Aviva Protection UK (formerly AIG Life): A Guide for Existing Policyholders in 2026
Navigating the world of life insurance can feel overwhelming, especially when providers change. In a major market shift, AIG Life Limited was acquired by Aviva in 2024 and rebranded in February 2025 as Aviva Protection UK Limited. New life, critical illness, and income protection policies are now Aviva-branded, while existing AIG Life policies are managed by Aviva.
This definitive 2026 guide is for existing AIG Life policyholders. We'll explain what the change means for you, review the features of your legacy AIG Life policy, and clarify how your cover, claims, and benefits like Smart Health are now managed by Aviva.
WeCovr reviews AIG Life's legacy products and what the Aviva acquisition means for you
As independent protection specialists, our job at WeCovr is to scrutinise the market to find the best possible cover for our clients. We work with all the major UK insurers, including Aviva, Legal & General, Zurich, and other leading providers. This gives us a unique, impartial perspective on where each provider excels.
AIG Life carved out a strong reputation in the UK for its comprehensive cover, innovative approach to customer wellness, and a solid track record for paying claims. As an existing policyholder, you can be reassured that these high-quality policies are now backed by Aviva, another of the UK's largest and most trusted insurers. Your policy terms and cover remain unchanged.
Let's break down the legacy of AIG Life's products and what you need to know in 2026.
Who Was AIG Life? A Snapshot
AIG Life Limited was the UK-based life insurance arm of the American International Group, a global finance and insurance corporation. Following its launch in 2015 with the acquisition of Ageas Protect, AIG Life quickly established itself as a forward-thinking and reliable provider. In 2024, Aviva acquired AIG Life Limited, and in February 2025 it was rebranded and integrated into Aviva's UK protection business as Aviva Protection UK Limited.
Financial Strength and Trust
When you buy a life insurance policy, you're buying a promise that could be fulfilled decades in the future. The financial strength of the insurer is paramount. Your policy is now underwritten by Aviva, a FTSE 100 company with one of the strongest financial ratings in the industry, ensuring a robust ability to meet long-term financial obligations.
More importantly for UK customers, both Aviva Protection (formerly AIG Life) and Aviva have a demonstrable commitment to paying claims. In its final years as a standalone brand, Aviva Protection (formerly AIG Life) published impressive claims statistics. For example, in 2023, they paid out:
- 99% of life claims paid
- 94% of critical illness claims paid
- 92% of income protection claims paid
These figures, which represented over £235 million paid out to thousands of families, provide crucial peace of mind. This commitment to paying claims is continued by Aviva, which has its own stellar payout record.
Awards and Recognition
The insurance industry recognises excellence through various awards and ratings. AIG Life consistently received high ratings from independent bodies like Defaqto, which scores products based on the quality and comprehensiveness of their features. Many of AIG Life's legacy products hold a 5-Star Defaqto rating, signifying they are among the best in the market.
A Review of AIG Life's Former Core Protection Products
AIG Life offered a complete suite of personal and business protection products. If you are an existing policyholder, your cover will fall into one of these categories. New customers seeking similar products should now look at Aviva's current range.
AIG Life Term Life Insurance
This is the most straightforward form of life insurance. You choose a lump sum to be paid out and a policy term (e.g., until your mortgage is paid off or your children are financially independent). If you pass away during the term, the policy pays out to your loved ones.
AIG Life offered the two main types:
- Level Term Assurance: The payout amount remains the same throughout the policy term. This is ideal for covering an interest-only mortgage or providing a financial legacy for your family.
- Decreasing Term Assurance: The payout amount reduces over time, broadly in line with a repayment mortgage or other loan. Because the potential payout decreases, premiums are typically lower than for level term cover.
Key Features:
- Generous Terms: Cover can run up to age 90.
- Waiver of Premium: This optional add-on covers your premiums if you're unable to work for more than 26 weeks due to illness or injury, ensuring your policy remains active.
- Terminal Illness Cover: Included as standard. If you are diagnosed with a terminal illness with a life expectancy of less than 12 months, AIG Life would pay out the full sum assured early.
Real-Life Example: The Miller Family David and Chloe, both 35, have a £300,000 repayment mortgage and two young children. They want to ensure that if one of them were to pass away, the other could clear the mortgage and have funds to support the children. They take out a joint decreasing term assurance policy from AIG Life for £300,000 over a 25-year term. This is a cost-effective way to protect their single biggest liability.
AIG Life Critical Illness Cover (CIC)
A critical illness diagnosis can be financially devastating, often meaning you have to stop working while facing increased costs for treatment and home adaptations. AIG Life's Critical Illness Cover is designed to provide a tax-free lump sum on diagnosis of a specified condition, giving you financial breathing space.
AIG Life's proposition was particularly strong in this area:
- Comprehensive Definitions: They cover over 80 conditions, including 49 full payment conditions and 38 additional (partial) payment conditions. This is one of the most extensive lists on the market.
- Focus on Core Conditions: They provide enhanced definitions for the most common reasons for claims: cancer, heart attack, and stroke.
- Children's Critical Illness Cover: Included as standard at no extra cost, covering children from birth to age 22. It provides a payout of up to £30,000 or 50% of the adult's cover, whichever is lower.
- Advanced Cancer Cover: AIG Life provided cover for 81 types of cancer classified as 'advanced', offering greater certainty at the point of claim.
AIG Life Income Protection (IP)
Often considered the foundation of any financial protection plan, Income Protection (IP) pays a regular, tax-free monthly income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury. It's your financial safety net against the unexpected.
AIG Life's income protection was highly flexible and a strong contender in the market:
- Own Occupation Definition: For most professions, AIG Life offered the 'own occupation' definition of incapacity. This is the gold standard. It means the policy will pay out if you are unable to perform your specific job, not just any job. This is crucial for skilled professionals, surgeons, tradespeople, or anyone in a specialised role.
- Flexible Deferred Periods: You can choose how long you wait before the payments start, from as little as 4 weeks up to 52 weeks. A longer deferred period means a lower premium.
- Choice of Payout Terms:
- Full Term: Pays out until you recover, your chosen retirement age, or the policy term ends.
- Short Term (Limited Payment Term): A more budget-friendly option that pays out for a maximum of 1, 2, or 5 years per claim. This is often sold as 'Personal Sick Pay' and is popular with tradespeople and those in riskier occupations.
- Guaranteed Insurability Options: Allows you to increase your cover without further medical questions at key life events, like getting married, having a child, or getting a mortgage.
Your Value-Added Benefits: What Happens to Smart Health?
A key feature of Aviva Protection (formerly AIG Life) policies was the excellent Smart Health service. The great news for existing policyholders is that you retain access to this benefit, which is now managed by Aviva and known as Aviva Smart Health.
Available to you and your immediate family (partner and children up to age 21) at no extra cost, Aviva Smart Health remains a comprehensive health and wellbeing hub. It is important to note that this is different from Aviva's own "DigiCare+" app, which is for their direct customers.
What's included in Aviva Smart Health?
- 24/7 UK-based Virtual GP: Get unlimited access to a GP by phone or video call, anytime, anywhere. This can save weeks of waiting for an NHS appointment for non-urgent issues. Prescriptions can be sent directly to your local pharmacy.
- Second Medical Opinion: If you or your family member receives a serious diagnosis, an independent network of world-leading specialists can review your case and provide a detailed second opinion report. This can provide clarity, reassurance, or alternative treatment options.
- Mental Health Support: Access up to four sessions of therapy or counselling per condition, per year. This support covers issues like stress, anxiety, depression, and bereavement. In a world where NHS mental health waiting lists are long, this is an invaluable benefit.
- Fitness and Nutrition Plans: Get tailored online programmes to help you achieve your health, fitness, and dietary goals. This proactive support helps you improve your long-term wellbeing.
- Health Check: A yearly online questionnaire that provides a personalised report on your health and suggests areas for improvement.
The value of Smart Health cannot be overstated. It provides tangible, everyday benefits that can improve your quality of life and potentially prevent serious health issues from developing. Your access to this service continues seamlessly under Aviva's management.
Managing Your Policy and Making a Claim with Aviva
Your Aviva Protection (formerly AIG Life) policy terms have not changed, but the company managing your policy has.
Making a Claim
Aviva is now responsible for handling all claims on former Aviva Protection (formerly AIG Life) policies. Aviva has a very strong reputation for fair and efficient claims handling, so you can be confident that your claim will be processed with sensitivity and professionalism. The process typically involves:
- Contacting the Aviva claims team (using the details provided on your policy documents or their website).
- Completing the necessary claim forms.
- Providing supporting evidence (e.g., a death certificate or medical reports).
The Aviva Smart Health service, particularly the bereavement and mental health support, can also be a valuable resource for families during a difficult time.
Specialist Cover from Aviva (formerly AIG Life): For Business Owners and High-Net-Worth Individuals
AIG Life's expertise extended beyond personal protection into the more complex world of business and estate planning. If you hold one of these specialist policies, your cover remains in place and is now managed by Aviva.
Key Person Insurance
What would happen to your business if your top salesperson, genius developer, or even you as the director were suddenly unable to work due to death or critical illness? Key Person Insurance is a policy taken out by the business on the life of a crucial employee. The payout goes to the business to cover lost profits, recruit a replacement, or repay loans. AIG Life's life and critical illness policies are well-suited for this purpose.
Executive Income Protection
This is a form of income protection paid for by a company for its directors or key employees. Unlike a personal policy, the premiums are typically a tax-deductible business expense, and the benefit is paid to the company, which then distributes it to the employee via PAYE. It's an excellent way to attract and retain top talent while protecting the business. Aviva (formerly AIG Life) offers strong Executive IP products with high benefit limits.
Gift Inter Vivos & Inheritance Tax (IHT) Planning
If you gift a significant asset (like property or a lump sum of cash) to someone, it may still be considered part of your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes if you pass away within seven years. This can leave your loved ones with an unexpected tax bill.
A Gift Inter Vivos policy is a special type of life insurance designed to cover this potential liability. It's essentially a term assurance policy where the sum assured decreases over seven years, mirroring the reducing IHT liability. Aviva (formerly AIG Life) is one of the providers that offers solutions for this niche but vital area of estate planning.
Our Verdict: The Legacy of Aviva Protection (formerly AIG Life) and What it Means for You in 2026
Aviva Protection (formerly AIG Life) was a top-tier contender in the UK protection market, known for robust policies, comprehensive definitions, and the excellent Smart Health service.
As an existing policyholder, you can be confident that your cover remains in excellent hands. Aviva is one of the UK's largest and most financially secure insurers, with an equally strong commitment to customer service and paying claims.
Key Takeaways for Existing Aviva Protection (formerly AIG Life) Customers:
- Your Cover is Secure: Your policy terms, cover amount, and premiums are unchanged. Your protection is now backed by Aviva.
- You Keep Smart Health: You and your family retain access to the full suite of Aviva Smart Health services (formerly AIG Life Smart Health).
- Claims are Handled by Aviva: All new claims on your policy should be directed to Aviva's claims department.
While new customers will now be looking at Aviva's direct product range, legacy Aviva (formerly AIG Life) policyholders continue to benefit from the high-quality features they originally signed up for, with the added reassurance of being part of one of the UK's biggest insurance families.
If you are looking for new or additional cover, our expert advisers at WeCovr can provide impartial advice, comparing Aviva's current offerings against all other leading providers to find the best policy for your needs today.
What's more, we believe in supporting our clients' wellbeing in every way we can. As a WeCovr client, you'll receive complimentary access to our exclusive AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracker, CalorieHero. It’s our way of going the extra mile, helping you stay on top of your health goals every single day, in addition to the fantastic benefits provided by your insurance policy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does Aviva (formerly AIG Life) life insurance pay out?
My Aviva Protection (formerly AIG Life) policy is now with Aviva. Will it still pay out?
I have an Aviva Protection (formerly AIG Life) policy with a pre-existing medical condition noted. Is that still valid with Aviva?
Will my Aviva Protection (formerly AIG Life) insurance premiums go up now that Aviva has taken over?
What is Aviva Smart Health and do I still get it for free?
How long does a claim on my former Aviva (formerly AIG Life) life insurance policy take now?
What is the difference between Aviva Smart Health (for Aviva (formerly AIG Life) customers) and Aviva DigiCare+?
Do I need to do anything with my Aviva Protection (formerly AIG Life) policy now it's with Aviva?
Related guides
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!
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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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!