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UK Health Span Crisis 2025

UK Health Span Crisis 2025 2025 | Top Insurance Guides

UK 2025 Shock New Data Reveals The Average Briton Faces Over 16 Years In Poor Health Before Death, With Over 1 in 8 Working Britons Forced Out of Work By Illness Before Retirement, Fueling a Staggering £4 Million+ Lifetime Burden of Lost Income, Unfunded Care & Eroding Family Futures – Is Your LCIIP Shield Your Indispensable Defence Against The Longevity Trap & Britains Health Span Crisis

The United Kingdom is staring down the barrel of a silent crisis. It doesn’t dominate the headlines like political scandals or economic forecasts, but its impact on British families is more profound, more personal, and more financially devastating. This is the UK's Health Span Crisis.

New analysis based on the latest 2025 data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and labour market reports paints a stark picture. While we are living longer than ever before – a triumph of modern medicine – we are not living healthier for longer. The gap between our total lifespan and our 'healthspan' (the years we live in good health) has widened into a chasm.

The average Briton is now projected to spend over 16 years in a state of poor health before they die.

Think about that. It’s not a peaceful, comfortable retirement. It’s more than a decade and a half potentially battling chronic illness, mobility issues, and cognitive decline. This isn't just a quality-of-life issue; it's a financial time bomb.

For those of working age, the threat is even more immediate. Staggering new figures reveal that more than 1 in 8 people will be forced to stop working due to a serious illness or injury before they reach retirement age. The dream of a comfortable retirement, funded by a lifetime of hard work, is being shattered for millions by an unexpected health event.

The financial fallout is catastrophic. For a family affected by long-term illness, the cumulative lifetime cost—factoring in lost income, squandered pension growth, the immense cost of private care, and the lost opportunities for the next generation—can exceed a jaw-dropping £4.7 million.

This is the "Longevity Trap." We plan for a long life, but we fail to plan for a long illness. The question every single one of us must now ask is: what is my defence? This guide will explore the crisis in detail and reveal how a robust Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection (LCIIP) shield is no longer a 'nice-to-have', but an indispensable pillar of modern financial survival.

Deconstructing the Crisis: The 2025 Data Uncovered

To grasp the scale of the problem, we need to look beyond the headlines and understand the data that defines the UK's Health Span Crisis. These aren't abstract numbers; they represent the real-world challenges faced by families in every town and city across the country.

The Widening Chasm: Lifespan vs. Healthspan

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) provides the most authoritative data on life expectancy in the UK. While overall life expectancy has plateaued recently, it remains historically high. However, the crucial metric is 'Healthy Life Expectancy' (HLE) – the number of years an individual can expect to live in "Good" or "Very Good" health.

The 2025 projections reveal a deeply concerning trend:

Metric (UK Average, 2025 Projections)MaleFemale
Life Expectancy at Birth79.3 years83.1 years
Healthy Life Expectancy at Birth62.8 years63.2 years
Years in Poor Health (The Gap)16.5 years19.9 years

Source: Analysis based on ONS and Public Health England trend data.

This "gap" of 16-20 years represents a period of managing potentially debilitating conditions. It's years spent dealing with doctors, relying on medication, and potentially needing care—all of which come with significant financial and emotional costs. For women, this period of ill health is now projected to last for almost two decades.

The Career Catastrophe: 1 in 8 Forced Out of Work

For those in the prime of their careers, the risk of a health shock derailing their financial future is higher than ever. 5%**, or greater than 1 in 8.

What kind of illnesses are causing this?

  • Musculoskeletal Issues: Chronic back pain, neck problems and arthritis are the single biggest cause of work-loss days in the UK, often leading to long-term disability.
  • Mental Health Conditions: The silent epidemic of stress, anxiety, and depression is now a leading cause of long-term sickness absence, affecting 1 in 4 people each year and forcing many out of demanding roles.
  • Cancer: With 1 in 2 people now expected to get cancer in their lifetime, survival rates are thankfully increasing. However, treatment can be long and gruelling, making a return to a full-time, high-pressure career challenging or impossible.
  • Cardiovascular Disease: Heart attacks and strokes remain major causes of disability and premature work cessation, often striking without warning.

The £4.7 Million Burden: How the Costs Escalate

The £4.7 million figure may seem astronomical, but for a higher-earning household where a primary breadwinner is forced to stop working at age 45, the lifetime financial devastation is very real. This isn't just about lost salary; it's a domino effect that shatters a family's entire financial ecosystem.

Let's break down how this burden accumulates for a family.

Cost ComponentDescriptionPotential Financial Impact
Lost Gross IncomeA 45-year-old earning £100k p.a. losing 22 years of income until state pension age.£2,200,000
Lost Pension GrowthLoss of employer/employee contributions and 22 years of compound growth.£1,100,000+
Private Care CostsThe cost of carers, specialist therapies, or residential care. At £75k/year for 10 years.£750,000
Spouse's Lost IncomeA partner reducing hours or stopping work to become a carer (£50k p.a. for 10 years).£500,000
Home AdaptationsRamps, stairlifts, accessible bathrooms to accommodate a disability.£50,000 - £100,000
Eroded Family FutureDepleting savings for kids' education, house deposits, or family inheritance.£100,000s
Total Potential BurdenA devastating cumulative impact on the family's financial future.£4 Million+

This is a worst-case scenario for a high earner, but it illustrates how quickly the financial foundations of a family can be obliterated by one health crisis. Even for someone on the UK's average salary, the loss of income alone can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds, completely upending their financial lives.

What's Fuelling the Fire? The Drivers of the Health Span Crisis

This crisis hasn't appeared from nowhere. It's the result of several converging trends that are putting unprecedented strain on our personal health and our national healthcare system.

  1. The Rise of Chronic, Lifestyle-Related Conditions: Modern life, for all its conveniences, has brought with it a pandemic of chronic diseases. Rates of Type 2 diabetes, obesity-related illnesses, and certain cancers are soaring. These conditions don't kill you quickly, but they require lifelong management and significantly increase the risk of more severe events like heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure.
  2. An Overburdened NHS: The National Health Service is a national treasure, but it is under immense pressure. Record-high waiting lists for diagnostics and treatment in 2025 mean conditions are often caught later, leading to poorer outcomes and longer recovery times. Getting a timely GP appointment can be a struggle, preventing the early intervention that is critical for so many conditions. While the NHS is there for emergencies, relying on it for swift, comprehensive long-term care is becoming increasingly unrealistic.
  3. The Mental Health Epidemic: The pressures of work, finances, and an 'always-on' digital culture have led to a dramatic increase in mental health conditions. These are now a primary driver of long-term sickness absence, yet effective support systems are often difficult to access, leaving individuals and their families to cope alone with the debilitating consequences.
  4. An Ageing Population: As the 'baby boomer' generation moves into their 70s and 80s, the prevalence of age-related conditions like dementia, arthritis, and heart failure is increasing exponentially. This places a huge burden not just on social care systems, but directly on families who often have to step in as unpaid carers, sacrificing their own careers and financial security.

The State Safety Net: A Patchwork of Inadequacy

Many people hold a dangerously optimistic assumption: if they fall seriously ill, "the state" will look after them. The harsh reality is that the UK's state benefits system is designed to provide a minimal safety net to prevent destitution, not to replace your income or maintain your family's lifestyle.

Let's compare a typical take-home pay with the maximum you could expect from the state after becoming unable to work long-term.

Income SourceTypical Monthly AmountNotes
Average UK Salary (Take-home)£2,300Based on a £35,000 gross salary.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)~£478 (£116.75/week)Paid by your employer for a max of 28 weeks. Then it stops.
Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) / Universal Credit~£580 (max, after 3 months)Heavily means-tested. Your savings or partner's income will reduce or eliminate this.

As the table clearly shows, the drop-off is brutal and immediate. State benefits would not even cover the average UK rent payment, let alone a mortgage, council tax, utilities, food, and transport. Relying on this is not a financial plan; it's a direct path to financial hardship, arrears, and stress at the worst possible time.

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Your LCIIP Shield: The Three-Pronged Defence Against the Longevity Trap

If the state cannot protect your financial future, you must build your own fortress. A comprehensive protection strategy, often called an LCIIP Shield, combines three powerful types of insurance. Each plays a distinct and vital role in safeguarding you and your family from the financial consequences of the Health Span Crisis.

These are Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, and Income Protection. Think of them as a three-legged stool: remove any one leg, and the entire structure becomes unstable.

1. Income Protection (IP): Your Monthly Paycheque When You Can't Work

What it is: Income Protection is arguably the single most important financial product you can own during your working life. It's designed to replace a significant portion of your lost earnings if you are unable to work due to any illness or injury that your doctor signs you off for.

How it works:

  • It pays out a regular, tax-free monthly sum, typically 50-70% of your gross salary.
  • The payments continue month after month, year after year if necessary, until you are able to return to work, reach the end of the policy term (usually your retirement age), or die, whichever comes first.
  • You choose a "deferred period" – the length of time you wait after stopping work before the payments start (e.g., 4, 8, 13, 26, or 52 weeks). You can align this with any sick pay you get from your employer. The longer the deferred period, the lower the premium.

Why it's the cornerstone: IP covers your foundations. It pays the mortgage, the bills, the food shopping. It stops you from having to drain your savings or go into debt just to survive. It covers you for a bad back or severe depression just as it would for cancer. It's the policy that protects your entire financial world from crumbling month by month.

2. Critical Illness Cover (CIC): Your Financial Fire Extinguisher

What it is: Critical Illness Cover pays out a one-off, tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of a list of specific serious conditions defined in the policy document.

How it works:

  • Core conditions covered by all insurers include most forms of cancer, heart attack, and stroke.
  • Comprehensive policies can cover 50, 100, or even more specific conditions, including multiple sclerosis, kidney failure, major organ transplant, dementia, and Parkinson's disease.
  • The lump sum can be used for absolutely anything you want. There are no restrictions.

Why it's the emergency fund: The CIC payout provides immediate financial relief and options at the point of maximum crisis. It's a capital injection that allows you to fight back. Families use this money to:

  • Pay off their mortgage or other major debts, massively reducing their monthly outgoings.
  • Fund private medical treatment, scans, or specialist consultations to bypass NHS waiting lists.
  • Make essential adaptations to their home (e.g., a wet room or stairlift).
  • Allow a partner to take an extended period of unpaid leave from work to provide crucial support.
  • Simply provide a substantial financial cushion to eliminate money worries during a stressful recovery.

It's the financial firepower you need to tackle the immediate, large-scale costs of a serious diagnosis, giving you the breathing space to focus on getting better.

3. Life Insurance: The Ultimate Backstop for Your Family's Future

What it is: Life Insurance is the most well-known form of protection. It pays out a lump sum (the 'sum assured') to your loved ones if you pass away during the policy term.

How it works:

  • Term Insurance: The most common and affordable type. It covers you for a set period (the 'term'), for example, until your mortgage is paid off or your children are financially independent. If you die within the term, it pays out.
  • Whole of Life Insurance: This is a more specialist policy that guarantees a payout whenever you die, making it suitable for leaving a planned inheritance or covering a future inheritance tax bill.

Why it's the final guarantee: Life insurance is the ultimate act of love and financial responsibility. It ensures that, should the worst happen as a result of your illness, your family is not left with a mountain of debt and an uncertain future. The payout can clear the mortgage, cover final expenses, and provide a fund to replace your income for years to come, ensuring their future is secure even if you're not there to provide for them.

A Tale of Two Futures: David's Story

To see the profound power of an LCIIP shield, let's consider a real-world scenario.

David is a 45-year-old marketing manager, married with two children aged 10 and 12. He earns £60,000 a year and has a £200,000 mortgage. He's fit and healthy until he suffers a major stroke, leaving him with significant speech and mobility problems. His doctors confirm he is unlikely to ever work in his demanding role again.

Let's look at his family's future in two different scenarios.

Financial AspectScenario A: No LCIIP ShieldScenario B: With a Full LCIIP Shield
Monthly IncomeAfter his 3 months' full sick pay ends, his income drops to SSP (£478/month), then to means-tested benefits (~£580/month). The family income plummets.Income Protection kicks in after 13 weeks, paying a tax-free income of £3,000/month (£36k/year) until he turns 67.
The MortgageThe family cannot pay the £1,200 monthly mortgage. They burn through their £15,000 savings in a year. They are forced to sell their home and downsize.Critical Illness Cover pays out a £200,000 lump sum on diagnosis of stroke. They use it to clear their mortgage entirely. Their biggest monthly outgoing vanishes.
Immediate CostsThey face long NHS waits for therapy. They cannot afford a wheelchair-accessible car or to adapt their bathroom. Stress levels are dangerously high.The remaining CIC payout funds intensive private speech therapy and physiotherapy. They adapt their home and buy a suitable car, easing the daily struggle.
Family FutureDavid's wife has to quit her part-time job to become his full-time carer. Plans for the children's university education are abandoned.The guaranteed IP income means David's wife can choose to keep working or reduce her hours without financial pressure. The children's futures remain on track.
Peace of MindConstant financial worry. David feels like a burden. The family's future has been destroyed by one health event.Financial security. David can focus fully on his recovery with dignity. The family's future is protected. His Life Insurance also remains in place, providing the ultimate backstop.

The difference is not just financial; it's the difference between despair and hope. An LCIIP shield transforms a catastrophe into a manageable challenge.

Finding Your Bespoke Shield: The Importance of Expert Advice

Building the right LCIIP shield isn't a simple case of clicking the cheapest option on a comparison website. That's a recipe for disaster. The details matter immensely, and getting them wrong can mean the difference between a claim being paid and a policy that isn't worth the paper it's written on.

  • How much cover do you need? This depends on your income, your mortgage, your other debts, the age of your dependents, and your existing savings. It requires a proper financial calculation.
  • What definitions matter? For Income Protection, an 'own-occupation' definition is the gold standard. It means the policy pays out if you can't do your specific job. Cheaper 'any-occupation' policies might only pay if you're unable to do any job at all, like stacking shelves.
  • Which insurer is best for you? Insurers have different appetites for risk, different claims statistics, and vastly different definitions for critical illnesses. The best insurer for a 30-year-old office worker is not the same as the best insurer for a 50-year-old manual labourer.

This is where independent, expert advice is invaluable. A DIY approach can leave you with dangerous gaps in your cover you won't discover until it's too late. At WeCovr, we act as your expert guide and financial advocate. Our specialist advisers take the time to understand your unique circumstances, budget, and concerns. We then search the entire market—from major names like Aviva, LV=, and Legal & General to specialist providers—to find the policies that offer the most robust and appropriate protection for you. We handle the complexities so you can have complete peace of mind.

Beyond the Shield: Proactive Steps to Boost Your Healthspan

While insurance is your financial safety net, it's not a substitute for looking after your health. The other half of the battle is taking proactive steps to improve your healthspan. This not only reduces your risk of needing to claim but, more importantly, improves your quality of life today and for years to come.

  • Nourish Your Body: Focus on a balanced diet rich in whole foods, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Small, sustainable changes make a far bigger difference than fad diets.
  • Move Every Day: The NHS recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. This could be brisk walking, cycling, or swimming. It's a magic bullet for preventing dozens of chronic diseases.
  • Prioritise Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of good quality sleep per night. It is essential for physical repair, mental processing, and hormonal regulation.
  • Manage Stress: Find healthy coping mechanisms that work for you, whether it's mindfulness, yoga, spending time in nature, or simply talking to a trusted friend.
  • Know Your Numbers: Get regular health checks for your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. Early detection of any issues is key to better outcomes.

At WeCovr, we believe in supporting our clients' overall wellbeing, showing that we care for them far beyond the point of sale. That's why, in addition to arranging robust insurance protection, we provide our customers with complimentary access to CalorieHero, our proprietary AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app. It's a small way we can help you take active control of your health, empowering you to make smarter choices every day and work on extending your own precious healthspan.

Don't Be a Statistic: Take Control of Your Future Today

The UK's Health Span Crisis is real, and the statistics are unforgiving. A long life is a gift, but a long life plagued by ill health and financial ruin is the Longevity Trap. Relying on luck or an overstretched and underfunded state system is no longer a viable strategy for any responsible person.

The power to defy these statistics lies in your hands. By acknowledging the risks and taking decisive, informed action, you can build a financial fortress around you and your family. A comprehensive LCIIP shield—combining the monthly support of Income Protection, the emergency funding of Critical Illness Cover, and the ultimate guarantee of Life Insurance—is the single most powerful and responsible tool at your disposal.

It's the difference between financial survival and financial devastation. It's the difference between being a victim of the longevity trap and being the master of your family's destiny.

The time to act is now. Don't wait for a health scare to reveal the cracks in your financial foundations. Protect your income, protect your family, and secure your future.


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:

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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.


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