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The Unseen Shield of Personal Growth

The Unseen Shield of Personal Growth 2025

The world tells us to dream big and hustle harder, but what if the true secret to unlocking your fullest potential and building lasting relationships lies in an invisible safety net you haven't considered? As we approach 2025, health projections are stark: with about 1 in 2 people in the UK expected to face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, alongside rising rates of other critical illnesses and accidents that disproportionately affect our dedicated nurses, electricians, and tradespeople, relying solely on hope is a risk few can afford. This isn't just about insurance; it's about a strategic blueprint for resilient living. Discover how comprehensive protection – from Family Income Benefit ensuring your loved ones' future, to Income Protection safeguarding your present earnings, and specialized Personal Sick Pay designed for riskier occupations – creates the unwavering financial stability essential for true personal development. We’ll unveil how Life and Critical Illness Cover provides peace of mind during life’s toughest battles, and how private health insurance empowers you with rapid access to specialist care, bypassing lengthy public waiting lists to accelerate recovery and minimize career disruption. Even explore Gift Inter Vivos as a profound legacy tool offering a lump sum payment on death. Learn how securing your future against unforeseen events isn't a burden, but the ultimate act of self-care and the foundation for unparalleled freedom to live, love, and grow without limits.

In our relentless pursuit of success, we build businesses, climb career ladders, and nurture our families. We invest in education, property, and pensions. Yet, we often overlook the very foundation upon which all this ambition is built: our health and our ability to earn an income.

This article is not about fear; it's about empowerment. It's a guide to constructing an 'unseen shield'—a robust financial safety net that gives you the confidence to take risks, the security to weather storms, and the freedom to focus on what truly matters: your personal and professional growth.

The Paradox of Ambition: Why Financial Resilience is the Bedrock of Growth

Modern culture champions the 'hustle'. We're encouraged to push boundaries, take risks, and chase our dreams with unwavering focus. But this narrative has a dangerous blind spot: it presumes a smooth, uninterrupted journey. It fails to account for life's inherent unpredictability.

Think of it in terms of psychologist Abraham Maslow's famous 'Hierarchy of Needs'. At the very top sits 'self-actualisation'—the realisation of your full potential, creativity, and personal growth. But you cannot reach this peak without first securing the foundational layers. Just above basic physiological needs like food and water lies 'Safety Needs', which includes security of body, employment, resources, and health.

A sudden illness, a serious accident, or an unexpected death can shatter this safety layer in an instant. The resulting financial shock doesn't just halt your progress; it can send you spiralling backwards, eroding savings, creating debt, and placing immense strain on your mental health and relationships.

Consider the reality for many UK households. A 2024 report from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) highlighted that millions of adults have little to no savings, with many having less than £1,000 tucked away for an emergency. When your ability to earn is suddenly removed, how long could your household function before facing a financial crisis? For many, the answer is a matter of weeks, not months.

This is where the unseen shield comes in. By proactively protecting your financial wellbeing, you're not putting a limit on your ambition; you're giving it a secure launchpad.

The Stark Reality of UK Health in 2025 and Beyond

Hope is a wonderful human emotion, but it is not a strategy. To build a resilient life, we must look at the data and understand the real-world risks we face. The health landscape in the UK presents a sobering picture that underscores the need for proactive planning.

  • The Pervasive Threat of Cancer: The long-standing projection from Cancer Research UK remains a critical planning benchmark: an estimated 1 in 2 people born after 1960 in the UK will be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime. While survival rates are thankfully improving, treatment can be long, gruelling, and often requires significant time off work.
  • Cardiovascular Disease: The British Heart Foundation reports that there are around 7.6 million people living with heart and circulatory diseases in the UK. Every year, over 100,000 hospital admissions in the UK are attributable to heart attacks. A stroke or heart attack can happen to anyone, at any age, and the recovery process can profoundly impact your ability to work.
  • The Rise of Long-Term Sickness: Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows a significant increase in the number of people economically inactive due to long-term sickness. Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety are now a leading cause of work-related illness, alongside musculoskeletal problems. The pressure of modern life is taking its toll, and the financial consequences can be devastating.
  • Occupational Risks: While office workers face risks, those in manual trades and frontline services face elevated dangers. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the construction industry continues to have one of the highest rates of workplace injury. Similarly, nurses, paramedics, and other healthcare professionals face daily physical and mental strains that can lead to injury or burnout. An accident on a building site or a back injury from lifting a patient can mean months, or even years, off work.

These statistics aren't meant to frighten you. They are meant to empower you with knowledge. Recognising these risks is the first step toward mitigating them effectively.

Building Your Shield: A Deep Dive into Personal Protection Insurance

Your personal protection plan is not a one-size-fits-all product. It's a tailored combination of different types of cover designed to protect you and your loved ones from various 'what if' scenarios. Let's break down the core components.

1. Income Protection (IP): Your Monthly Salary Safeguard

This is arguably the most crucial piece of the puzzle for anyone who relies on their monthly income.

  • What it is: Income Protection pays out 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, you retire, or the policy term ends—whichever comes first.
  • Who it's for: Every working adult. It is especially vital for the self-employed, freelancers, and company directors who do not have the benefit of a generous employee sick pay scheme.
  • Key Features to Understand:
    • Deferred Period: This is the waiting period from when you stop working to when the policy starts paying out. It can range from 4 weeks to 52 weeks. The longer the deferred period you choose, the lower your premium will be. You can align it with your employer's sick pay or your personal savings.
    • Level of Cover: You can typically cover 50-70% of your gross annual income. This is designed to replace the bulk of your take-home pay.
    • Definition of Incapacity: Look for 'Own Occupation' cover. This means the policy will pay out if you are unable to do your specific job. Less comprehensive 'Any Occupation' definitions may only pay if you are unable to do any job, which is a much harder threshold to meet.

Real-Life Example: Sarah, a 35-year-old freelance marketing consultant, develops a severe case of burnout coupled with chronic fatigue syndrome. Her doctor signs her off work indefinitely. Because she has an Income Protection policy with a 13-week deferred period, after three months her policy kicks in. She receives £2,500 per month, allowing her to cover her mortgage, bills, and living expenses without draining her savings or going into debt. This financial security allows her to focus entirely on her recovery without the added stress of financial ruin.

2. Personal Sick Pay: Short-Term Cover for Hands-On Professions

Often a brand name for short-term Income Protection, 'Personal Sick Pay' is particularly popular with those in riskier occupations.

  • What it is: A policy designed to provide a replacement income for a shorter period, typically 1, 2, or 5 years per claim. It often has very short deferred periods (as little as one day).
  • Who it's for: Tradespeople (electricians, plumbers, builders), nurses, drivers, and others in physically demanding jobs where the risk of an accident or short-term injury is higher. It's a crucial top-up to the UK's Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), which in 2025 provides only a minimal weekly amount—nowhere near enough to cover the average person's outgoings.

3. Life and Critical Illness Cover: Financial Firepower in a Crisis

These two products are often sold together and provide a tax-free lump sum payment in the face of life's biggest challenges.

  • Life Insurance: Pays out a lump sum upon your death. The primary purpose is to provide for your dependants, clear a mortgage, or cover funeral costs.
    • Term Assurance: Runs for a fixed period (e.g., the length of your mortgage). It's the most affordable and common type.
    • Whole of Life: Covers you for your entire life and is guaranteed to pay out eventually. It's often used for Inheritance Tax planning.
  • Critical Illness Cover (CIC): Pays out a lump sum on the diagnosis of a specified serious (but not necessarily fatal) illness. This money can be a lifeline, allowing you to:
    • Clear or reduce your mortgage.
    • Pay for private treatment or specialist care.
    • Adapt your home.
    • Replace lost income for you or a partner who takes time off to care for you.
Common Conditions Covered by Critical Illness Policies
Cancer (of specified severity)
Heart Attack
Stroke
Multiple Sclerosis
Major Organ Transplant
Kidney Failure
Parkinson's Disease
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Motor Neurone Disease
Blindness / Deafness

Note: The list of conditions and their definitions vary significantly between insurers. It is vital to get expert advice to understand the policy wording.

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

Family Income Benefit is a clever and often more budget-friendly alternative to standard lump-sum life insurance.

  • What it is: Instead of paying a single large lump sum on death, FIB pays out a regular, tax-free monthly or annual income to your family. This income is paid from the time of the claim until the policy's original end date.
  • Why it's great for young families: It's designed to replace the deceased's lost salary, making it much easier for the surviving partner to manage the family's ongoing budget. A lump sum can be overwhelming to manage, whereas a regular income provides stability and predictability during an incredibly difficult time.
FeatureStandard Term Life InsuranceFamily Income Benefit (FIB)
Payout TypeOne-off tax-free lump sumRegular, tax-free income (e.g., monthly)
Total PayoutFixed from the start (e.g., £250,000)Decreases over time (pays until the policy end date)
Budgeting for RecipientRequires careful investment and management to make it lastSimple to manage, directly replaces lost income for bills
Typical CostGenerally more expensiveOften more affordable, especially for young parents
Best ForClearing large debts like a mortgageCovering ongoing family living costs and school fees

Beyond the Basics: Advanced Protection Strategies for a Secure Future

For those seeking an even more robust shield, there are specialised products that address specific financial risks and empower you with greater control over your health and legacy.

Private Medical Insurance (PMI): Accelerating Your Recovery

With NHS waiting lists remaining a significant concern in 2025, Private Medical Insurance (PMI) is transitioning from a luxury to a pragmatic necessity for many.

  • What it is: PMI is a health insurance policy that covers the cost of private medical treatment for acute conditions.
  • The Key Benefit: Speed of access. PMI allows you to bypass lengthy public waiting lists for consultations, diagnostic scans (like MRI and CT), and surgery. This is not just about comfort; it's about minimising the impact of illness on your life and career.
  • The Career Advantage: For a business owner or a key employee, being out of action for 12 months awaiting a knee operation on the NHS is a financial disaster. With PMI, that same operation could happen within weeks, dramatically reducing time off work, minimising income loss, and accelerating your return to full productivity. It gives you control over when and where you are treated.

Gift Inter Vivos Insurance: Securing Your Legacy

This is a niche but powerful tool for anyone planning to pass on significant wealth to the next generation.

  • The Inheritance Tax (IHT) Problem: When you give a large gift of money or assets (a "Potentially Exempt Transfer" or PET), it is not immediately exempt from IHT. If you die within seven years of making the gift, it becomes part of your estate for IHT calculation purposes, and your loved ones could face a substantial tax bill.
  • The Solution: A Gift Inter Vivos policy is a specialised life insurance plan designed to cover this potential IHT liability. It's a term assurance policy that runs for seven years. If you pass away during this period, the policy pays out a lump sum to cover the exact tax bill due on the gift.
  • The Peace of Mind: It ensures your generous gift is received in full by your beneficiaries, without them having to find the cash for an unexpected tax demand from HMRC. It's an act of meticulous planning and ultimate care for your loved ones.

The Business Owner's Fortress: Protecting Your Livelihood and Legacy

For company directors, entrepreneurs, and the self-employed, personal and business finances are often inextricably linked. A personal health crisis can quickly become a business crisis. Specialised business protection is therefore non-negotiable.

1. Key Person Insurance

  • What it is: A life and/or critical illness policy taken out by the business on a crucial employee—this could be a founder, a top salesperson, or a lead developer. The business pays the premiums and is the beneficiary of the policy.
  • Why it's vital: If that key person dies or becomes seriously ill, the payout provides the business with a cash injection to manage the consequences: cover lost profits, recruit and train a replacement, or repay a business loan that the key person may have guaranteed. It can be the difference between survival and collapse.

2. Executive Income Protection

  • What it is: An Income Protection policy that is owned and paid for by your limited company, for the benefit of an employee or director.
  • The Tax Advantage: Unlike a personal plan, the premiums are typically classed as an allowable business expense, making it highly tax-efficient. The benefit is paid to the company, which then pays it to the director via PAYE. It provides a way for a business to offer a premium long-term sick pay benefit that most SMEs couldn't afford otherwise.

3. Relevant Life Cover

  • What it is: A tax-efficient death-in-service policy for individual employees, including directors of small businesses.
  • Why it's smart: The premiums are paid by the company and are usually an allowable business expense. Crucially, the benefit is paid tax-free to the employee's family via a trust and does not form part of their lifetime pension allowance. It's an excellent way for small companies to offer a valuable employee benefit that would normally only be available in large corporate schemes.
Business Protection TypeWho is Insured?Who is the Beneficiary?Primary Purpose
Key Person InsuranceKey Employee/DirectorThe BusinessProtect the business from financial loss and ensure continuity.
Executive Income ProtectionEmployee/DirectorThe Business (then employee)Provide a long-term sick pay benefit in a tax-efficient way.
Relevant Life CoverEmployee/DirectorEmployee's Family (via Trust)Offer a tax-efficient death-in-service benefit for employees.

The WeCovr Advantage: More Than Just a Policy

Navigating the complexities of the protection market can be overwhelming. Each insurer has different definitions, a unique underwriting appetite, and varying price points. This is where independent, expert advice is not just helpful, but essential.

At WeCovr, we don't just sell insurance; we act as your personal protection strategist. We take the time to understand your unique circumstances—your family, your career, your financial goals, and your health. We then use our expertise to search the entire UK market, comparing policies from all the leading insurers to find the combination of cover that offers you the most robust protection at the most competitive price.

Our commitment to your wellbeing extends beyond the policy itself. We believe in proactive health management as the first line of defence. That's why all our clients receive complimentary access to CalorieHero, our exclusive AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app. It’s a practical tool to help you build healthier habits, reinforcing our belief that true protection is a holistic blend of a secure financial plan and a healthy lifestyle.

Proactive Wellbeing: The Other Side of the Protection Coin

While insurance provides a financial shield, your lifestyle choices can strengthen your physical and mental resilience, reducing your risk of ever needing to claim.

  • Nourish Your Body: A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains is fundamental to good health. Small changes, like reducing processed foods and sugary drinks, can significantly lower your risk of developing conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
  • Prioritise Sleep: In our 'always-on' culture, sleep is often the first casualty. Yet, consistent, quality sleep (7-9 hours for most adults) is critical for cognitive function, immune response, and mental health. Establish a regular sleep schedule and create a restful, screen-free environment in your bedroom.
  • Move Every Day: You don't need to run marathons. The NHS recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week. This could be a brisk walk on your lunch break, a cycle with the family, or a home workout. Regular movement boosts mood, improves cardiovascular health, and helps maintain a healthy weight.
  • Cultivate Mental Resilience: Financial worries are a major source of stress. Having a protection plan in place is a huge step towards alleviating this. Complement this with stress-management techniques like mindfulness, meditation, or simply taking time for hobbies you enjoy. For freelancers and business owners, setting clear boundaries between work and personal life is essential to prevent burnout.

Taking the First Step: How to Build Your Unseen Shield

Feeling motivated to act? Here’s a simple, four-step process to get started on building your own financial safety net.

  1. Conduct a Personal Audit: Sit down and get a clear picture of your finances. What are your monthly outgoings? What debts do you have (mortgage, loans)? Who depends on you financially? What savings do you have, and how long would they last?
  2. Honestly Assess Your Risks: Think about your job—is it high-risk? Does your family have a history of certain medical conditions? What would be the single biggest financial catastrophe for your family?
  3. Seek Expert, Independent Advice: This is the most important step. A specialist protection adviser will do the hard work for you. They understand the nuances of different policies and can recommend the right solutions for your specific needs. Navigating this landscape alone can be daunting. That's where working with a specialist broker like WeCovr becomes invaluable. We help you cut through the jargon and compare policies from all the UK's leading insurers to build a plan that's truly right for you.
  4. Review and Adapt: Your protection needs are not static. You should review your cover every few years, and especially after major life events like getting married, having children, buying a new home, or starting a business.

Building this unseen shield is the ultimate act of self-care and responsibility. It's the tangible expression of love for your family and respect for your own ambition. It liberates you from the 'what if' worries, allowing you to dedicate your energy to living a bigger, bolder, and more fulfilling life, secure in the knowledge that you have a foundation that cannot be shaken.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is personal protection insurance expensive?

The cost of protection insurance varies widely depending on your age, health, lifestyle (e.g., whether you smoke), occupation, and the type and amount of cover you need. However, it's often far more affordable than people think. For example, comprehensive income protection for a healthy 30-year-old can cost less than a daily cup of coffee. The cost of not having cover when you need it is infinitely higher. An adviser can help you find a plan that fits your budget.

Do I need insurance if I'm young and healthy?

This is actually the best time to get it. Premiums are at their lowest when you are young and in good health, and you can lock in that low price for the entire policy term. While you might feel invincible, accidents and illnesses can happen at any age. Securing cover early protects your 'future self' from unforeseen events and is one of the smartest financial decisions you can make.

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

They serve different purposes and work well together. Income Protection pays a regular monthly income if any illness or injury stops you from working. It can cover a huge range of conditions, from a bad back to mental health issues. Critical Illness Cover pays a one-off, tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of a specific list of serious conditions defined in the policy. The lump sum is for you to use as you wish—for example, to pay off a mortgage or fund private treatment.

I'm self-employed, what cover is most important for me?

For most self-employed individuals, Income Protection is the number one priority. You have no employer sick pay to fall back on, and Statutory Sick Pay is not available to you. Your ability to earn is your biggest asset, and Income Protection is the only policy that specifically protects it on a monthly basis. After that, Critical Illness Cover and Life Insurance are also essential considerations, especially if you have a mortgage or financial dependants.

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

Yes, in many cases you can. You must always fully disclose any pre-existing conditions during your application. The insurer may offer you cover on standard terms, increase the premium, or place an 'exclusion' on the policy relating to your specific condition. In complex cases, using an expert broker is vital as they know which insurers are more likely to offer favourable terms for certain conditions.

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

Going direct means you only see one company's products and prices. An independent broker like WeCovr works for you, not the insurer. We provide impartial advice and compare policies from the entire market to find the best fit for your needs and budget. We handle the application process, help with the paperwork, and can even assist with the claims process, saving you time, money, and stress. Our expertise ensures you understand what you're buying and don't end up with unsuitable cover.

Why life insurance and how does it work?

What is Life Insurance?

Life insurance is an insurance policy that can provide financial support for your loved ones when you or your joint policy holder passes away. It can help clear any outstanding debts, such as a mortgage, and cover your family's living and other expenses such costs of education, so your family can continue to pay bills and living expenses. In addition to life insurance, insurance providers offer related products such as income protection and critical illness, which we will touch upon below.

How does it work?

Life insurance pays out if you die. The payout can be in the form of a lump sum payment or can be paid as a replacement for a regular income. It's your decision how much cover you'd like to take based on your financial resources and how much you'd like to leave to your family to help them deal with any outstanding debts and living expenses. Your premium depends on a number of factors, including your occupation, health and other criteria.

The payout amount can change over time or can be fixed. A level term or whole of life policy offers a fixed payout. A decreasing term policy offers a payout that decreases over the term of the cover.

With critical illness policies, a payout is made if you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness with a remaining life expectancy of less than 12 months. While income protection policies ensure you can continue to meet your financial commitments if you are forced to take an extended break from work. If you can’t work because you’ve had an accident, fallen sick, or lost your job through no fault of your own, income protection insurance pays you an agreed portion of your salary each month.

Income protection is particularly helpful for people in dangerous occupations who want to be sure their mortgage will always be covered. Income protection only covers events beyond your control: you’re much less likely to be covered if you’re fired from your job or if you injure yourself deliberately.

Questions to ask yourself regarding life insurance

Just ask yourself:
👉 Who would pay your mortgage or rent if you were to pass away or fall seriously ill?
👉 Who would pay for your family’s food, clothing, study fees or lifestyle?
👉 Who would provide for the costs of your funeral or clear your debts?
👉 Who would pay for your costs if you're unable to work due to serious illness or disability?

Many families don’t realise that life, income protection and critical illness insurance is one of the most effective ways to protect their finances. A great insurance policy can cover costs, protect a family from inheriting debts and even pay off a mortgage.

Many would think that the costs for all the benefits provided by life insurance, income protection insurance or critical illness insurance are too high, but the great news is in the current market policies are actually very inexpensive.

Benefits offered by income protection, life and critical illness insurance

Life insurance, income protection and critical illness insurance are indispensable for every family because a child loses a parent every 22 minutes in the UK, while every single day tragically 60 people suffer major injuries on the UK roads. Some people become unable to work because of sickness or disability.

Life insurance cover pays out a lump sum to your family, loved ones or whomever you choose to get the money. This can be used to secure the financial future of your loved ones meaning they would not have to struggle financially in the event of your death.

If it's a critical illness cover, the payout happens sooner - upon diagnosis of a serious illness, disability or medical condition, easing the financial hardship such an event inevitably brings.

Income protection insurance can be very important for anyone who relies on a pay check to cover their living costs, but it's especially important if you’re self-employed or own a small business, where your employment and income is a bit less stable. It pays a regular income if you can't work because of sickness or disability and continues until you return to paid work or you retire.

In a world where 1 in 4 of us would struggle financially after just four weeks without work, the stark reality hits hard – a mere 7% of UK adults possess the vital shield of income protection. The urgency of safeguarding our financial well-being has never been more palpable.

Let's face it – relying on savings isn't a solution for everyone. Almost 25% of people have no savings at all, and a whopping 50% have £1,000 or less tucked away. Even more concerning, 51% of Brits – that's a huge 27 million people – wouldn't last more than one month living off their savings. That's a 10% increase from 2022.

And don't even think about state benefits being a safety net. The maximum you can expect from statutory sick pay is a mere £109.40 per week for up to 28 weeks. Not exactly a financial lifeline, right?

Now, let's tackle a common objection: "But I have critical illness insurance. I don't need income protection too." Here's the deal – the two policies apply to very different situations. In a nutshell:

  • Critical illness insurance pays a single lump sum if you're diagnosed with or undergo surgery for a specified potentially life-threatening illness. It's great for handling big one-off expenses or debts.
  • Income protection, on the other hand, pays a percentage of your salary as a regular payment if you can't work due to illness or injury. It's the superhero that tackles those relentless monthly bills.

Types of life insurance policies

Common reasons for getting a life insurance policy are to:
✅ Leave behind an amount of money to keep your family comfortable
✅ Protect the family home and pay off the mortgage in full or in part
✅ Pay for funeral costs

Starting from as little as a couple of pounds per week, you can do all that with a Life Policy.

Level Term Life Insurance
One of the simplest forms of life insurance, level term life insurance works by selecting a length of time for which you would want to be covered and then deciding how much you would like your loved ones to receive should the worst happen. Should your life insurance policy pay out to your family, it would be in a lump sum amount that can be used in whatever way the beneficiary may wish.

Decreasing Term Life Insurance
Decreasing term life insurance works in the same way as level term, except the lump sum payment amount upon death decreases with time. The common use for decreasing term life cover is to protect against mortgage repayment as the lump sum decreases along with the principal of the mortgage itself.

Increasing Term Life Insurance
Increasing term life insurance aims to pay out a cash sum growing each year if the worst happens while covered by the policy. With increasing term life cover amount insured increases annually by a fixed amount for the length of the policy. This can protect your policy's value against inflation, which could be advantageous if you’re looking to maintain your loved ones’ living standards, continue paying off your mortgage in line with its repayment schedule and cover your children’s education fees.

Whole of Life Insurance
Whereas term life insurance policies only pay out if you pass away during their term, whole of life insurance pays out to your beneficiaries whenever this should happen. The most common uses for whole life insurance are to cover the costs of a funeral or as a vehicle for your family's inheritance tax planning.

Family Income Benefit
Family income benefit is a somewhat lesser-known product in the family of life insurance products. Paying out a set amount every month of year to your beneficiaries, it is the most cost-effective way of maintaining your family's living standards to an age where you'd expect them to be able to support themselves financially. The most common use would be for a family with children who are not working yet so are unable to take care of themselves financially.

Relevant Life Insurance
Relevant Life Insurance is a tax-efficient policy for a director or single employee. A simple level term life insurance product, it is placed in a specific trust to ensure its tax efficiency. The premiums are tax deductible and any benefit payable should a claim arise is also paid out tax free, which makes it an attractive product for entrepreneurs and their businesses.

Important Fact!

There is no need to wait until the renewal of your current policy.
We can look at a more suitable option mid-term!

Why is it important to get life insurance early?

👉 Many people are very thankful that they had their life, income protection, and critical illness insurance cover in place before running into some serious issues. Critical illness and income protection insurance is as important as life insurance for protecting your family's finances.

👉 We insure our cars, houses, bicycles and even bags! Yet our life and health are the most precious things we have.

Easily one of the most important insurance purchases an individual or family can make in their lifetime, the decision to buy life, income protection, critical illness and private medical health insurance can be made much simpler with the help of FCA-authorised advisers. They are the specialists who do the searching and analysis helping people choose between various types of life insurance policies available in the market, including income protection, critical illness and other types of policies most suitable to the client's individual circumstances.

It certainly won't do any harm if you speak with one of our experienced FCA-authorised insurance partner experts who are passionate about advising people on financial matters related to life insurance and are keen to provide you with a free consultation.

You can discuss with them in detail what affordable life, income protection, critical illness or private medical health insurance plan for the necessary peace of mind they would recommend! WeCovr works with some of the best advisers in the market.

By tapping the button below, you can book a free call with them in less than 30 seconds right now:

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Any questions?

Life, income protection, and/or critical illness insurance are safety nets, very important at a difficult time. If anything happened to you before your cover ends, your life or critical illness insurance would pay a lump sum to your family and/or you (if you took a critical illness or income protection cover) to help cover the losses. Being diagnosed with a critical illness can be devastating, and it won't help matters to be also worrying about how you would cope financially. With a life, income protection, or critical illness policy, you can choose how much cover you need, how you want the policy to pay out, and whether you want cover for both you and your partner. Income protection insurance pays you a regular income if you can't work because of sickness or disability and continues until you return to paid work or you retire. Also known as permanent health insurance, it is quite important for anyone who relies on a paycheck to cover their living costs, but it's particularly important if you're self-employed or own a small business, where your income might be a bit less stable.

Life, income protection, and critical illness insurance pay out millions to families every day. Your expert will explain to you that you need to be honest and open when applying for your insurance.

If you're single with no dependants then it may be that you don't need life assurance. However, if you were to become seriously ill and unable to work, you may benefit from a critical illness or income protection policy. They can help you keep up to date with your rent, bills, food, and other expenses.

It's free to use WeCovr to find life, income protection, and critical illness insurance - we never charge you for quotes. Critical illness, income protection, and life insurance is an investment that pays many times over for you and/or your loved ones.

Life, income protection, and critical illness insurance are important financial products that insurance companies take a lot of care and diligence, so speaking to real human beings ensures that they understand your requirements fully so that you can get the right cover.

All of our partners are carefully vetted and authorised by the FCA, which means they are held to the highest standards that the FCA expects from them and treat all customers fairly!

Our insurance partners give us a few pounds when you take out a policy with one of their experts.

The cost of life insurance depends on several factors, including your age, occupation, health status, and the level of coverage you choose. Your life insurance policy is tailored to your needs, and the cost can vary based on the sum assured, policy term, and other factors.

Some life insurance policies offer an option to add critical illness cover as a rider or as a separate policy. This provides a lump sum payment if you are diagnosed with a critical illness covered by your policy, offering financial support during a difficult time.

Yes, life insurance is available to self-employed individuals to provide financial protection for their loved ones in the event of their death. It ensures that your family can maintain their standard of living and cover expenses such as mortgage payments, bills, and education costs.

If you outlive your life insurance policy and it expires without a claim, you will not receive any payout. Term life insurance policies are designed to provide coverage for a specific period, and once that period ends, the policy terminates without any residual value. However, you can typically renew or purchase a new policy if you still need coverage.

Critical illness insurance provides a lump sum payment if you're diagnosed with a serious illness covered by your policy, offering financial support during a difficult time. It can help cover medical expenses, mortgage payments, and other financial obligations while you focus on recovery.

Critical illness insurance covers a range of serious illnesses and medical conditions specified in your policy, such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, and organ failure. The lump sum payment can be used to cover medical treatment, ongoing care, and living expenses during your recovery.

The cost of critical illness insurance varies depending on factors such as your age, health status, lifestyle, and the level of coverage you choose. Our experts can provide personalised quotes to help you find affordable coverage.

Yes, you can have critical illness insurance alongside your health insurance coverage. Critical illness insurance provides additional financial protection specifically for serious illnesses, complementing your health insurance benefits.

Critical illness insurance policies typically have exclusions for pre-existing conditions and certain medical conditions not covered by the policy. It's essential to review the terms and conditions of your policy to understand what is and isn't covered.

Some critical illness insurance policies may provide coverage for recurring illnesses, while others may not. It's crucial to review the policy terms and understand the specific conditions under which you can make additional claims for recurring illnesses. Your insurer can provide more details on their coverage for recurring critical illnesses.

Yes, you can customise your life insurance policy to suit your individual needs and circumstances. Options may include choosing the sum assured, policy term, premium payment frequency, and additional riders for enhanced coverage.

If you miss a premium payment for your life insurance policy, your coverage may lapse, and your policy could be terminated. However, many insurers offer a grace period during which you can make the payment to keep your policy active. It's essential to contact your insurer to discuss your options if you're unable to make a payment.

Yes, you can typically change the beneficiary of your life insurance policy at any time by completing a beneficiary change form provided by your insurer. It's essential to keep your beneficiary designation up to date to ensure that the proceeds are distributed according to your wishes.

Term life insurance provides cover for a fixed period, such as 10, 20 or 30 years, and pays out a lump sum if you die during that time. It’s often chosen to protect a mortgage or to provide financial support while dependants still rely on your income. Whole-of-life insurance is designed to last for the rest of your life and guarantees a payout whenever you die, as long as premiums are maintained. It’s usually more expensive than term insurance and is sometimes used to help with inheritance tax planning or to leave a guaranteed legacy.

Some term life insurance policies offer the option to convert to a whole life insurance policy without the need for a medical exam or new underwriting. This conversion feature allows you to maintain coverage beyond the term of your policy and provides lifelong protection.

Some life insurance policies offer accelerated death benefits or living benefits that allow you to access a portion of the death benefit if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness. This feature provides financial assistance to help cover medical expenses and other costs during your final months.

While having savings can provide a financial cushion during tough times, income protection insurance offers additional security by replacing a portion of your income if you're unable to work due to illness or disability. It ensures that you can maintain your standard of living and cover essential expenses even if your savings are depleted.

Yes, self-employed individuals can claim income protection insurance if they're unable to work due to illness or disability. Income protection provides a regular income stream to replace lost earnings, helping self-employed individuals cover their living expenses and business costs during periods of incapacity.

The waiting period, also known as the elimination period, is the length of time you must wait after becoming unable to work due to illness or disability before you can start receiving benefits from your income protection insurance policy. Waiting periods typically range from 30 to 90 days, but longer waiting periods may result in lower premiums.

Income protection insurance is designed to provide financial support if you're unable to work due to illness or disability, not for redundancy. However, some policies may offer optional redundancy cover or unemployment cover as an additional benefit, providing a lump sum or monthly payments if you're made redundant.

The tax treatment of income protection insurance benefits depends on whether the premiums were paid with pre-tax or after-tax dollars. Benefits from policies funded with after-tax dollars are typically tax-free, while benefits from policies funded with pre-tax dollars may be subject to income tax. It's essential to consult with a tax advisor to understand the tax implications of your income protection insurance benefits.

Income protection insurance provides a regular income stream if you're unable to work due to illness or disability, while critical illness insurance provides a lump sum payment if you're diagnosed with a covered critical illness, such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke. Critical illness insurance offers financial support to cover medical expenses, living costs, or other obligations during your recovery.

Income protection insurance policies typically have a waiting period (also known as an elimination period) during which you do not receive benefits. If you become unable to work before this waiting period ends, you will not receive any income protection benefits until the waiting period has elapsed. It's important to have sufficient savings or other financial resources to cover your expenses during this initial period.

Many income protection insurance policies allow you to increase your coverage amount if your income rises, without the need for additional underwriting or medical examinations. This feature, sometimes called a 'guaranteed insurability option,' ensures that your coverage keeps pace with your increasing income and financial obligations.

The maximum age to purchase critical illness insurance varies depending on the insurer and the specific policy. While some insurers may offer critical illness insurance up to age 70 or beyond, others may have lower age limits. It's essential to check with insurers to determine their age eligibility criteria for purchasing critical illness insurance.

Whether you can get critical illness insurance if you have pre-existing conditions depends on the insurer's underwriting guidelines and the specific medical conditions. Some insurers may offer coverage with exclusions for pre-existing conditions, while others may decline coverage altogether. It's essential to disclose any pre-existing conditions when applying for critical illness insurance and discuss your options with insurers.

While health insurance provides coverage for medical expenses, critical illness insurance offers financial protection for broader expenses associated with a serious illness, such as lost income, household bills, and lifestyle changes. Critical illness insurance complements health insurance by providing additional financial support during a challenging time, ensuring that you can focus on recovery without worrying about financial burdens.

If you don't make a claim on your critical illness insurance during the policy term, you won't receive a benefit payout. However, having critical illness insurance provides peace of mind knowing that you're financially protected if you're diagnosed with a covered critical illness during the policy term. It's a form of financial preparation for unexpected events and offers valuable protection for you and your family.

If you outlive your critical illness insurance policy and don't make a claim for a covered critical illness during the policy term, the coverage will expire, and you won't receive a benefit payout. Critical illness insurance provides financial protection for a specific period, typically until a specified age or policy term, and offers peace of mind knowing that you're prepared for the unexpected.

Yes, many insurers offer optional riders or add-ons that you can add to your critical illness insurance policy for enhanced coverage. Common riders may include waiver of premium, which waives future premium payments if you become disabled, or return of premium, which refunds a portion of your premiums if you don't make a claim during the policy term. It's essential to review available riders with insurers to customise your coverage to meet your specific needs.

To make a claim on your critical illness insurance policy, you'll need to notify your insurer of your diagnosis and submit a claim form along with any required medical documentation, such as medical reports, test results, and physician statements. Once your claim is reviewed and approved by the insurer, you'll receive the lump sum benefit payment, which you can use to cover medical expenses, living costs, or other financial needs during your recovery.

As we age, the likelihood of encountering health complications increases for us all. In the event that you develop a severe medical condition, critical illness protection can assist with the expenses of crucial bills – enabling you to concentrate on recuperation or adjusting to your new health circumstance.

The typical expense of a Critical Illness protection policy will fluctuate based on aspects such as your age and medical background. As per our investigation, you can secure a policy starting from as low as £8 (for a non-smoking 21-year-old individual).

The most prevalent critical illnesses in the UK are cancer, cardiac arrest, and cerebrovascular accident (stroke).

Cancer is one of the primary causes for critical illness insurance claims in the UK. Cancer constitutes over 80% of critical illness cover claims for females and about 45% of critical illness claims for males.


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