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Beyond Self-Help: The Resilient Life Blueprint

Beyond Self-Help: The Resilient Life Blueprint 2026

As health projections for 2025 reveal nearly 1 in 2 people will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, discover how true personal development hinges on proactive protection. Learn to build an unshakeable life foundation with Family Income Benefit, tailored Personal Sick Pay for tradespeople, nurses, and electricians, comprehensive Life and Critical Illness Cover, and the strategic advantages of private health insurance. This isn't just financial planning; it's empowering yourself to live boldly, navigate adversity, and secure a lasting legacy of peace for your loved ones, even offering a lump sum payment on death for ultimate family security.

In an age dominated by self-improvement, we're encouraged to optimise every aspect of our lives. We journal, meditate, practice mindfulness, and adopt a "growth mindset." We build successful careers, nurture our relationships, and strive for physical fitness. Yet, amidst this focus on personal development, a critical element of resilience is often overlooked: the structural foundation that supports our lives when things go truly wrong.

The hard truth is that no amount of positive thinking can stop a serious illness or accident. The latest projections from Cancer Research UK remain stark: an estimated 1 in 2 people born in the UK after 1960 will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime. This isn't a distant, abstract risk; it's a profound reality facing half the population.

True personal development isn't just about thriving in the good times. It's about building a life that is fundamentally resilient—one that can withstand the greatest of shocks. This article is your blueprint for creating that resilience. We will move beyond self-help mantras and into the realm of proactive protection, exploring the tangible tools that form an unshakeable financial and emotional safety net for you and your family.

The New Face of Resilience: Why Your Mindset Isn't Enough

The self-help industry is booming, and for good reason. It provides valuable tools for managing stress, improving focus, and fostering a positive outlook. However, it often falls short when confronted with a life-altering event. A diagnosis of cancer, a debilitating stroke, or a serious accident creates challenges that a positive mindset alone cannot solve.

Consider the "financial toxicity" of a serious illness. This term describes the devastating hidden costs that extend far beyond a simple loss of income:

  • Travel Costs: Frequent trips to specialist hospitals for treatment.
  • Home Modifications: Installing ramps, stairlifts, or accessible bathrooms.
  • Increased Bills: Higher heating costs from being at home more often.
  • Specialist Equipment: Purchasing necessary medical aids not covered by the NHS.
  • Partner's Lost Income: A spouse or partner may need to reduce their working hours or stop working entirely to become a carer.

Suddenly, the life you've meticulously built is under immense pressure. Your mortgage, bills, and daily expenses don't stop just because you have. This is where structural resilience becomes paramount. It's the pre-planned, robust framework that holds everything together, allowing you to focus on what truly matters: your recovery and your family.

This blueprint isn't about dwelling on the negative. It's about empowerment. It’s about taking decisive action to remove the 'what if' anxieties, freeing you up to live a bolder, more confident life, secure in the knowledge that you have a plan for the unthinkable.

The Four Pillars of a Resilient Life Foundation

Building a truly resilient life requires a multi-faceted approach. We can think of this as constructing a fortress to protect your family's wellbeing, with four essential pillars providing its strength and stability.

  1. Protecting Your Income Stream: Your ability to earn is your most valuable asset. This pillar focuses on ensuring a continuous flow of money if you're unable to work due to illness or injury.
  2. Shielding Against Health Shocks: This involves creating a financial buffer to handle the massive one-off costs of a serious illness and ensuring you have access to the best possible medical care, quickly.
  3. Securing Your Family's Future: This pillar is about providing for your loved ones and ensuring their financial stability should the worst happen to you.
  4. Building a Lasting Legacy: This goes beyond immediate needs, focusing on strategic planning to ensure the wealth you've built is passed on efficiently and effectively to the next generation.

Let's explore how to build each of these pillars, using powerful, specific insurance tools designed for the modern world.

Pillar 1: Protecting Your Income Stream – Your Greatest Asset

Before the mortgage, before the investments, before any other financial consideration, there is your income. It is the engine that powers your entire life. If that engine stops, everything else grinds to a halt. Protecting it is not a luxury; it's the bedrock of any sound financial plan.

The state safety net, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), is minimal. The 2024/25 rate is just £116.75 per week, payable for a maximum of 28 weeks. For most households, this would not even cover the weekly food shop, let alone the mortgage or rent.

This is where Income Protection (IP) insurance becomes essential. It’s a policy that pays you a regular, tax-free monthly income if you are unable to work due to any illness or injury. It’s designed to replace a significant portion of your lost earnings, allowing you to continue paying your bills and maintaining your lifestyle while you recover.

Key features of an Income Protection policy include:

  • Benefit Amount: You can typically cover 50-70% of your gross annual salary.
  • Deferred Period: This is the waiting period from when you stop working to when the payments begin. It can range from 4 weeks to 12 months. The longer the period, the lower the premium. You can align this with your employer's sick pay scheme or your personal savings.
  • Policy Term: This is how long the policy lasts, typically until your planned retirement age (e.g., 68).
  • Definition of Incapacity: Policies use different definitions. 'Own Occupation' is the gold standard, meaning the policy will pay out if you are unable to do your specific job.

Tailored Protection for Every Profession

Income protection isn't a one-size-fits-all product. Different professions face unique risks and have different needs.

For Tradespeople (Electricians, Plumbers, Builders): Your work is physical. An injury that might be an inconvenience for an office worker could be career-ending for you. With no employer sick pay to fall back on, being unable to work means your income stops on day one. Personal Sick Pay plans are a form of income protection often tailored for trades. They typically have shorter deferred periods (as little as one week) and shorter payment periods (1, 2, or 5 years per claim), making them more affordable while providing crucial short-to-medium term cover.

For Nurses and NHS Staff: While the NHS offers a relatively generous sick pay scheme initially, it reduces over time. For example, an employee with over five years of service gets six months of full pay, followed by six months of half pay. After one year, it stops completely. Income Protection can be set up with a 12-month deferred period to kick in precisely when the NHS support ends, providing a seamless financial bridge for long-term recovery.

For the Self-Employed, Freelancers, and Company Directors: You are your own safety net. There is no SSP, no employer scheme. Income Protection is arguably more critical for you than for anyone else. For company directors, Executive Income Protection is a highly valuable option. The company pays the premiums, which are typically an allowable business expense, and the benefits are paid to the company to then be distributed to the director via PAYE. This is a tax-efficient way to secure your personal income.

FeatureStatutory Sick Pay (SSP)Typical Income Protection Policy
Weekly Payout£116.75 (2024/25)Up to 70% of your gross salary
DurationMaximum 28 weeksUntil you return to work or retirement age
CoverageOnly if you're an employeeCovers employees and self-employed
ControlGovernment-set rateYou choose your level of cover

Pillar 2: Shielding Against Health Shocks – Critical Illness & Private Healthcare

While Income Protection replaces your monthly paycheque, a serious illness brings a tidal wave of one-off costs. This is where the second pillar provides its shield, using two distinct but complementary tools.

Critical Illness Cover (CIC)

Critical Illness Cover pays out a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of a list of specified serious conditions defined in the policy. The 'big three' covered by all policies are cancer, heart attack, and stroke, but modern policies can cover over 50 conditions, including multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, and major organ transplant.

This lump sum is yours to use as you see fit. It provides financial freedom at a time of immense stress.

How could a £150,000 CIC Payout be Used?

Expense CategoryExample UseEstimated Cost
Debt RepaymentClear the remaining mortgage balance£100,000
Home AdaptationsInstall a wet room and stairlift£15,000
Income ReplacementAllow a partner to take 12 months off work£25,000
Specialist CareFund private consultations or therapies£10,000

The peace of mind that comes from knowing your mortgage could be cleared overnight is immeasurable. It transforms a major financial burden into a secure family home, allowing all your focus to be on recovery.

Private Medical Insurance (PMI)

The NHS is a national treasure, but it is under unprecedented strain. According to the British Medical Association, the waiting list for consultant-led elective care in England stood at 7.54 million cases in January 2024. For some procedures, the wait can be over a year.

When you're facing a worrying diagnosis, waiting is the last thing you want to do. Private Medical Insurance (PMI) is designed to work alongside the NHS to get you diagnosed and treated faster.

Key benefits of PMI include:

  • Speed: Bypass long waiting lists for consultations, diagnostic scans (MRI, CT), and surgery.
  • Choice: Select the specialist consultant and hospital you prefer.
  • Comfort: Access to a private room, more flexible visiting hours, and other amenities.
  • Access to Treatments: Some policies provide access to new drugs or treatments not yet available on the NHS.

PMI and Critical Illness Cover work in perfect harmony. PMI pays for the acute treatment to get you well, while your CIC payout handles the financial fallout, adapting your life for a new reality.

Navigating the dozens of conditions covered by CIC or the different levels of PMI can be daunting. This is where an expert broker like WeCovr proves invaluable. We help you compare policies from all the UK's leading insurers, demystifying the jargon and ensuring the definitions of cover truly meet your needs.

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Pillar 3: Securing Your Family's Future – Beyond the Paycheque

This pillar addresses the ultimate 'what if'. It’s about ensuring that, should you no longer be around, your loved ones are not left with a legacy of debt and financial hardship. It's about replacing you financially, even though you can never be replaced emotionally.

Life Insurance (Life Protection)

This is the most well-known form of protection. In its simplest form, a Term Life Insurance policy pays out a fixed lump sum if you die during the policy's term. There are two main types:

  • Level Term Assurance: The payout amount remains the same throughout the policy. A £250,000 policy will pay out £250,000 whether you die in year 1 or year 19. This is ideal for providing a general family fund to cover living costs, childcare, and future education.
  • Decreasing Term Assurance: The payout amount reduces over time, designed to mirror the outstanding balance of a repayment mortgage. As you pay off your mortgage, the amount of cover needed decreases. This makes it a very cost-effective way to ensure your family's biggest debt is cleared.

Family Income Benefit (FIB)

While a large lump sum from a life insurance policy sounds appealing, managing it can be a daunting task for a grieving partner. How do you invest it? How much can you draw down each month?

Family Income Benefit offers a brilliant, often more affordable and manageable alternative. Instead of a single lump sum, it pays out a regular, tax-free income (e.g., £2,500 per month) from the point of a claim until the policy's end date.

Why is this so powerful?

  • Replaces a Salary: It mimics your monthly income, making budgeting intuitive and stress-free for your family.
  • Cost-Effective: Because the insurer's total potential liability decreases each year, FIB is often significantly cheaper than a comparable level term policy.
  • Tailored Protection: You can set the term to last until your youngest child is expected to be financially independent (e.g., age 21 or 25).
Scenario Comparison (20-year policy, death in year 5)Level Term Life InsuranceFamily Income Benefit
Policy Type£360,000 lump sum£1,500/month income
What happens on death?Beneficiary receives a single payment of £360,000.Beneficiary starts receiving £1,500 every month.
How long are payments made?N/A (it's a one-off payment)For the remaining 15 years of the policy term.
Total Payout£360,000£1,500 x 12 months x 15 years = £270,000
Key BenefitLarge sum for major debts/investing.Easy to manage, replaces lost salary directly.

Pillar 4: Building a Lasting Legacy – Strategic Estate Planning

Resilience extends beyond your own lifetime. It's also about ensuring the assets you've worked hard to build are passed on to your loved ones efficiently, without being eroded by unnecessary taxation. This is the domain of Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning.

In the UK, IHT is charged at 40% on the value of your estate above a certain threshold. For 2024/25, the main threshold (Nil-Rate Band) is £325,000. An additional Residence Nil-Rate Band may apply if you pass on your main home to direct descendants.

Writing Your Insurance in Trust

This is one of the most powerful yet simple estate planning tools available. When you place your life insurance policy "in trust," the payout is no longer considered part of your legal estate.

The benefits are immense:

  1. Avoids IHT: The lump sum is paid directly to your chosen beneficiaries and is not included in the IHT calculation. For a £500,000 policy, this could be a tax saving of £200,000.
  2. Avoids Probate: Probate is the legal process of administering an estate, which can take many months. A trust bypasses this, meaning your family gets the money in weeks, not months, when they need it most.
  3. Gives You Control: You specify who the trustees and beneficiaries are, ensuring the money goes to exactly who you want it to.

Gift Inter Vivos: Protecting Your Gifts

Many people choose to pass on wealth during their lifetime by giving substantial gifts to their children or grandchildren. These are known as Potentially Exempt Transfers (PETs). If you live for 7 years after making the gift, it becomes fully exempt from IHT.

However, if you die within 7 years, the gift becomes part of your estate for IHT purposes, and a tax bill can fall on the person who received the gift. The amount of tax due reduces on a sliding scale (taper relief) for gifts made between 3 and 7 years before death.

A Gift Inter Vivos insurance policy is a specialist form of life insurance designed to solve this problem. It's a term insurance policy, often for 7 years, that provides a lump sum to cover the potential IHT liability on the gift. It ensures your generosity doesn't become a future tax burden for your loved ones.

The Resilience Multiplier: Integrating Wellness and Protection

Your proactive health choices and your financial protection plan are not separate; they are deeply intertwined. A healthier lifestyle can not only reduce your risk of serious illness but can also make your protection policies more affordable.

Insurers recognise this and increasingly reward healthy living. When you apply for cover, they will ask about your lifestyle, including:

  • Smoking/Vaping: Premiums for smokers can be double those for non-smokers.
  • Alcohol Consumption: Moderate consumption is fine, but heavy drinking can increase premiums.
  • Body Mass Index (BMI): A healthy BMI can lead to lower rates.

Many insurers now have sophisticated wellness programmes that offer discounts on gym memberships, fitness trackers, and even healthy food, rewarding you for staying active.

At WeCovr, we believe in supporting our clients' holistic wellbeing. That’s why, in addition to finding you the best protection policies, we provide complimentary access to our proprietary AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, CalorieHero. We see it as part of the resilience blueprint: empowering you with the tools to manage your physical health, which in turn strengthens your financial health.

Special Focus: Protection for Business Owners and Directors

If you run your own business, your personal and professional resilience are one and the same. The "Four Pillars" are just as critical for your company's survival as they are for your family's.

  • Key Person Insurance: Imagine your top salesperson or technical genius is suddenly unable to work due to a critical illness. What would the impact on your turnover and profit be? Key Person Insurance is taken out by the business on the life of a crucial employee. The policy pays a lump sum to the business to cover the costs of lost profits, recruitment, and training a replacement.
  • Shareholder or Partnership Protection: What happens if you or your business partner dies? The deceased's shares will likely pass to their family, who may have no interest or expertise in running the company. They may want to sell their stake, but where will you find the funds to buy them out? Shareholder Protection provides the surviving owners with the capital to purchase the deceased's shares from their estate, ensuring a smooth transition and business continuity.
  • Relevant Life Cover: For small businesses that don't have a full group life scheme, a Relevant Life Plan is a tax-efficient way to provide a death-in-service benefit for an employee or director. The company pays the premium, which is an allowable business expense, and the benefit is paid tax-free to the employee's family via a trust.

These business protection strategies are complex and require specialist advice. A broker can help you structure the right agreements and find the most suitable policies to make your business as resilient as your personal finances.

Building Your Blueprint: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide

Feeling overwhelmed? Don't be. Building your resilient life blueprint is a logical process. Here’s how to start:

  1. Assess Your Foundations: Get a clear picture of your finances. What are your monthly outgoings? What debts do you have (mortgage, loans, credit cards)? Who depends on you financially? What savings do you have, and what is your employer's sick pay policy?
  2. Define Your Priorities: You can't protect against everything at once. What worries you most? Is it clearing the mortgage? Is it replacing your income for your family to live on? Is it ensuring you can access fast medical care? Rank your priorities.
  3. Explore the Toolbox: Use this guide to understand which products solve which problems. Match the tools (FIB, CIC, IP, PMI) to your priorities.
  4. Seek Expert, Independent Advice: This is the most critical step. Don't go direct to a single insurer. You'll only see their products and their prices. An independent broker, like WeCovr, works for you. We analyse your needs and then search the entire market—from Aviva and Legal & General to Zurich and Vitality—to find the right policies with the best terms at the most competitive price. We do the hard work for you.
  5. Review and Adapt: Your life isn't static. Your protection shouldn't be either. Plan to review your blueprint every 3-5 years, or after any major life event: getting married, having a child, buying a bigger house, or starting a business.

Conclusion: From Self-Help to Self-Reliance

The ultimate form of personal development is building a life of true self-reliance. It's a life where you have the confidence to pursue your ambitions, take calculated risks, and enjoy every moment, because you have taken the responsible, proactive steps to protect yourself and your loved ones from life's most severe storms.

This blueprint isn't about fear; it's about freedom. It’s the freedom from the nagging anxiety of 'what if'. It's the peace of mind that comes from knowing your family's home is secure, their future is provided for, and you have a plan.

By thoughtfully constructing these four pillars of resilience—protecting your income, shielding against health shocks, securing your family’s future, and building a lasting legacy—you are creating the ultimate act of love and responsibility. You are empowering yourself to live boldly, navigate any adversity with dignity, and secure a future of stability and peace for those who matter most.


What's the difference between Income Protection and Critical Illness Cover?

They serve two very different but complementary purposes. Income Protection (IP) pays you a regular, tax-free monthly income if you're unable to work due to any illness or injury. It's designed to replace your salary and cover ongoing bills. Critical Illness Cover (CIC) pays a one-off, tax-free lump sum if you're diagnosed with a specific serious illness listed on the policy. It's designed to handle the large, immediate costs of a health crisis, such as paying off a mortgage, adapting your home, or funding private treatment. Many people have both to create a comprehensive safety net.

Is life insurance expensive?

Life insurance is often much more affordable than people think. The cost (the premium) depends on several factors, including your age, health, lifestyle (e.g., whether you smoke), the amount of cover you want, and the length of the policy. For a healthy 30-year-old, a significant amount of cover can often be secured for less than the cost of a few cups of coffee a week. Products like Family Income Benefit are particularly cost-effective ways to protect a young family.

Do I need protection if I'm single with no children?

Yes, absolutely. While you may not need a large life insurance policy, other types of protection are arguably even more important. If you were unable to work due to a long-term illness, who would pay your rent or mortgage? Income Protection is vital for single people as you have no second income to rely on. Similarly, a Critical Illness Cover payout could provide a crucial financial buffer, allowing you to focus on recovery without worrying about bills.

How does being a smoker or vaper affect my application?

Insurers view smoking and vaping (using e-cigarettes) as significant health risks. Applicants who have used any nicotine products, including patches or gum, within the last 12 months are typically classed as 'smokers'. This will lead to significantly higher premiums, often double that of a non-smoker. It is crucial to be honest on your application, as failing to disclose nicotine use could invalidate your policy at the point of a claim. The good news is that if you quit, most insurers will let you apply for non-smoker rates after 12 months.

Can I get cover if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

Yes, it is often still possible to get cover, but it depends on the specific condition, its severity, and how well it is managed. For some minor conditions, you may be offered cover at standard rates. For more significant conditions, the insurer might offer cover with a 'loading' (an increased premium) or an 'exclusion' (the policy will not pay out for claims related to that specific condition). It is vital to disclose all medical history fully. Using an expert broker is particularly important in this situation, as they know which insurers are more likely to offer favourable terms for certain conditions.

Why should I use a broker like WeCovr instead of going direct to an insurer?

An independent broker works for you, not the insurance company. If you go directly to one insurer, you will only be offered their products and their prices. A broker like WeCovr has access to the entire UK market. We provide impartial advice, help you understand the complex differences between policies (especially crucial for Critical Illness Cover definitions), and compare quotes from dozens of providers to find you the best cover at the best price. We also help with the application process and can assist with placing your policy in trust, saving you time, hassle, and money.

Do I have to take a medical exam to get insurance?

Not always. For many people, especially those who are younger and applying for a moderate amount of cover, the policy can be issued based on the answers you provide in the application form alone. However, insurers may request more medical evidence if you are older, applying for a very large amount of cover, or have disclosed a pre-existing medical condition. This could involve a GP report, a nurse screening, or a full medical examination, which the insurer will pay for.

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!

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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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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Important Information

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

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About WeCovr

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