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The 2025 Growth Shield

The 2025 Growth Shield 2025 | Top Insurance Guides

The 2025 Growth Trap: Why Your Pursuit of Personal Excellence and Lasting Relationships Is Incomplete Without an Invisible Financial Shield Against Life's Unseen Realities

Imagine dedicating yourself to personal development, building strong family bonds, and chasing your dreams. You read the books, listen to the podcasts, optimise your mornings, and invest time and energy into the people you love. Now, picture that entire journey, that carefully constructed life, being derailed by a sudden, unforeseen health crisis or accident.

It’s a scenario we instinctively push to the back of our minds, but the reality is stark. With sobering statistics, such as Cancer Research UK's projection that 1 in 2 people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and other serious illnesses or injuries always a possibility, life’s biggest threats aren't just medical. They're profoundly financial, deeply impacting your ability to provide for your family, putting immense strain on your relationships, and taking a severe toll on your mental well-being.

This is the Growth Trap. It's the fallacy of building a magnificent life on foundations that could be washed away by a single wave of misfortune. Your personal growth needs a financial foundation, an invisible shield that protects everything you're working so hard to build.

Protection products are the components of this shield. Income Protection and Personal Sick Pay – absolutely crucial for those in high-risk roles such as tradespeople, nurses, and electricians – ensure your income continues if you're too ill or injured to work, safeguarding your financial stability. Family Income Benefit provides regular, manageable payments to support your loved ones, preserving their future lifestyle. Critical Illness Cover offers a vital lump sum to navigate a severe health event, letting you focus on recovery, not bills. Life Protection and Gift Inter Vivos ensure your legacy and provide a crucial lump sum upon death, securing your family's future and removing financial burdens at the most difficult time.

Complementing this defensive shield is a proactive one: private health insurance. It doesn't just speed up diagnosis and treatment; it accelerates your return to health and productivity, mitigating the very impact these other policies are designed to cover.

This comprehensive approach is the ultimate form of proactive self-care for your future self and those you cherish. It's about freeing you from financial fear so you can truly thrive and grow.

Unpacking the Growth Trap: The Illusion of Modern Security

We live in an age of empowerment. We track our habits, plan our careers, and curate our lives with meticulous detail. Yet, this focus on what we can control often creates a dangerous blind spot: an underestimation of what we cannot. The Growth Trap is the belief that a good salary, a strong work ethic, and a healthy lifestyle are, in themselves, sufficient protection against life's uncertainties.

The reality is that for most of us, our entire financial world is balanced on a single pillar: our ability to earn an income. What happens when that pillar is kicked out from under you?

  • The Freelancer's Fall: Consider a successful freelance web developer. She earns a six-figure income, loves her work, and enjoys the freedom of being her own boss. A serious cycling accident leaves her with multiple fractures and unable to work for nine months. Without sick pay, her income drops to zero overnight. Her emergency fund, built for a few months of quiet, is quickly exhausted by mortgage payments, bills, and the unexpected costs of recovery. The dream career becomes a source of intense anxiety.

  • The Family's Fracture: A construction site manager, the primary earner for his family, suffers a major heart attack. He survives, but the road to recovery is long and he's advised to take a year off work. His employer's sick pay runs out after six months. Suddenly, his partner is juggling childcare, hospital visits, and the terrifying prospect of not being able to pay the bills. The emotional strain on the relationship becomes immense, a secondary crisis born from the first.

  • The Director's Dilemma: A director of a small but growing marketing agency is diagnosed with a critical illness. Not only is her personal income at risk, but her absence throws the entire business into chaos. Clients are unsettled, projects stall, and the other director is left shouldering a double workload. The company they built together is now vulnerable.

These scenarios illustrate that a health crisis is never just a health crisis. It's a financial crisis, a relationship crisis, and a mental health crisis all rolled into one. The stress of money worries actively hinders recovery, creating a vicious cycle. This is the Growth Trap in action.

Deconstructing Your Invisible Shield: A Guide to Protection Products

Building your financial shield isn't about fearing the future; it's about empowering it. It means putting a structure in place that allows you and your loved ones to weather any storm. Let's break down the key components.

Income Protection (IP) & Personal Sick Pay (PSP): Your Monthly Lifeline

This is arguably the bedrock of any financial protection plan. If your ability to earn an income is your greatest asset, Income Protection is the insurance for that asset.

Income Protection is a long-term policy that pays you a regular, tax-free monthly income if you are unable to work due to any illness or injury. It continues to pay out until you can return to work, reach retirement age, or the policy term ends, whichever comes first.

Personal Sick Pay is a similar concept, often structured as a shorter-term policy. It's particularly popular with those in riskier manual trades (electricians, plumbers, builders) or professions where the risk of short-term injury or illness is higher. It provides a crucial safety net for periods when you can't be on the tools.

Who needs it most?

  • The Self-Employed & Freelancers: You have no employer sick pay to fall back on. Your income stops the day you do. According to the ONS, there were 4.25 million self-employed people in the UK in late 2023 – a huge portion of the workforce with a unique vulnerability.
  • Company Directors: While you may have control over your company, a long-term absence can drain business resources if you continue to draw a salary without contributing.
  • Employees with Limited Sick Pay: Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is just £116.75 per week (2024/25 rate). Could your family survive on that? Many employer schemes are not as generous as people assume, often lasting only a few weeks or months.
  • Tradespeople, Nurses, Electricians: These professions carry a higher risk of physical injury or burnout. Data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for 2022/23 showed that 1.8 million workers were suffering from work-related ill health, with 477,000 of these due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
FeatureIncome Protection (IP)Personal Sick Pay (PSP)
PurposeLong-term income replacementShort-term income replacement
Typical Payout TermUntil retirement or return to work1, 2, or 5 years per claim
Best ForComprehensive long-term securityCovering immediate gaps, high-risk jobs
Key ConsiderationDefinition of incapacity (Own Occupation)Shorter deferred periods, simpler terms

The most crucial detail in an Income Protection policy is the definition of incapacity. The "gold standard" is 'Own Occupation', which means the policy will pay out if you are unable to perform your specific job. Other definitions, like 'Suited Occupation' or 'Any Occupation', are less comprehensive and may not pay out if the insurer believes you could do a different job.

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Critical Illness Cover (CIC): The Lump Sum for Life's Biggest Fights

While Income Protection replaces your monthly pay cheque, Critical Illness Cover is designed to provide a large, tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of a list of specific serious conditions.

Think of it as a financial "shock absorber." It gives you immediate breathing room and options at a time of immense stress.

How can the lump sum be used?

  • Clear an outstanding mortgage or other debts.
  • Pay for private medical treatment or specialist therapies.
  • Make adaptations to your home (e.g., a wheelchair ramp).
  • Allow a partner or family member to take unpaid leave from work to care for you.
  • Simply replace lost income and remove all financial worries, so you can focus 100% on getting better.

The statistics are sobering. Beyond the 1-in-2 cancer statistic, the British Heart Foundation estimates there are more than 100,000 hospital admissions each year in the UK due to heart attacks. A CIC payment can be the difference between a recovery focused on health and one dominated by financial fear.

When considering CIC, it's vital to check the list of conditions covered. Policies vary significantly. A good broker can help you navigate the market to find a policy with comprehensive definitions that covers the "big three" – cancer, heart attack, and stroke – as well as a wide range of other conditions. Many modern policies also include partial payments for less severe conditions, providing a financial boost earlier in your treatment journey.

Life Protection: Securing Your Legacy

Life insurance, or Life Protection, is the most well-known form of cover. Its purpose is simple and profound: to pay out a lump sum to your loved ones when you die. This money provides them with financial security at the most difficult time imaginable.

There are three main types:

Type of CoverHow It WorksBest For
Level TermThe payout amount stays the same throughout the policy term.Covering an interest-only mortgage, providing a lump sum for family living costs.
Decreasing TermThe payout amount reduces over time, usually in line with a repayment mortgage.Covering a specific debt that is decreasing over time, like a standard mortgage.
Whole of LifeThe policy is guaranteed to pay out whenever you die, as long as premiums are paid.Estate planning, covering potential Inheritance Tax (IHT) bills, or leaving a guaranteed legacy.

A crucial step for any life insurance policy is to place it "in trust". This is a simple legal arrangement that separates the policy from your estate. The benefits are huge:

  1. It avoids probate: The payout can be made to your beneficiaries much faster, often within weeks, rather than getting tied up in the lengthy process of administering your estate.
  2. It avoids Inheritance Tax: The payout goes directly to the beneficiaries and isn't counted as part of your estate, so it isn't subject to a potential 40% IHT charge.

Family Income Benefit (FIB): A More Manageable Legacy

For many families, receiving a huge lump sum of, say, £500,000 can be overwhelming. How do you invest it? How do you make it last? Family Income Benefit offers a more intuitive alternative.

Instead of a single lump sum, FIB pays out a regular, tax-free monthly or annual income to your family. This income is paid from the time of your death until the end of the policy term.

Example: A 35-year-old takes out a 25-year FIB policy to provide £2,500 a month. If they were to die 5 years into the policy, their family would receive £2,500 every month for the remaining 20 years.

This structure makes it far easier for the surviving partner to manage the family's finances, replacing the lost salary in a way that directly covers ongoing bills and living costs. It's often a more affordable way to secure a high level of protection for a young family.

Gift Inter Vivos: Shielding Your Gifts from Tax

For those in the fortunate position of being able to pass on wealth during their lifetime, Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a key consideration. When you give a substantial gift (a "Potentially Exempt Transfer"), you must survive for 7 years for that gift to become completely exempt from IHT.

If you die within those 7 years, the gift becomes part of your estate and IHT may be due on it. This can create an unexpected and significant tax bill for the person who received your gift.

A Gift Inter Vivos policy is a special type of life insurance designed to solve this exact problem. It's a 7-year life policy where the payout amount decreases over time, mirroring the "taper relief" rules for IHT on gifts. It pays out a lump sum to cover the potential tax bill, ensuring your gift reaches its recipient in full, as you intended.

The Proactive Layer: Why Private Health Insurance is a Core Part of the Shield

If protection policies are your financial defence, Private Health Insurance (PHI), also known as Private Medical Insurance (PMI), is your proactive health offence. It's designed to get you diagnosed and treated faster, which has a powerful knock-on effect on your entire well-being.

The NHS is a national treasure, but it's under immense pressure. As of May 2024, the NHS England waiting list stood at a staggering 7.57 million treatment pathways. This can mean long, anxious waits for consultations, scans, and non-urgent surgery.

PHI allows you to bypass these queues. The benefits are transformative:

  • Speed of Access: Get a prompt referral to a specialist.
  • Rapid Diagnostics: Quickly access scans like MRI, CT, and PET, often within days.
  • Choice and Control: Choose your specialist and the hospital where you'll be treated.
  • Comfort and Privacy: Recover in a private room with more flexible visiting hours.
  • Access to Advanced Treatments: Gain access to drugs, therapies, or surgical techniques that may not yet be available on the NHS due to cost or approval delays.

From a "Growth Shield" perspective, the link is clear. Faster diagnosis and treatment mean you are likely to spend less time unwell and unable to work. This reduces the potential length of an Income Protection claim and can lead to better long-term health outcomes, lessening the impact of a condition that might otherwise trigger a Critical Illness payout. It's the ultimate investment in your most important asset: your health and your ability to be productive.

The Shield for Business Leaders and the Self-Employed

While every individual needs a financial shield, the need is amplified for those who run their own business or work for themselves. Your personal health is inextricably linked to the health of your business.

Unique Vulnerabilities

  • No Safety Net: No employer sick pay, no employer death-in-service benefits, no one else to pick up the slack.
  • Business Continuity Risk: Your absence can directly impact revenue, client confidence, and project delivery.
  • Financial Interdependence: Personal and business finances are often closely linked. A personal health crisis can quickly become a business-threatening event.

Tax-Efficient Solutions for Company Directors

Fortunately, there are specific, highly tax-efficient solutions that a limited company can put in place.

  • Executive Income Protection: This is an Income Protection policy owned and paid for by your limited company for you as an employee/director. The monthly premiums are typically considered an allowable business expense, making it a tax-efficient way to secure your personal income.
  • Relevant Life Cover: This is a standalone death-in-service benefit, again paid for by the company. It provides a lump sum to your family if you die. Crucially, the premiums are not treated as a P11D benefit-in-kind, and the company can usually offset the cost against its corporation tax bill. It's a far more tax-efficient method than paying for personal life insurance from your post-tax income.
  • Key Person Insurance: This protects the business itself. It's a life and/or critical illness policy taken out on a crucial member of the team (like a founder, top salesperson, or technical expert). If that person dies or becomes seriously ill, the policy pays a lump sum to the business. This money can be used to cover lost profits, recruit a replacement, or reassure lenders and investors, ensuring the business can survive the loss.

Beyond the Policy: Cultivating a Holistic Growth Mindset

A true "Growth Shield" isn't just a folder of policy documents. It's a mindset that integrates financial preparedness with a proactive approach to well-being. Insurance protects you from the consequences of a health crisis, but a healthy lifestyle can reduce the likelihood of one occurring in the first place.

This is why, at WeCovr, we believe in supporting our clients' holistic health journeys. It's not just about finding you the right policy; it's about championing your overall well-being. As a testament to this, our clients gain complimentary access to CalorieHero, our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app. It's a tool to help you build physical resilience, which is a core pillar of a truly protected life.

Consider the four pillars of holistic resilience:

  1. Financial Resilience: The comprehensive insurance shield we have detailed, tailored to your unique circumstances.
  2. Physical Resilience: A commitment to proactive health. This means a balanced diet, regular exercise (as per NHS guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week), and prioritising sleep.
  3. Mental Resilience: Actively managing stress through mindfulness, hobbies, or therapy. Nurturing strong social connections and support networks is vital for navigating life's challenges.
  4. Professional Resilience: Continuously developing your skills, building your network, and, for the self-employed, exploring ways to diversify income streams to reduce reliance on a single source.

By strengthening all four pillars, you create a life that is not only protected from shocks but is also primed for sustained growth and fulfilment.

How to Build Your Shield: A Practical Guide

Feeling overwhelmed? Don't be. Building your shield is a logical process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started.

Step 1: Audit Your Current Situation Before you build anything new, you need to know what you're working with.

  • Existing Cover: Do you have any life insurance, critical illness cover, or income protection already? Check the details. Is it enough?
  • Employer Benefits: If you're employed, get a clear statement of your benefits. How many weeks/months of sick pay do you get at full pay, and what happens after that? Do you have a "death-in-service" benefit?
  • Financial Commitments: List your essential monthly outgoings: mortgage/rent, council tax, utilities, food, transport, childcare, debt repayments. This is the minimum income you'd need to replace.
  • Savings & Assets: How much do you have in your emergency fund? How long would it last?

Step 2: Define Your Needs Based on your audit, you can now identify the gaps.

  • Income Gap: Subtract your sick pay and any other income from your essential outgoings. This is the monthly amount your Income Protection needs to cover.
  • Debt Gap: What is the total of your mortgage and any other large debts? This is a baseline for a lump sum from Life or Critical Illness Cover.
  • Family Gap: If you have dependents, how much capital or income would they need to maintain their lifestyle if you were no longer around? Consider day-to-day costs, university fees, and future plans.

Step 3: Seek Expert Advice This is the most important step. The protection market is complex, with dozens of providers and hundreds of policy variations. Trying to navigate it alone is time-consuming and risks you ending up with the wrong cover.

Working with an expert independent broker like WeCovr is invaluable. We are not tied to any single insurer. Our role is to:

  • Understand your unique personal, family, and business circumstances.
  • Scan the entire market, comparing policies from all the UK's leading insurers.
  • Explain the fine print, such as the definitions of incapacity or the specific conditions covered by a CIC policy.
  • Help you structure your policies in the most tax-efficient way (e.g., in trust).
  • Guide you through the application process to ensure it is as smooth as possible.

Step 4: Review and Adapt Your Growth Shield is a living thing. It must adapt as your life changes. It's crucial to review your cover every few years, or after any major life event:

  • Getting married or entering a civil partnership.
  • Buying a new home or increasing your mortgage.
  • The birth of a child.
  • A significant salary increase.
  • Starting your own business.

A quick review ensures your shield remains strong enough to protect the life you are continuing to build.

In Conclusion: The Freedom to Grow

The pursuit of personal excellence is a noble one. Building a career, nurturing relationships, and striving to be the best version of yourself are what give life meaning. But this pursuit is fragile if it isn't built on a secure foundation.

The Growth Shield isn’t an admission of pessimism; it is the ultimate act of optimism. It is the statement that you value your future, your family, and your dreams so much that you are willing to make them invincible. By putting a robust financial shield in place, you are not planning for things to go wrong. You are creating the financial and mental freedom that allows you to chase your ambitions with confidence, knowing that you are protected from the unforeseen.

It liberates you from the quiet, nagging fear of "what if," allowing you to focus fully on the life you are so passionately building. It is the invisible, unshakable foundation upon which true, lasting growth is built.


Is protection insurance expensive?

The cost of protection insurance varies widely based on your age, health, lifestyle (e.g., whether you smoke), occupation, the type of cover you choose, the amount of cover, and the policy term. However, it is often far more affordable than people think. For example, income protection for a healthy 30-year-old office worker could cost less than a daily cup of coffee. A broker can help you find cover that fits your budget.

Do I need a medical exam to get cover?

Not always. For many people, cover can be granted based on the answers to a detailed health and lifestyle questionnaire. Insurers may request a GP report or a mini-medical screening if you are applying for a very high amount of cover, are older, or have disclosed certain pre-existing medical conditions. Honesty and accuracy in your application are paramount.

Will insurers actually pay out?

Yes. This is a common myth, but the reality is that the vast majority of claims are paid. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), in 2022, insurance companies paid out over £6.85 billion in protection claims. A staggering 98% of all claims were paid, providing a vital financial lifeline to thousands of families. Claims are typically only declined due to "non-disclosure" (not providing accurate information at the application stage) or the claim not meeting the policy definition.

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

Yes, it is often possible, but it depends on the specific condition, its severity, and how well it is managed. The insurer may offer cover on standard terms, apply an exclusion for that specific condition, or increase the premium. It is vital to speak to an expert broker who has experience in placing cover for clients with medical conditions, as they will know which insurers are most likely to offer favourable terms.

What's the difference between Life Insurance and Critical Illness Cover?

They cover different events. Life Insurance pays out a lump sum to your beneficiaries if you die during the policy term. Critical Illness Cover pays out a lump sum directly to you if you are diagnosed with a specified serious illness and survive for a short period (usually 10-14 days). They serve different purposes: life insurance protects your family's future after you're gone, while critical illness cover protects your financial stability during a major health crisis while you are alive. Many people choose to combine both in a single policy.

As a freelancer, isn't my emergency fund enough?

An emergency fund is essential, but it's designed for short-term shocks, like a client paying late or needing a new laptop. It is rarely sufficient to cover a long-term inability to work. A serious illness or injury could prevent you from working for many months, or even years. An emergency fund of 3-6 months' expenses would be depleted very quickly. Income Protection is designed specifically for these long-term scenarios, providing a replacement income that can last for years if needed, protecting your savings and your home.

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.

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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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