
  • Nursing Care Homes: For those with more complex medical needs, which is common in later-stage dementia, a nursing home is required. * Home Modifications: Making a home safe and accessible can cost thousands. This includes stairlifts (£2,000-£6,000), wet room conversions (£5,000-£10,000), ramps, and security systems.

2. Indirect Costs: The Hidden Financial Sabotage

The direct costs are only half the story. The indirect costs—the lost opportunities and vanished income—are equally devastating.

  • Lost Income (Patient): An early-onset diagnosis (before age 65) immediately ends a career. A 55-year-old earning £60,000 per year loses a decade of potential earnings, pension contributions, and promotions—a loss of £600,000+ in gross income alone.
  • Lost Income (Carer): The burden of care disproportionately falls on spouses and adult children. A 2025 Carers UK report highlights that 1 in 5 unpaid carers are forced to quit their job entirely. A spouse earning £40,000 who stops working for 10 years to provide care sacrifices £400,000 in income, plus their own pension and career progression.

3. The Lifetime Cost: A Devastating Calculation

When you combine these factors over the typical duration of dementia (8-10 years, but sometimes much longer), the financial picture becomes catastrophic. The term "Dementia Tax" has been coined for a reason: it's a tax on your life's work, your assets, and your children's inheritance.

Let's look at a plausible, albeit severe, scenario for a family to illustrate the potential scale:

Cost ComponentDescriptionEstimated Lifetime Cost
Direct Care Costs5 years of domiciliary care + 8 years in a nursing home.£1,000,000+
Lost Patient IncomeEarly diagnosis at 55 for a £75k/year professional.£750,000
Lost Carer IncomeSpouse quits a £50k/year job for 12 years to manage care.£600,000
Lost Pension GrowthLost contributions and growth for both individuals.£400,000+
Lost Investment GrowthAssets liquidated for care instead of growing in the market.£500,000+
Home Sale LossPotential lost appreciation on a sold family home.£250,000+
Inflationary PressureRising care costs over a decade or more.£700,000+
Total Potential ImpactA "worst-case" scenario for a high-earning family.£4,200,000+

This table illustrates how the costs compound, turning a personal health crisis into a multi-generational financial disaster that erases savings, forces the sale of the family home, and destroys the legacy you worked a lifetime to build.

What is Dementia? A Closer Look Beyond the Label

To understand how to protect against it, it's vital to understand what dementia is. It's not a single disease but an umbrella term for a range of progressive neurological disorders. These conditions affect the brain, impacting memory, thinking, behaviour, and the ability to perform everyday tasks.

With the number of people living with dementia in the UK set to exceed 1 million by the end of 2025, awareness of the different types is crucial.

  • Alzheimer's Disease: The most common cause, accounting for 60-70% of cases. It's characterised by the build-up of abnormal proteins in the brain, leading to the gradual death of brain cells. Early symptoms are typically memory loss.
  • Vascular Dementia: The second most common type. It occurs when blood flow to the brain is damaged, often due to a stroke or a series of mini-strokes. Symptoms can appear suddenly and progress in a "stepwise" manner.
  • Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB): This type shares symptoms with both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. It involves tiny protein deposits (Lewy bodies) in the brain and can cause fluctuations in alertness, visual hallucinations, and movement problems.
  • Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD): A rarer form that tends to affect people at a younger age (45-65). It primarily affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, leading to significant changes in personality and behaviour, or problems with language.
Type of DementiaPrimary Area AffectedKey Initial SymptomsTypical Onset
Alzheimer's DiseaseMemory centres (Hippocampus)Short-term memory loss, confusionUsually 65+
Vascular DementiaVaries depending on blood vessel damageSudden confusion, vision problems, balance issuesOften after a stroke
Dementia with Lewy BodiesMultiple brain areasFluctuating cognition, hallucinations, stiffnessUsually 50+
Frontotemporal DementiaFrontal & Temporal LobesPersonality/behaviour changes, language difficultyOften younger (45-65)

Understanding these distinctions is vital when considering insurance, as policy documents will specify which types of dementia are covered. Most comprehensive modern policies cover all major forms, but it's a critical detail to verify.

Get Tailored Quote

The State's Safety Net: Is NHS and Local Authority Support Enough?

Many people assume that in their time of need, the NHS or the government will step in to cover the costs of dementia care. This is a dangerous and widespread misconception. The reality is that the state's safety net is frayed, full of holes, and catches very few. Relying on it is a gamble most families will lose.

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)

This is the holy grail of state-funded care. CHC is a package of care arranged and funded solely by the NHS for individuals who are assessed as having a "primary health need". It is not means-tested and covers the full cost of care, including care home fees.

However, the eligibility criteria are notoriously strict and getting tougher. A diagnosis of dementia, even in its advanced stages, is not enough to qualify. The assessment focuses on the complexity, intensity, and unpredictability of the person's health needs, not their social care needs. In 2025, fewer than 50,000 people in England are in receipt of CHC funding at any one time—a tiny fraction of those needing care. Most people with dementia will not qualify.

Local Authority Funding: The Brutal Means Test

If you don't qualify for CHC, you fall back to your Local Authority, which means you face a means test. This is where the family finances are put under a microscope.

The rules are stark:

  • You are a "Self-Funder": If you have capital (savings, investments, and in most cases, your property) above a certain threshold, you must pay for your care in full until your assets drop below that level.
  • The Thresholds: These thresholds are shockingly low and have barely risen with inflation.
UK Nation2025 Upper Capital Limit2025 Lower Capital LimitWhat it Means
England£23,250£14,250Pay in full above £23,250. Contribute from capital between limits.
Scotland£32,750£20,250Pay in full above £32,750. Contribute from capital between limits.
Wales£50,000N/APay a max of £100/week for non-residential care. Pay in full for residential care above £50k.
Northern Ireland£23,250£14,250Pay in full above £23,250. Contribute from capital between limits.

For most homeowners in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the value of their home will instantly place them far above the upper limit, making them self-funders from day one. Your home is only disregarded from the means test if your spouse or another qualifying relative continues to live there. For single, widowed, or divorced individuals, the family home is almost always counted as an asset.

This is the "dementia tax" in action. The state effectively forces you to sell your home and liquidate your life's savings to pay for care that can cost over £70,000 a year.

Your Financial Shield: How Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection (LCIIP) Can Help

Faced with a potential £4.2 million financial hole and a threadbare state safety net, proactive financial planning is not a luxury; it's a necessity. A well-structured portfolio of Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection insurance provides a powerful, multi-layered defence.

Critical Illness Cover (CIC): The Financial First Responder

This is the most direct and powerful tool for combating the financial impact of a dementia diagnosis.

  • How it Works: A Critical Illness policy pays out a tax-free lump sum upon the diagnosis of one of a list of specified medical conditions. Crucially, Alzheimer's disease and other definitive forms of dementia are now standard definitions on virtually all comprehensive CIC policies sold in the UK.
  • The Payout: A payout of £100,000, £250,000 or more can be transformative. It arrives when it is needed most, providing a fund that can be used for anything:
    • Paying for private care: Fund high-quality domiciliary or residential care without touching your own savings.
    • Adapting your home: Install a stairlift or wet room to allow you to stay at home for longer.
    • Replacing lost income: Provide a buffer for a spouse who needs to reduce their working hours.
    • Exploring specialist treatments: Access therapies or support services not available on the NHS.
    • Reducing stress: Simply knowing the money is there removes an immense financial burden, allowing the family to focus on care and quality of life.

Key Consideration: You must check the policy wording. Insurers typically require the diagnosis to be definitive and made by a UK consultant, with evidence of permanent, irreversible symptoms that impact daily living. This is where an expert broker like WeCovr is invaluable, helping you understand these crucial definitions.

Income Protection (IP): The Salary Safety Net

Income Protection is designed to replace a portion of your monthly income (typically 50-70%) if you are unable to work due to any illness or injury that your policy covers.

  • How it Helps with Dementia:
    1. For the Patient: If someone is diagnosed with early-onset dementia while still working, an IP policy can provide a regular, tax-free income stream right up until retirement age. This protects their family's lifestyle and allows them to continue paying the mortgage and bills.
    2. For the Carer: Some IP policies can be claimed on by a healthy individual who has to give up work to provide full-time care for a loved one. This is a less common feature but a hugely valuable one to look for.

The most important feature of an IP policy is the "definition of incapacity." The "own occupation" definition is the gold standard—it means the policy will pay out if you are unable to do your specific job, rather than any job at all.

Life Insurance: The Ultimate Backstop

While it doesn't pay out on diagnosis, Life Insurance is the final line of defence for your family's legacy.

  • How it Works: It pays a tax-free lump sum to your beneficiaries when you die.
  • Its Role in Dementia Planning: Even if dementia care costs have completely drained your savings and forced the sale of your home, a life insurance policy ensures your legacy remains intact. It provides a separate, protected pot of money that can:
    • Pay off any remaining mortgage.
    • Provide an inheritance for your children or grandchildren.
    • Cover inheritance tax liabilities.
    • Give your surviving spouse financial security.

Many policies also include Terminal Illness Benefit at no extra cost. This allows for an early payout of the death benefit if you are diagnosed with a condition that gives you a life expectancy of less than 12 months, a situation that can occur in the final stages of dementia.

Policy TypeWhen It Pays OutHow It Helps with DementiaKey Consideration
Critical Illness CoverOn diagnosis of a specified conditionProvides a lump sum for care, home adaptations, income replacement.Check the dementia definition and severity required.
Income ProtectionWhen unable to work due to illnessReplaces lost monthly salary for the patient or potentially a carer."Own occupation" definition is best.
Life InsuranceOn death (or terminal illness diagnosis)Guarantees a legacy/inheritance, protecting assets from care costs.Write the policy in trust to avoid inheritance tax.

Deciding to get protected is the first step. The second is navigating the market to find the right cover. The details matter immensely.

  • Level vs. Decreasing Cover: Level cover provides a fixed payout throughout the policy term, ideal for family protection or CIC. Decreasing cover reduces over time, designed to match a repayment mortgage.
  • Guaranteed vs. Reviewable Premiums: Guaranteed premiums are fixed for the life of the policy, providing certainty. Reviewable premiums may start cheaper but can increase significantly over time, becoming unaffordable when you need the cover most. Guaranteed is almost always the better choice.
  • The Importance of Honesty: You must be completely transparent on your application form about your medical history, your family's medical history (especially for conditions like dementia or heart disease), and lifestyle factors like smoking and alcohol consumption. Non-disclosure can invalidate your policy at the point of claim.
  • Waiver of Premium: This is a vital add-on. For a small extra cost, it means the insurer will pay your policy premiums for you if you are unable to work due to illness or injury (typically after a deferred period of 3-6 months). This ensures your cover stays in place when you can't afford it.

This complexity is why seeking independent, expert advice is so important. A specialist broker can be your guide. At WeCovr, we compare plans from all the UK's major insurers, but our service goes beyond simple price comparison. We delve into the policy wording, compare the critical illness definitions, and match the right features—like guaranteed premiums and own occupation cover—to your specific circumstances. We ensure you're not just buying a policy, but a promise that will be kept.

Furthermore, we believe in supporting our clients' long-term well-being. This proactive approach to health is why all our clients receive complimentary access to CalorieHero, our exclusive AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app. It's a tool to help you take control of your health today, embodying our commitment to your future.

A Proactive Approach: Can I Reduce My Risk?

Insurance is the financial safety net, but risk reduction is the first prize. While there's no guaranteed way to prevent dementia, a wealth of evidence from the NHS, Alzheimer's Society, and leading research bodies shows that you can significantly lower your risk. Up to 40% of dementia cases are thought to be linked to modifiable lifestyle factors.

Think of it as building a "brain-healthy" lifestyle:

  • Heart Health is Brain Health: Manage your blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight. What's good for your heart is good for your brain's blood supply.
  • Stay Physically Active: Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. Regular activity increases blood flow to the brain.
  • Eat a Balanced Diet: A Mediterranean-style diet—rich in vegetables, fruits, fish, and healthy fats—has been repeatedly linked to better cognitive outcomes.
  • Challenge Your Brain: Keep mentally active. Reading, learning a new skill, puzzles, and engaging hobbies all help build cognitive reserve.
  • Stay Socially Connected: Maintaining strong social ties and avoiding loneliness are protective against cognitive decline.
  • Limit Alcohol and Stop Smoking: Both are major risk factors for vascular damage and dementia.

This focus on proactive wellness is central to our ethos at WeCovr. It's about empowering you to live a healthier life while we ensure your financial future is protected, whatever it may hold.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I get cover if I have a family history of dementia? A: Yes, in most cases. You must declare it. The insurer may ask for more details (e.g., age of onset for the relative). For some genetic, early-onset forms, it could lead to higher premiums or an exclusion, but for the more common late-onset Alzheimer's, it's often possible to get standard terms. Honesty is paramount.

Q: What if I already have some health conditions, like high blood pressure? A: You can still get cover. The insurer will assess your overall health. Well-managed conditions may have little impact on your application. An expert broker can help you approach the right insurers for your specific health profile.

Q: Is there an age limit to taking out cover? A: Yes. Most insurers will not offer new Critical Illness or Income Protection policies to people over the age of 60-65. Life insurance can often be taken out later, up to age 75 or even 80, but premiums will be significantly higher. The younger and healthier you are when you apply, the cheaper your cover will be.

Q: How much cover do I need? A: This depends entirely on your circumstances: your mortgage, your salary, your dependents, and your existing savings. A common rule of thumb for CIC is enough to cover your mortgage plus 1-2 years of salary. For life insurance, it's often 10x your annual salary. We can help you conduct a thorough needs analysis.

Q: Is the payout from Critical Illness Cover and Life Insurance tax-free? A: Yes. The lump sum paid out from these policies is paid free of income tax and capital gains tax. For life insurance, writing the policy in trust can also ensure the payout does not form part of your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes.

Securing Your Future in an Uncertain World

The statistics are no longer ignorable. The prospect of dementia will shape the future of one in three of us, with the potential to trigger a financial shockwave that can level a family's security. To stand by and hope it won't be you, or to blindly trust in a state support system that is demonstrably broken, is a gamble no responsible person should take.

The good news is that you have a choice. You can take control. By understanding the risks and taking proactive steps, you can erect a powerful financial fortress around your family.

A comprehensive LCIIP strategy is your shield. Critical Illness Cover provides the immediate cash injection to fund care and preserve dignity. Income Protection safeguards your salary and lifestyle. Life Insurance guarantees your legacy, ensuring the fruits of your life's work pass to your loved ones, not to a care provider.

This isn't about fear; it's about foresight. It's an investment in certainty, dignity, and peace of mind.

Don't let your family's future be a matter of chance. Take control today. The team of experts at WeCovr is here to help you build a robust financial shield, tailored to your unique needs and designed to protect you against life's cruellest uncertainties.


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.