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Growth Shield: Future-Proofing Your Personal Evolution

Growth Shield: Future-Proofing Your Personal Evolution 2026

Unlock Your Uninterrupted Potential: Why True Personal Growth Demands More Than Goals – It Needs a Future-Proof Foundation. With projections indicating 1 in 2 of us will face a cancer diagnosis and other health challenges in our lifetime, learn how smart financial protection like Income Protection, Critical Illness Cover, Family Income benefit, and bespoke Personal Sick Pay for professions like tradespeople and nurses, combined with strategic Private Health Insurance, are not just safety nets but catalysts for sustained well-being, stronger relationships, and the lasting legacy you truly desire.

We live in an age of personal evolution. We invest in our careers, our fitness, our minds, and our ambitions. We set goals, build vision boards, and meticulously plan our ascent towards a better version of ourselves. Yet, in this relentless pursuit of growth, we often overlook the very foundation upon which our aspirations are built: our health and our ability to earn an income.

The uncomfortable truth is that our journey of personal development is incredibly fragile. An unexpected illness, a serious injury, or a life-altering diagnosis can shatter our progress in an instant. The path forward becomes clouded not just by physical and emotional recovery, but by a tidal wave of financial stress.

Consider this stark statistic from Cancer Research UK: a staggering 1 in 2 people in the UK will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime. Add to this the millions of working days lost to long-term sickness each year, and the picture becomes clear. The question isn't if life will throw us a curveball, but when and how prepared we will be to face it.

This is where a profound shift in mindset is required. We must stop viewing financial protection as a reluctant expense and start seeing it for what it truly is: a Growth Shield. It is the essential, non-negotiable infrastructure that allows our personal, professional, and family lives to continue thriving, no matter what challenges arise.

This guide will illuminate how a strategic combination of protection policies—from Income Protection to Private Health Insurance—does more than just pay the bills. It creates the mental space for recovery, strengthens our most important relationships, and ultimately ensures that the legacy we are working so hard to build is not left to chance. It's time to future-proof your personal evolution.


The Fragile Bridge: Why Your Personal Growth Journey is More Vulnerable Than You Think

You have a plan. A promotion at work, starting your own business, learning a new skill, saving for a home, being an active and present parent. Each step is a plank in the bridge to your future. But this bridge is suspended over a chasm of uncertainty, and three major forces can threaten its stability at any moment.

We diligently pay for gym memberships, online courses, and career coaching, yet often leave the most critical support structures of our lives completely exposed. Let's examine the three primary "derailers" that can halt your personal growth journey.

1. The Shock of Sudden Illness or Injury

This is the most direct and visceral threat. A diagnosis of a critical illness like cancer, a heart attack, or a stroke, or a debilitating injury from an accident, changes everything overnight.

  • Physical Impact: Your energy is immediately diverted from your goals to the demanding reality of treatment, recovery, and rehabilitation.
  • Emotional & Mental Toll: The fear, anxiety, and uncertainty that accompany a serious health crisis can be all-consuming. The mental bandwidth previously dedicated to growth and creativity is now occupied by navigating appointments, understanding prognoses, and coping with the emotional fallout.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), an estimated 2.8 million people were out of the workforce due to long-term sickness in early 2024, a significant increase over recent years. This isn't a remote possibility; it's a mainstream reality for millions of UK families.

2. The Crippling Effect of Financial Shock

When you can't work, the financial consequences cascade rapidly, creating a secondary crisis that can be just as devastating as the health issue itself.

  • Loss of Income: For most, a salary is the engine of their life. Without it, the entire household budget seizes up. Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) in the UK is a minimal safety net, currently standing at just over £116 per week – a sum that barely scratches the surface of the average person's financial commitments.
  • Mounting Bills: The mortgage or rent, council tax, utility bills, and food costs don't stop. In fact, expenses can often increase due to travel for treatment, prescription costs, or necessary home modifications.
  • Relationship Strain: Financial stress is a primary driver of conflict in relationships. When one partner is ill and the other is worried about money, the focus shifts from mutual support to survival, placing immense strain on the family unit.

This financial pressure actively works against recovery. How can you focus on getting better when you're terrified of losing your home?

3. The Unforeseen Demand of Caregiving

The derailer doesn't always have to happen to you directly. What if your partner, child, or parent becomes seriously ill and requires your full-time care?

Many people are forced to reduce their hours or leave their jobs entirely to become carers. This brings the same financial shock—a sudden loss of income—but with the added emotional weight of supporting a loved one through their own health battle. Your personal and professional goals are, by necessity, put on indefinite hold.

Your personal growth plan, no matter how brilliant, is built on the assumption of continuity. These derailers prove that continuity is never guaranteed. A Growth Shield is the proactive strategy to ensure that when one of these events occurs, your progress is paused, not permanently derailed.


Building Your "Growth Shield": A Strategic Guide to Financial Protection

A "Growth Shield" isn't a single product; it's a bespoke, layered defence system designed to protect you, your income, and your family from life's most challenging events. By understanding each layer, you can construct a fortress of financial resilience that allows you to pursue your ambitions with confidence.

Let's break down the essential layers of a comprehensive Growth Shield.

Layer 1: Protecting Your Income – The Engine of Your Life

Your ability to earn an income is your single most valuable asset. It fuels everything else. Protecting it is the foundational layer of your shield.

Income Protection (IP)

Often described as the bedrock of financial planning, Income Protection is designed to do one thing brilliantly: replace a significant portion of your monthly income if you are unable to work due to any illness or injury.

  • How it Works: It pays out a regular, tax-free monthly sum until you can return to work, reach retirement age, or the policy term ends, whichever comes first.
  • Key Features:
    • Deferment 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. Aligning this with your employer's sick pay scheme or your emergency savings is a smart way to manage premium costs.
    • Level of Cover: You can typically cover 50-70% of your gross monthly income. This is designed to cover essential outgoings without disincentivising a return to work.
    • Definition of Incapacity: The best policies use an 'Own Occupation' definition. This means the policy will pay out if you are unable to do your specific job. This is crucial for professionals with specialised skills.

A Tale of Two Safety Nets: SSP vs. Income Protection

FeatureStatutory Sick Pay (SSP)Income Protection (IP)
ProviderYour Employer (Government Mandated)Private Insurance Company
Payout AmountApprox. £116.75 per week (2024/25)50-70% of your gross salary
Payout DurationUp to 28 weeksPotentially until retirement age
Covered ForSickness lasting 4+ daysAny illness or injury preventing work
Tax StatusTaxableTax-free

Personal Sick Pay: Tailored Cover for Hands-On Professions

For those in riskier jobs like tradespeople (electricians, plumbers, builders) or physically demanding roles like nursing, a standard sick pay package might be non-existent or minimal. Personal Sick Pay is a term often used for shorter-term Income Protection policies with brief deferment periods (e.g., one week).

This type of cover is vital because even a minor injury—a broken wrist for an electrician, a back strain for a nurse—can mean an immediate and total loss of income. It provides a rapid financial response, bridging the gap until you're back on your feet and earning again.

Layer 2: Tackling Critical Illness – The Financial First Aid Kit

While Income Protection replaces lost salary, Critical Illness Cover (CIC) is designed to deal with the significant, immediate costs that a serious health diagnosis can bring.

  • How it Works: It pays out a one-off, tax-free lump sum upon the diagnosis of a specified serious condition listed in the policy.
  • What it Covers: The "big three"—specific types of cancer, heart attack, and stroke—are standard. Comprehensive policies can cover over 50-100 conditions, including multiple sclerosis, major organ transplant, and paralysis.
  • How it Helps: The lump sum gives you freedom and control at a time of immense stress. You could use it to:
    • Pay off your mortgage or other debts, drastically reducing your monthly outgoings.
    • Fund private medical treatment or specialist therapies not available on the NHS.
    • Adapt your home (e.g., install a ramp or stairlift).
    • Allow your partner to take time off work to support you.
    • Simply give you the financial breathing room to focus 100% on recovery without worrying about bills.

Critical Illness Cover vs. Income Protection: Key Differences

FeatureCritical Illness Cover (CIC)Income Protection (IP)
PaymentOne-off tax-free lump sumRegular tax-free monthly income
TriggerDiagnosis of a specific listed illnessInability to work due to any illness/injury
PurposeCover large, one-off costs & debtsReplace lost monthly earnings
Example UsePay off mortgage, fund private careCover rent, bills, food, daily life

Many people choose to combine both, creating a truly robust defence. At WeCovr, we can help you explore combined Life and Critical Illness policies, which can be a cost-effective way to secure this vital layer of protection.

Layer 3: Securing Your Legacy – Protecting Those You Love

Your personal growth is intertwined with the well-being of your family. This layer of the shield ensures that their future is secure, even if you're no longer there.

Life Insurance (Life Cover)

This is the most well-known form of protection. In its simplest form, Level Term Assurance, it pays out a fixed lump sum if you pass away during the policy term. This is commonly used to pay off a mortgage and provide a financial cushion for the bereaved family.

Family Income Benefit (FIB): A Smarter Way to Protect

While a large lump sum seems appealing, managing it can be a challenge for a grieving family. Family Income Benefit offers a powerful and often more practical alternative.

  • How it Works: Instead of a single lump sum, FIB pays out a regular, tax-free monthly or annual income to your family, from the time of your death until the policy's end date.
  • Why it's Effective: It's designed to directly replace your lost monthly income. This makes budgeting simple and stress-free for your loved ones, ensuring that school fees, household bills, and living costs are consistently covered. It provides stability during a time of immense upheaval.

Lump Sum Life Insurance vs. Family Income Benefit

FeatureLump Sum Life InsuranceFamily Income Benefit (FIB)
PayoutSingle, large lump sumRegular, smaller income payments
PurposeClear large debts (e.g., mortgage)Replace lost monthly salary
ManagementRequires careful investment/budgetingSimple, predictable monthly income
CostCan be more expensive for large sumsOften more affordable for the same level of security

Layer 4: Accessing World-Class Care – Fast-Tracking Your Recovery

The final, crucial layer of your Growth Shield is about getting you better, faster. While the NHS is a national treasure, current pressures mean significant waiting times for diagnosis and treatment.

Private Health Insurance (PMI)

PMI works alongside the NHS to give you more control over your healthcare.

  • How it Works: It covers the cost of private medical care, from consultations and diagnostic scans (like MRIs and CTs) to surgery and treatment in a private hospital.
  • The Growth Connection: For anyone on a personal development journey, time is precious. Waiting months for a diagnosis or a year for a hip replacement is a massive roadblock. PMI can reduce that wait to a matter of weeks. A faster recovery means a faster return to your career, your family, your passions, and your goals.

With NHS consultant-led treatment waiting lists numbering in the millions, PMI is no longer a luxury but a strategic tool for minimising disruption and accelerating your return to full strength.


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The Entrepreneur's Armour: Specialised Protection for Business Owners and the Self-Employed

If you're a company director, business owner, or freelancer, you exist in a high-stakes environment. The line between your personal and business finances is often blurred, and your ability to work directly impacts the survival of your enterprise. Standard protection is essential, but specialised "armour" is vital.

The Self-Employed Reality: You Are the Safety Net

When you're self-employed, there is no employer sick pay. There is no one to cover your workload. If you stop, the income stops. This makes Personal Income Protection non-negotiable. It becomes your personal sick pay, your financial lifeline, and the policy that keeps your household afloat while you recover.

For Company Directors: Tax-Efficient Strategies

If you run your own limited company, you have access to powerful and tax-efficient ways to build your Growth Shield.

Executive Income Protection

This is a phenomenal benefit for company directors. It is essentially an Income Protection policy, but it is owned and paid for by your limited company as a legitimate business expense.

  • Tax Efficiency: The premiums are typically allowable as a business expense, meaning they can be offset against your corporation tax bill.
  • Benefit Payout: If you need to claim, the benefit is paid to the company, which then distributes it to you via PAYE. This ensures business continuity and protects your personal income stream in the most efficient way possible.

Key Person Insurance

Who is indispensable to your business? It might be you, a co-founder with unique technical skills, or your top salesperson. Key Person Insurance is a life and/or critical illness policy taken out by the business on such an individual.

  • Purpose: If that key person passes away or suffers a critical illness, the policy pays a lump sum directly to the business.
  • How it's Used: This money is a vital buffer. It can be used to recruit a replacement, cover lost profits during the transition, reassure lenders and investors, or, in a worst-case scenario, wind down the business in an orderly fashion. It protects the value of the business you've worked so hard to build.

Gift Inter Vivos (IHT Protection)

For successful business owners planning their exit and legacy, Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a major consideration. If you gift a significant asset (like company shares or a large cash sum) to your children, that gift is not immediately IHT-free. It remains part of your estate for 7 years under the "Potentially Exempt Transfer" rules.

Gift Inter Vivos Insurance is a specialised life insurance policy designed to cover this specific risk. It provides a lump sum to pay the potential IHT bill if you were to pass away within that 7-year window, ensuring your intended gift reaches your loved ones in full.


Beyond the Policy: How a Growth Shield Cultivates Holistic Well-being

A properly structured Growth Shield does far more than just manage financial risk. Its true power lies in the positive, cascading effects it has on your overall well-being, creating the optimal environment for personal growth.

The Liberation of Mental Freedom

Financial anxiety is a silent thief of joy, focus, and energy. The constant, low-level worry about "what if?" can stifle creativity and prevent you from taking calculated risks.

Putting a Growth Shield in place removes this burden. It’s a definitive statement to yourself and your family that you have a plan. This psychological safety net liberates your mental bandwidth, allowing you to focus on positive, forward-looking activities—your career, your hobbies, your relationships—rather than being anchored by fear.

Forging Stronger, More Resilient Relationships

Money worries are a notorious source of friction in partnerships. An unexpected illness can create a pressure-cooker environment where financial stress eclipses emotional support.

When a financial safety net is already in place, the conversation changes. Instead of "How will we pay the mortgage?", it becomes "How can I best support you through this?". It allows you and your partner to function as a true team, navigating the emotional and physical challenges together without the corrosive influence of financial panic.

A Catalyst for Positive Health Habits

The modern insurance industry understands that prevention is better than a cure. Today, many leading insurance policies come bundled with a suite of wellness benefits designed to actively support your health. These can include:

  • Discounted gym memberships.
  • Free annual health checks and screenings.
  • Access to virtual GP services, 24/7.
  • Mental health support and counselling sessions.
  • Smoking cessation programmes.

These value-added services transform your policy from a passive safety net into an active partner in your well-being journey.

At WeCovr, we believe protection is part of a holistic approach to well-being. It's about empowering our clients to live healthier, more secure lives. That’s why, in addition to finding you the right policy from the UK's top insurers, we provide our clients with complimentary access to our AI-powered calorie tracking app, CalorieHero. This tool helps you build sustainable, healthy eating habits—another vital piece of the personal growth puzzle.

Small Steps, Big Impact: Practical Wellness Tips

Integrating small, consistent habits can dramatically improve your resilience:

  1. Nourish Your Body: Focus on a balanced diet rich in whole foods. The Mediterranean diet is consistently linked to better cardiovascular and cognitive health.
  2. Prioritise Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night. Establish a routine, minimise screen time before bed, and create a restful environment. Sleep is critical for mental clarity, emotional regulation, and physical recovery.
  3. Move Every Day: The NHS recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week. This could be brisk walking, cycling, or swimming. Find an activity you enjoy to ensure consistency.
  4. Practice Mindfulness: Even 5-10 minutes of daily mindfulness or meditation can significantly reduce stress and improve focus, making you more effective in all areas of your life.

The UK protection market is vast and complex. Policies vary hugely in their definitions, exclusions, and benefits. Trying to navigate this alone can be overwhelming and lead to choosing the wrong cover—or worse, no cover at all.

This is where impartial, expert advice is not just helpful, but essential.

A DIY approach might save you a small amount in the short term, but it risks leaving you with a policy that doesn't pay out when you need it most. For example, understanding the difference between an 'Own Occupation', 'Suited Occupation', and 'Any Occupation' definition for Income Protection can be the difference between a successful claim and a rejected one.

This is where an expert broker like WeCovr becomes invaluable. We don’t work for one insurer; we work for you. Our role is to understand your unique situation—your career, your family structure, your financial goals, and your personal growth aspirations. We then scan the entire market, comparing policies from all the UK's leading providers to find the cover that is perfectly tailored to you.

When choosing a policy, we'll help you consider:

  • Your Budget: Finding the most comprehensive cover that fits comfortably within your monthly budget.
  • Your Dependents: Ensuring the level and type of cover are sufficient for their needs.
  • Your Health: Navigating the application process honestly and accurately to ensure the policy is valid.
  • Insurer Reputation: We look beyond price to the insurer's track record, particularly their claims payment statistics, which are published by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and show that the vast majority (typically over 97%) of protection claims are paid.

Conclusion: Your Future Self is Counting on You

The journey of personal growth is the most rewarding endeavour you can undertake. It's a commitment to becoming more, achieving more, and creating a life of purpose and fulfilment. But this journey demands more than just ambition; it demands foresight.

Ignoring the foundations of health and financial security is like building a skyscraper on sand. It may look impressive for a while, but it's vulnerable to the first storm.

A Growth Shield—a strategic, layered defence of Income Protection, Critical Illness Cover, Life Insurance, and Private Medical Insurance—is the bedrock your future self needs. It's the ultimate act of self-care and responsibility. It’s the investment that protects all your other investments: your time, your energy, your education, and your dreams.

Don't let an unpredictable event derail the magnificent life you are working so hard to build. Take control of the variables you can. Invest in your Growth Shield today and give your future self the greatest gift of all: the promise of uninterrupted potential.


Isn't Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) enough to live on?

For the vast majority of people, no. As of 2024/25, SSP is just £116.75 per week and is only payable for a maximum of 28 weeks. This amount is significantly less than the national minimum wage and is unlikely to cover essential outgoings like mortgage/rent, council tax, and utility bills, let alone food and other living costs. It is a very minimal safety net, which is why private Income Protection is so crucial.

I'm young and healthy, do I really need this type of insurance?

This is precisely the best time to get it. Premiums for protection insurance are calculated based on risk, which means they are significantly lower when you are young and healthy. Locking in a low premium now can save you a substantial amount of money over the life of the policy. Furthermore, accidents and illnesses can happen at any age. Securing cover early protects your future income and insurability, ensuring you have a safety net in place before you ever need it.

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

Yes, it is often still possible. You must declare any pre-existing conditions during your application. The insurer will then assess the risk. They may offer you cover on standard terms, charge a higher premium (a "loading"), or place an exclusion on the policy related to your specific condition. An expert broker can be invaluable here, as they know which insurers are more likely to offer favourable terms for certain conditions.

What is the main difference between Income Protection and Critical Illness Cover?

The key difference is how they pay out. Income Protection pays a regular monthly income if you're unable to work due to *any* illness or injury. Its purpose is to replace your salary. Critical Illness Cover pays a one-off tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of the specific serious illnesses listed on the policy. Its purpose is to cover large costs, pay off debts, and provide financial breathing room. They cover different needs and work very well together.

How much cover do I actually need?

This is a personal calculation based on your circumstances. For Life Insurance, a common rule of thumb is to cover 10 times your annual salary or enough to clear your mortgage and any other major debts. For Income Protection, you should aim to cover your essential monthly outgoings (rent/mortgage, bills, food, travel) after accounting for any other income. A financial adviser or expert broker can perform a detailed needs analysis to give you a precise figure.

Is protection insurance expensive?

It is often much more affordable than people think. The cost (premium) depends on several factors: your age, your health and lifestyle (e.g., whether you smoke), your occupation, the type of cover, the amount of cover, and the policy term. For example, a healthy 30-year-old could secure meaningful cover for the price of a few cups of coffee a week. A broker can help you find the best value by comparing different providers and tailoring the policy features (like the deferment period on Income Protection) to make it more affordable.

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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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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