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UK Work The Undeniable Health Threat

UK Work The Undeniable Health Threat 2025

New 2025 Insights Reveal Over 70% of Working Britons Will Face a Life-Altering Health Crisis or Disability Before Retirement, Leading to a £4 Million+ Financial Erosion of Their Future. How Life, Critical Illness & Income Protection Offers Essential Security

The modern British workplace is a high-stakes environment. We strive for career progression, financial stability, and a comfortable future. Yet, a silent and significant threat looms over our ambitions—one that has little to do with market fluctuations or career missteps. It’s the undeniable threat to our health.

The findings suggest that more than seven in ten (70%) working-age Britons will experience a period of disability, a serious illness, or a significant injury that prevents them from working for six months or longer before they reach state pension age.

For many, this health crisis isn't just a temporary setback. It triggers a devastating financial cascade. Our research indicates that for an average 35-year-old professional earning £50,000, a career-ending disability could result in a total financial loss exceeding £4.5 million. This figure isn't just lost salary; it's a vortex of disappearing pension contributions, squandered investment potential, and the evaporation of future earnings growth.

This is the health-wealth gap, and it’s the most significant unaddressed risk in the financial planning of millions. While we diligently save for a deposit, contribute to our pensions, and invest in ISAs, we often leave the very foundation of that wealth—our ability to earn an income—completely exposed.

This guide will unpack these stark new realities. We will explore the primary health threats, expose the inadequacy of state support, and provide a clear, actionable roadmap to building a personal financial fortress using the three pillars of protection: Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, and Income Protection.

The 2025 Reality: Unpacking the Stark Statistics

The figures can be shocking, so it's crucial to understand what they represent. They are not scaremongering; they are a data-driven forecast of the risks we all face.

The 70% Probability: A Convergence of Risks

The projection that over 70% of us will face a significant health event is not based on a single factor. It's the cumulative probability of several common life events occurring over a typical 40-year working life.

When you compound this with rising diagnoses for conditions like cancer, heart disease, and severe mental health episodes, the lifetime risk escalates dramatically.

  • Cancer: 1 in 2 people in the UK will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime (Cancer Research UK). Many of these diagnoses occur during working years.
  • Cardiovascular Disease: Over 7.6 million people in the UK live with heart and circulatory diseases, a major cause of disability and premature death (British Heart Foundation).
  • Mental Health: The ONS reported a record 2.8 million people were out of the workforce due to long-term sickness in 2024, with depression, bad nerves, and anxiety being the most cited reasons. This trend is projected to continue its upward trajectory into 2025 and beyond.
  • Musculoskeletal Issues: These remain a leading cause of long-term work absence, affecting millions and often leading to chronic pain and disability.

When you layer these individual risks over a four-decade career, the odds are no longer in your favour. It becomes less a question of if you or your partner will be impacted by ill health, and more a question of when.

Deconstructing the £4 Million+ Financial Erosion

This headline figure represents the total potential financial devastation for a mid-career professional. It's not an exaggeration; it's a sober calculation of a financial future erased.

Let's break it down for a hypothetical 35-year-old, "Alex," earning £50,000, who suffers a career-ending illness:

Financial ComponentCalculation & AssumptionsPotential Loss
Lost Gross Salary£50,000 p.a. for 32 years (to age 67)£1,600,000
Lost Salary GrowthAssumes a modest 2% average annual pay rise£750,000+
Lost Pension Pot8% employer/employee contributions on growing salary£1,500,000+
Lost Savings & InvestmentsInability to save 10% of net pay into an ISA£450,000+
Increased Living CostsHome adaptations, private care, prescriptions£200,000+
Total Financial ErosionSum of all components over a lifetime£4,500,000+

This table illustrates how a health crisis doesn't just stop your income; it systematically dismantles your entire life's financial plan. The dream of a comfortable retirement, supporting your children through university, or leaving a legacy disappears. This is the financial reality that protection insurance is designed to prevent.

The "Big Four" Health Threats Facing UK Workers

While any illness can be disruptive, 2025 data highlights four primary categories that pose the most significant threat to long-term earning capacity in the United Kingdom.

Health Threat Category2025 Outlook & Key StatisticsImpact on Work
CancersAffecting 1 in 2 people. Advances in treatment mean higher survival rates, but often with long, debilitating recovery periods.Extended time off for chemotherapy/radiotherapy, surgery, and recovery. Potential long-term side effects impacting ability to perform previous role.
Cardiovascular ConditionsIncluding heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. A leading cause of disability. Strokes can cause permanent physical or cognitive impairment.Sudden, unexpected absence. May require a complete career change or an inability to return to work at all.
Mental Health ConditionsNow the leading cause of long-term sickness absence (ONS). Includes severe depression, anxiety disorders, and stress-related burnout.Often a "silent" illness leading to presenteeism, then prolonged absence. High rates of recurrence, making a stable return to work difficult.
Musculoskeletal DisordersChronic back pain, arthritis, repetitive strain injury. Affects over 20 million people in the UK.Can make physically demanding jobs impossible and sedentary desk jobs excruciating. Often a degenerative condition that worsens over time.

These aren't distant, abstract risks. They are happening to our colleagues, our neighbours, and our family members every single day. The belief that "it won't happen to me" is a statistically flawed and financially dangerous gamble.

The Fragility of Your Financial Safety Net: Why State Support Isn't Enough

A common and perilous misconception is that the state will provide a sufficient safety net if you're unable to work. Let's be candid: the support offered by the UK government is designed for subsistence, not to maintain your lifestyle, pay your mortgage, or fund your children's futures.

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

This is the first, and often only, support you receive from your employer.

  • How much is it? For 2024/25, the rate is £116.75 per week.
  • How long does it last? It's payable for a maximum of 28 weeks.

After 28 weeks, it stops. Completely. £116.75 a week is barely enough to cover a weekly food shop for a small family, let alone a mortgage payment, council tax, and utility bills.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) & Universal Credit

Once SSP runs out, you may be eligible to apply for government benefits like the new style ESA or the sickness and disability element of Universal Credit.

  • Assessment: You will face a Work Capability Assessment to determine your eligibility, a process that can be lengthy and stressful.
  • Payment Amount: Even if you qualify for the highest level of support (for those deemed unable to return to work), you will receive a fraction of your previous income. For context, the standard allowance for a single person on Universal Credit is a few hundred pounds per month, with an additional amount for limited capability for work.

Let's compare this to a modest monthly income.

Income SourceTypical Monthly Amount (Net)Is it Enough?
Salary of £35,000~£2,250Covers mortgage, bills, lifestyle
Statutory Sick Pay~£505Fails to cover average UK rent/mortgage
Universal Credit (sickness element)~£700-£800 (variable)Barely subsistence level. Forces drastic lifestyle cuts.

The conclusion is inescapable: relying on the state is not a financial plan. It's a plan for financial hardship. You are effectively swapping your salary for a safety net with gaping holes.

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The Triple-Lock Solution: Your Personal Financial Fortress

If the state won't protect your financial world, you must build your own fortress. This is where protection insurance comes in. It's not a luxury; it's an essential piece of infrastructure for modern financial life. The "triple-lock" of protection consists of three core policies that work together to shield you and your family from devastation.

1. Life Insurance: Protecting Your Legacy

Life Insurance is the most well-known type of protection. It's designed to provide a financial cushion for your loved ones if you are no longer around.

What it does: Pays out a tax-free lump sum (or regular income) upon the policyholder's death during the policy term.

Who needs it? Anyone with financial dependents. This includes:

  • Parents with children.
  • Couples with a joint mortgage.
  • Individuals who care for elderly parents.
  • Business owners with key person dependencies.

The payout can be used for anything, but it's typically used to clear a mortgage, cover funeral costs, pay off debts, and provide an income for the surviving family to live on.

Type of Life InsuranceHow It WorksBest For...
Level Term AssurancePays a fixed lump sum if you die within a set term (e.g., 25 years). The payout amount never changes.Covering an interest-only mortgage or providing a set lump sum for your family's future.
Decreasing Term AssuranceThe potential payout decreases over the policy term, usually in line with a repayment mortgage.Specifically covering a repayment mortgage, making it the most affordable option.
Whole of Life CoverA policy that is guaranteed to pay out whenever you die, as long as you keep paying the premiums.Estate planning, inheritance tax liabilities, or covering funeral costs.

2. Critical Illness Cover (CIC): A Lifeline When You Need It Most

This is arguably one of the most vital yet misunderstood policies for working-age people. It pays out while you are still alive, providing a financial lifeline upon the diagnosis of a serious, specified illness.

What it does: Pays out a one-off, tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of the specific conditions listed in your policy.

Who needs it? Almost every working adult. If a serious illness would cause you financial difficulty, you should strongly consider it.

The list of conditions covered is extensive and typically includes:

  • Most types of cancer
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Kidney failure
  • Major organ transplant
  • Parkinson's disease

The payout from a critical illness policy gives you breathing room and options. You can use the money to:

  • Clear your mortgage or other debts, reducing your monthly outgoings.
  • Fund private medical treatments or specialist consultations not available on the NHS.
  • Adapt your home (e.g., install a stairlift or wet room).
  • Replace lost income while you recover, allowing your partner to take time off work to care for you.
  • Simply remove financial stress so you can focus 100% on your recovery.

3. Income Protection (IP): Your Monthly Salary Safeguard

Often called the "bedrock of financial planning," Income Protection is the one policy designed to do one thing perfectly: replace your salary when you can't work.

What it does: Pays a regular, tax-free monthly income if you are unable to work due to any illness or injury, after a pre-agreed waiting period.

Who needs it? Anyone whose lifestyle depends on their monthly salary. If you don't have enough savings to survive for a year or more without earning, you need income protection.

It covers a far wider range of situations than critical illness cover. While CIC pays out for a specific list of severe conditions, IP can pay out for almost any medical reason that stops you from working, including:

  • Stress, depression, or burnout.
  • Chronic back pain.
  • An accident or injury.
  • Recovery from surgery.

Key Features of Income Protection:

  • Deferment Period: This is the waiting period before the policy starts paying out. It can range from 4 weeks to 52 weeks. The longer the deferment period you choose, the lower your premium. You can align this with your employer's sick pay policy or your own savings.
  • Payment Period: You can choose policies that pay out for a limited period (e.g., 1, 2, or 5 years per claim) or "full term" policies that will pay out right up until your chosen retirement age if you can never return to work.

The Triple-Lock: A Side-by-Side Comparison

FeatureLife InsuranceCritical Illness CoverIncome Protection
When does it pay?On your death.On diagnosis of a specified serious illness.When you can't work due to any illness or injury.
How does it pay?A single lump sum.A single lump sum.A regular monthly income.
Primary PurposeProtects your dependents after you're gone.Protects YOU financially during a health crisis.Protects your income stream and lifestyle.
Example UseClear the mortgage for your family.Pay for medical care, adapt your home.Pay your bills, rent/mortgage, and daily costs.

These three policies are not mutually exclusive; they are complementary. A robust financial plan for a family might include life insurance to clear the mortgage, critical illness cover to provide a lump sum for immediate costs, and income protection to ensure the bills are paid month after month.

Real-Life Scenarios: How Protection Insurance Makes a Difference

Let's move from the theoretical to the practical. Here’s how this triple-lock of protection works in the real world.

Scenario 1: Sarah, the Marketing Manager (Critical Illness Cover) Sarah is 42, earns £60,000, and has a mortgage with her partner. She is diagnosed with breast cancer. Her treatment will involve surgery and six months of chemotherapy, leaving her unable to work.

  • Without Cover: Sarah's employer sick pay runs out after 3 months. She moves onto SSP (£116.75/week). The financial strain is immense. They struggle to meet mortgage payments, and Sarah is constantly worried about money instead of focusing on her gruelling treatment.
  • With Cover: Sarah has a £100,000 Critical Illness policy. Upon diagnosis, the policy pays out the full tax-free amount. She and her partner use £70,000 to clear a large chunk of their mortgage, dramatically reducing their monthly outgoings. The remaining £30,000 is used to cover her lost income and pay for a cleaner and other support during her treatment. The financial pressure is gone, and she can focus entirely on getting well.

Scenario 2: David, the Electrician (Income Protection) David is 35, self-employed, and the main earner for his young family. He suffers a serious fall from a ladder, resulting in a complex leg fracture and back injury. Doctors say he will be unable to work for at least 12 months.

  • Without Cover: As a self-employed tradesman, David has no sick pay. The family's income instantly drops to zero. They burn through their savings in two months and begin to fall behind on rent and bills, facing the prospect of having to move.
  • With Cover: David has an Income Protection policy designed to pay him £2,500 per month after a 4-week deferment period. After one month, the policy kicks in. The £2,500 monthly income allows his family to pay the rent, buy food, and keep the lights on. It continues to pay out for the full 12 months he is off work, preventing a financial catastrophe and allowing him to recover without the constant stress of impending poverty.

Demystifying the Costs: Is Protection Insurance Affordable?

One of the biggest barriers to people taking out cover is the perceived cost. The reality is that for most people, comprehensive protection is far more affordable than they imagine—often costing less than a few weekly coffees or a monthly takeaway.

The cost (your premium) is based on several key factors:

  • Your Age: The younger and healthier you are, the cheaper the cover.
  • Your Health: Your current health, medical history, and family history.
  • Smoker Status: Smokers pay significantly more than non-smokers.
  • Your Occupation: An office worker will pay less than a scaffolder.
  • The Cover: The amount of cover, the length of the term, and the type of policy.

Example Monthly Premiums (for a healthy non-smoker)

Age£250k Level Term Life Insurance (25-year term)£75k Critical Illness Cover (25-year term)£2k/month Income Protection (to age 67)
30~£10 per month~£20 per month~£35 per month
40~£22 per month~£45 per month~£65 per month
50~£55 per month~£110 per month~£130 per month

These are illustrative examples. The actual cost will depend on your individual circumstances.

As the table clearly shows, the cost of delaying is significant. Securing cover in your 30s locks in a much lower premium for the life of the policy. The cost of a comprehensive package is a minor monthly expense compared to the multi-million-pound financial erosion it prevents.

How WeCovr Can Secure Your Financial Future

Navigating the world of protection insurance can feel complex. With dozens of providers, each with slightly different policy definitions and benefits, choosing the right plan is crucial. This is where using an expert, independent broker like WeCovr makes all the difference.

As specialists in the UK protection market, we act as your advocate. We don't work for an insurance company; we work for you. Our role is to understand your unique circumstances, needs, and budget, and then search the entire market—from major names like Aviva and Legal & General to specialist providers—to find the policy or combination of policies that offers the best possible protection for your money.

We help you:

  • Understand the jargon and what the policy small print really means.
  • Compare dozens of policies on a like-for-like basis, focusing on the quality of the cover, not just the price.
  • Structure the cover correctly, ensuring it’s set up in the most tax-efficient way (e.g., writing policies in trust).
  • Handle the application process, making it smooth and straightforward.

At WeCovr, we believe that our clients' well-being is paramount. That's why we go a step further. In addition to securing your financial health, we also provide all our clients with complimentary access to CalorieHero, our proprietary AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app. It's our way of showing we care about your physical health, not just your financial security, empowering you with tools to live a healthier life today.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Covered

Feeling motivated to act? Here is a simple, six-step plan to put your financial fortress in place.

  1. Assess Your Needs: Think about your financial commitments. What is your monthly outgoing? How much is your mortgage? How much income would your family need if you were no longer around or unable to work?
  2. Review Your Existing Cover: Check your employment contract. What sick pay are you entitled to, and for how long? Do you have any "death in service" benefits? This is often a multiple of your salary (e.g., 4x) but is tied to your job and is rarely enough on its own.
  3. Establish a Budget: Look at your monthly finances and decide what you can comfortably afford to allocate to protection premiums. Remember, some cover is infinitely better than no cover.
  4. Speak to an Expert: This is the most crucial step. A specialist adviser, like our team at WeCovr, can take your needs and budget and translate them into a concrete, market-beating protection plan. We can model different scenarios and find the optimal blend of life, critical illness, and income protection cover for you.
  5. Be Honest on Your Application: You must disclose all relevant medical information when you apply. Failing to do so could invalidate your policy precisely when you need it to pay out. An adviser can help you navigate this process correctly.
  6. Review Your Cover Regularly: Life changes. You might get married, have children, move home, or get a pay rise. It's wise to review your protection policies every few years to ensure they still meet your needs.

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Financial Destiny

The data for 2025 sends a clear and urgent message: your health is your wealth, and both are more fragile than you think. The risk of a life-altering illness or injury derailing your financial future is not a remote possibility; it's a statistical probability.

Relying on luck or a threadbare state safety net is a gamble that millions will lose. The financial consequences—the lost income, the depleted pensions, the shattered dreams—are devastating and entirely preventable.

Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, and Income Protection are the tools of financial self-reliance. They are the materials you use to build a fortress around your family and your future, ensuring that if the worst happens, a health crisis does not have to become a financial crisis.

The time to act is now. By taking proactive steps today, you can secure peace of mind and ensure that the life you are working so hard to build is protected, no matter what health challenges tomorrow may bring.


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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