Login

Life Insurance for Accountancy Firms UK

Life Insurance for Accountancy Firms UK 2025

As an accountant, you are the architect of financial stability for your clients. You spend your days balancing books, navigating complex tax legislation, and planning for fiscal futures. But in the process of securing everyone else's financial well-being, have you taken the time to fortify your own?

The demands of the accountancy profession are unique. Long hours, intense periods of stress around tax deadlines, and the predominantly sedentary nature of the work create a specific set of risks. These risks aren't just professional; they have a direct impact on your health, your income, and the long-term security of your family and your business.

This is where protection insurance—including life insurance, critical illness cover, and income protection—moves from being a 'nice-to-have' to an essential component of your personal and business financial strategy. It's the safety net that protects your most valuable assets: your ability to earn an income, the stability of your practice, and your family's future.

This comprehensive guide is designed specifically for partners, directors, and self-employed accountants in the UK. We will explore the tailored cover options that can safeguard you, your loved ones, and the business you've worked so hard to build.

Cover options tailored for finance practices

Accountants possess a rare level of financial literacy. You understand risk, return, and the importance of contingency planning better than most. Yet, this expertise can sometimes lead to a blind spot when it comes to personal and business protection. It's easy to focus on accumulating assets and growing your practice, while overlooking the foundational insurance needed to protect it all from an unexpected illness, injury, or death.

For an accountancy practice, the financial ecosystem is intricate. It involves personal mortgages and family commitments, business loans, partnership agreements, and the value tied up in key individuals. A single unforeseen event can cause a domino effect, threatening both personal wealth and business continuity.

The solution is a multi-layered protection strategy, encompassing both personal and business needs.

Personal Protection: This is about you and your family. It ensures your personal financial obligations (like a mortgage) are met and your family's lifestyle is maintained if you can no longer provide for them.

  • Life Insurance
  • Critical Illness Cover
  • Income Protection
  • Family Income Benefit

Business Protection: This is about the practice itself. It provides the capital to keep the business stable, manage transitions, and protect its value if a partner or director dies or suffers a serious illness.

  • Key Person Insurance
  • Shareholder & Partnership Protection
  • Relevant Life Insurance
  • Executive Income Protection

Let's break down each of these components to build a complete picture of financial resilience for you and your firm.

Personal Protection for Accountants: Securing Your Own Financial Future

Your greatest asset is your ability to generate income through your skills and knowledge. Personal protection insurance acts as a shield around this asset, ensuring your financial world doesn't crumble if you're no longer in the picture or unable to work.

Life Insurance

Life insurance provides a tax-free lump sum or a regular income to your loved ones if you pass away. It's the cornerstone of financial planning for anyone with dependents or a mortgage.

  • Level Term Insurance: Pays out a fixed lump sum if you die within a set term (e.g., 25 years). It's ideal for covering an interest-only mortgage or providing a specific inheritance for your family.
  • Decreasing Term Insurance: The potential payout reduces over time, typically in line with a repayment mortgage. As you pay off your mortgage, the amount of cover needed decreases, making this a highly cost-effective option.
  • Whole of Life Insurance: This policy is guaranteed to pay out whenever you die, as long as you maintain the premiums. It's often used for covering a guaranteed Inheritance Tax (IHT) liability or leaving a planned legacy.

Example in Practice: Sarah, a 40-year-old accountant and partner in a mid-sized firm, has a £400,000 mortgage and two children. She takes out a £400,000 decreasing term policy to clear the mortgage and a separate £250,000 level term policy to provide for her children's education and living costs until they are financially independent.

A crucial, yet often missed, step is placing your life insurance policy into a Trust. By doing so, the payout is made directly to your chosen beneficiaries, bypassing your estate. This means it is not subject to Inheritance Tax and, crucially, avoids the lengthy and often stressful probate process, getting the money to your family much faster.

Critical Illness Cover

The probability of suffering a serious illness before retirement is often higher than people think. According to Cancer Research UK, 1 in 2 people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Critical Illness Cover pays out a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of a list of specific serious conditions defined in the policy, such as a heart attack, stroke, or cancer.

For an accountant, a critical illness diagnosis can be financially devastating. You might need to:

  • Take an extended period off work, impacting your income.
  • Pay for private medical treatments to speed up recovery.
  • Make adaptations to your home.
  • Clear debts, like a mortgage, to reduce financial pressure.

The lump sum gives you the financial freedom to focus on your recovery without worrying about the bills.

Income Protection

If life insurance is the foundation, Income Protection is the pillar that supports your entire financial structure while you are alive. It is arguably the most vital insurance for any working professional, especially those in high-skill, high-income roles like accountancy.

If you are unable to work due to any illness or injury (not just the 'critical' ones), an Income Protection policy pays out a regular, tax-free monthly income until you can return to work, retire, or the policy term ends.

Key Considerations for Accountants:

  • Definition of Incapacity: Always opt for an 'Own Occupation' definition. This means the policy will pay out if you are unable to perform the specific duties of your job as an accountant. Lesser definitions ('Suited Occupation' or 'Any Occupation') may not pay out if the insurer believes you could do another job, even if it's unrelated to your qualifications and pays less.
  • Deferment Period: This is the waiting period from when you stop working to when the payments begin. It can range from 1 day to 12 months. You can align this with any sick pay you receive from your firm or your personal savings. A longer deferment period results in a lower monthly premium.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), an estimated 2.8 million people were economically inactive due to long-term sickness in early 2024. Without Income Protection, you would be reliant on state benefits, which are rarely sufficient to cover the lifestyle of a professional.

FeatureDescriptionImportance for Accountants
Cover AmountUp to 60-70% of your gross annual income.Replaces a significant portion of your salary.
Deferment PeriodWaiting time (e.g., 4, 13, 26, 52 weeks).Match to your firm's sick pay or savings.
Payment TermCan pay out until a chosen age (e.g., 65).Provides long-term security, not just short-term relief.
Incapacity Definition'Own Occupation' is essential.Ensures a claim is valid if you can't work as an accountant.

Family Income Benefit

This is a variation of life insurance that, instead of a single lump sum, provides a regular, tax-free monthly or annual income to your family upon your death. It's an excellent and often more affordable way to replace your lost salary and cover day-to-day living expenses, ensuring your family's financial stability isn't disrupted. The payments continue until the end of the policy term, which is typically set to coincide with when your children would be expected to be financially independent.

Business Protection: Safeguarding Your Accountancy Practice

While personal protection secures your family, business protection secures the firm you've dedicated your career to building. It’s the business equivalent of a pre-nuptial agreement, put in place when everything is going well to manage a future crisis.

Key Person Insurance

In an accountancy firm, certain individuals are indispensable. This might be a founding partner who holds key client relationships, a specialist tax adviser whose expertise generates significant fee income, or a director with unique management skills.

What would happen to your firm's revenue and stability if this 'key person' were to die or be diagnosed with a critical illness?

Key Person Insurance is a policy taken out and paid for by the business on the life of that crucial individual. If the insured person passes away or becomes critically ill, the policy pays a lump sum directly to the business. This money can be used to:

  • Cover lost profits during the period of disruption.
  • Recruit and train a suitable replacement.
  • Repay business loans that the key person may have guaranteed.
  • Reassure clients, lenders, and employees that the business is stable.

The amount of cover is calculated based on the person's value to the business, often as a multiple of their salary or their direct contribution to gross profit.

Impact of Losing a Key PersonHow Key Person Insurance Helps
Immediate loss of revenue/profit.Injects cash to cover the financial shortfall.
Decline in client confidence.Funds can be used for reassurance campaigns or hiring interim support.
Difficulty in finding a replacement.Provides the budget for executive search firms and training.
Pressure from lenders to repay loans.Gives the business the capital to clear or service debt.

Shareholder or Partnership Protection

For firms with two or more owners, this is arguably the most critical form of business protection. Consider this scenario:

A three-partner accountancy LLP. One partner unexpectedly passes away. Their share in the business, as an asset, automatically passes to their spouse as part of their estate. The spouse has no accountancy experience and no interest in the business, but they are now a part-owner. They may want to sell the share, but to whom? Or they may want to be bought out, but do the remaining partners have the personal funds to buy the share at its full market value?

This situation can lead to conflict, financial strain, and potentially the forced sale or dissolution of the firm.

Shareholder or Partnership Protection solves this. It's a combination of life insurance policies and a legal agreement.

  1. The Policies: Each partner takes out a life insurance policy on the lives of the other partners, often with critical illness cover included. These policies are typically written into a business trust.
  2. The Agreement: A solicitor drafts a 'cross-option agreement' which is signed by all partners. This agreement states that in the event of a partner's death, the surviving partners have the option to buy the deceased's share, and the deceased's estate has the option to sell it to them.

When a partner dies, the insurance policy pays out to the surviving partners, providing them with the exact amount of cash needed to purchase the share from the deceased's family at a pre-agreed valuation. This ensures a smooth, fair, and funded transfer of ownership, allowing the business to continue with minimal disruption.

Get Tailored Quote

Relevant Life Insurance

For accountancy practices set up as limited companies, Relevant Life Insurance is an exceptionally tax-efficient way to provide death-in-service benefits for directors and employees.

It's a personal life insurance policy that is paid for by the business. The key benefits are the tax savings:

  • Premiums are typically treated as an allowable business expense for the company, reducing its Corporation Tax bill.
  • The premiums are not treated as a P11D benefit-in-kind for the employee/director, meaning no extra Income Tax or National Insurance contributions are due.
  • The payout is made via a trust, so it does not form part of the deceased's estate for Inheritance Tax purposes.

This makes it far more tax-efficient than a director paying for personal life insurance from their post-tax income.

FeaturePersonal Life InsuranceRelevant Life Insurance
Who Pays?The individual, from post-tax income.The business.
Tax Deductible?No.Yes, for the business.
Benefit in Kind?N/A.No.
Best ForSole traders, partnerships.Directors of limited companies.

Executive Income Protection

Similar to Relevant Life, Executive Income Protection allows a limited company to pay for an income protection policy for a director or key employee in a tax-efficient manner.

The policy is owned and paid for by the business. If the insured employee is unable to work due to illness or injury, the policy pays the benefit to the company. The company then pays this income to the employee through the normal PAYE system.

While the employee pays income tax and NI on the income they receive (just as they would on their salary), the premiums paid by the business are generally considered an allowable business expense. This provides a formal, funded sick pay arrangement that protects both the director's income and the company's cash flow.

Solutions for Self-Employed Accountants and Freelancers

The rise of the gig economy has seen many accountants operate as sole traders or freelancers. While this offers flexibility, it removes the safety net of an employer's benefits package. For this group, personal protection is not just important; it is the only safety net.

  • Income Protection is paramount. With no employer sick pay, any time off work means an immediate stop to all income. An 'own occupation' policy is a lifeline.
  • Personal Sick Pay policies can also be a good fit. These are often shorter-term income protection plans, designed to cover immediate bills with very short deferment periods (as little as one day). They are particularly useful for those whose income might fluctuate.
  • Critical Illness Cover and Life Insurance are equally vital to protect personal assets and family members from the financial fallout of a health crisis or death.

As an expert broker, WeCovr can help self-employed professionals find policies that are flexible enough to adapt to changing income levels, ensuring your cover remains relevant and affordable.

Advanced Planning: Inheritance Tax and Gifting

As successful professionals, many accountants accumulate significant personal wealth, bringing Inheritance Tax (IHT) into focus. With your intricate knowledge of the tax system, you'll know that planning is key. Insurance offers powerful tools for IHT mitigation.

Gift Inter Vivos Insurance

When you gift an asset (such as cash or property) to someone, it is considered a Potentially Exempt Transfer (PET). If you survive for seven years after making the gift, it falls completely outside your estate for IHT purposes. However, if you die within those seven years, the gift becomes chargeable to IHT on a sliding scale.

A Gift Inter Vivos policy is a special type of decreasing term life insurance designed to cover this tapering liability. The sum assured decreases over the seven-year term, mirroring the reducing IHT bill. It provides peace of mind that your beneficiaries won't be hit with an unexpected tax bill if you pass away shortly after making a generous gift.

Whole of Life Insurance in Trust

For a residual IHT liability on your estate that cannot be mitigated otherwise, a Whole of Life insurance policy is the classic solution. By taking out a policy for the value of the expected tax bill and placing it in a trust, you create a dedicated fund. Upon your death, the policy pays out to the trust, and your beneficiaries can use this money to pay the IHT bill without having to sell assets like the family home or shares in your practice.

The Accountant's Advantage: Understanding the Numbers

One of the biggest misconceptions about protection insurance is that it's expensive. In reality, the cost of securing a multi-million-pound business or a six-figure income is often surprisingly low—a tiny fraction of the value it protects.

As an accountant, you appreciate a clear cost-benefit analysis. Here are some illustrative examples for a 40-year-old non-smoker in good health:

Example Personal Cover Premiums (Monthly)

Cover TypeSum Assured / BenefitTerm / DefermentIndicative Premium
Level Term Life£500,00025 Years£25 - £35
Critical Illness£100,00025 Years£40 - £55
Income Protection£3,500 / month13-week deferment£50 - £70

These are illustrative premiums only and the actual cost will depend on your individual circumstances, including age, health, smoker status, and occupation.

The return on investment is clear: a manageable monthly outlay provides a financial backstop worth hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of pounds. For business protection policies like Relevant Life and Executive Income Protection, the tax efficiencies further reduce the net cost to the business, making the case even more compelling.

Wellness, Health, and Added-Value Benefits

The insurance industry has evolved. Modern protection policies are no longer just about paying a claim; they are about helping you stay healthy in the first place. This is particularly relevant for accountants, whose profession carries specific health risks.

Wellness Tips for Finance Professionals:

  • Combat Sedentary Work: The link between prolonged sitting and health issues is well-documented. Consider a standing desk, take regular five-minute breaks to walk and stretch, and build activity into your day with a lunchtime walk or walking meetings.
  • Manage Stress: The pressure of deadlines is immense. Practising mindfulness, using techniques like the Pomodoro method (25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break), and ensuring you completely switch off after work are vital for preventing burnout.
  • Prioritise Sleep: High-level cognitive function, accuracy, and decision-making—the cornerstones of your profession—are severely impaired by poor sleep. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night.
  • Mindful Nutrition: It's easy to rely on caffeine and sugary snacks during busy periods. Plan ahead with healthy desk-side snacks and balanced lunches to maintain stable energy levels and focus.

Recognising these challenges, many insurers now include a suite of free, value-added benefits with their policies, accessible from day one:

  • 24/7 Virtual GP Services: Get medical advice via phone or video call without waiting for an appointment.
  • Mental Health Support: Access to confidential counselling and therapy sessions.
  • Second Medical Opinion Services: If you're diagnosed with a serious illness, you can get your diagnosis and treatment plan reviewed by a world-leading expert.
  • Fitness and Nutrition Programmes: Discounts on gym memberships and access to wellness apps.

At WeCovr, we believe in this proactive approach to health. That's why, in addition to the benefits offered by insurers, we provide our clients with complimentary access to our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, CalorieHero. It’s our way of going the extra mile, helping you manage your health and well-being long before you might ever need to make a claim.

How to Choose the Right Cover: Working with an Expert Broker

Navigating the world of protection insurance can be complex. The definitions, the legal structures like trusts, and the tax implications require specialist knowledge. While it might be tempting to go direct to an insurer, you risk choosing the wrong product, the wrong level of cover, or missing out on crucial tax efficiencies.

This is where an independent broker becomes an invaluable partner.

Working with a specialist adviser at WeCovr ensures that you, as a busy professional, get the right advice tailored to your unique situation. Our process is simple and thorough:

  1. Discovery: We take the time to understand your personal finances, your family commitments, your business structure, and your long-term goals.
  2. Market Research: We use our expertise and technology to search the entire UK market, comparing policies from all the major insurers to find the highest quality cover at the most competitive price.
  3. Recommendation: We present you with a clear, jargon-free recommendation that explains exactly what cover you need and why. We'll model the tax efficiencies for business policies so you can see the precise financial benefit.
  4. Implementation: We handle the entire application process for you, making it as seamless as possible.
  5. Trusts and Review: We provide guidance on placing your policies in trust free of charge and recommend regular reviews to ensure your cover remains aligned with your changing life and business circumstances.

For financially astute professionals like accountants, working with an expert broker is not a cost—it's an investment in getting it right.

In Conclusion: The Ultimate Contingency Plan

You wouldn't let a client operate without a robust financial plan and solid contingency measures. It's time to apply that same rigorous standard to your own life and business.

Protection insurance is the ultimate contingency plan. It's the legal and financial framework that guarantees financial stability when life throws the unexpected your way. A comprehensive strategy, blending personal and business protection, creates a fortress around your income, your family, and your firm.

Don't let your own financial plan be the one you neglect. Take the time today to review your protection needs and ensure the future you're working so hard for is truly secure.

Is business life insurance tax-deductible for an accountancy firm?

Generally, it depends on the type of policy and its purpose. For a Relevant Life Plan, the premiums are typically considered an allowable business expense and are therefore tax-deductible. For Key Person Insurance, the tax treatment can be more complex. If the policy is solely to cover lost profits (a revenue purpose), HMRC will usually allow the premiums as a deductible expense, but the payout would then be taxable. If it's to cover a loan (a capital purpose), the premiums are not usually deductible, but the payout is tax-free. For Shareholder or Partnership Protection, premiums are not tax-deductible as they are seen as benefiting the partners/shareholders personally. It's essential to get advice on your specific circumstances.

What is the difference between 'own occupation' and 'any occupation' for income protection?

This is a critical distinction. 'Own Occupation' means the policy will pay out if you are unable to perform the main duties of your specific job—in your case, as an accountant. 'Any Occupation' is a much stricter definition and will only pay out if you are so incapacitated that you cannot perform any job at all. For a skilled professional like an accountant, an 'Own Occupation' definition is essential to ensure you are properly protected.

Do I need a medical exam to get cover?

Not always. For many people, especially those who are younger and applying for a standard amount of cover, insurers can make a decision based on the answers provided in the application form. However, if you are applying for a very large sum assured, are older, or have disclosed pre-existing medical conditions, the insurer may request a GP report, a nurse screening, or a full medical examination. This is all arranged and paid for by the insurer.

How much cover do I actually need?

There's no single answer, as it depends entirely on your personal and business circumstances. For personal life cover, a common rule of thumb is 10 times your annual salary, but a better approach is to calculate your mortgage, other debts, and future family living costs. For income protection, you can typically cover 60-70% of your gross income. For business protection, the amount is calculated based on factors like profit, turnover, or business valuation. An adviser can help you conduct a thorough needs analysis to arrive at a precise figure.

Can my partnership still get cover if one partner has a pre-existing medical condition?

Yes, in most cases. The partner with the medical condition may face a higher premium or have certain exclusions applied to their policy. In some rare and severe cases, cover may be declined for that individual. However, this does not prevent the other partners from securing cover on each other. A specialist broker can navigate the market to find insurers who take a more favourable view of the specific condition, a process known as 'impaired life' underwriting.

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

Going direct to one insurer gives you only one option and one price. An independent broker like WeCovr works for you, not the insurer. We compare policies and prices from across the entire UK market to find you the best solution. More importantly, we provide expert advice on complex areas like business protection structures, tax efficiency, and writing policies into trust, ensuring your cover is set up correctly to do the job it's intended for. This specialist advice can save you and your business a significant amount of money and prevent costly mistakes.

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:

Our Group Is Proud To Have Issued 800,000+ Policies!

We've established collaboration agreements with leading insurance groups to create tailored coverage
Working with leading UK insurers
Allianz Logo
Ageas Logo
Covea Logo
AIG Logo
Zurich Logo
BUPA Logo
Aviva Logo
Axa Logo
Vitality Logo
Exeter Logo
WPA Logo
National Friendly Logo
General & Medical Logo
Legal & General Logo
ARAG Logo
Scottish Widows Logo
Metlife Logo
HSBC Logo
Guardian Logo
Royal London Logo
Cigna Logo
NIG Logo
CanadaLife Logo
TMHCC Logo

How It Works

1. Complete a brief form
Complete a brief form
2. Our experts analyse your information and find you best quotes
Experts discuss your quotes
3. Enjoy your protection!
Enjoy your protection

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.


Learn more


...

Who Are WeCovr?

WeCovr is an insurance specialist for people valuing their peace of mind and a great service.

👍 WeCovr will help you get your private medical insurance, life insurance, critical illness insurance and others in no time thanks to our wonderful super-friendly experts ready to assist you every step of the way.

Just a quick and simple form and an easy conversation with one of our experts and your valuable insurance policy is in place for that needed peace of mind!

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.

Political And Credit Risks Ltd is a registered company in England and Wales. Company Number: 07691072. Data Protection Register Number: ZA207579. Registered Office: 22-45 Old Castle Street, London, E1 7NY. WeCovr is a trading style of Political And Credit Risks Ltd. Political And Credit Risks Ltd is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is on the Financial Services Register under number 735613.

About WeCovr

WeCovr is your trusted partner for comprehensive insurance solutions. We help families and individuals find the right protection for their needs.