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UK 20 Years Lost to Poor Health

UK 20 Years Lost to Poor Health 2025 | Top Insurance Guides

UK 2025 Shock New Data Reveals Britons Face Two Decades of Poor Health Before Death, Fuelling a Staggering £4 Million+ Lifetime Burden of Lost Income, Unfunded Care & Eroding Quality of Life – Is Your LCIIP Shield Protecting Your Familys Vitality & Future

A seismic shift is underway in the United Kingdom's public health landscape, and its aftershocks are threatening to shatter the financial stability of millions of families. New analysis of national statistics for 2025 paints a stark and sobering picture: the average Briton is now projected to spend nearly two decades of their life in a state of poor health.

This isn't merely about aches and pains in old age. This is a profound "health expectancy gap"—the chasm between our total lifespan and the years we live in good health. For men, this gap is approximately 18 years, and for women, it's a staggering 21 years.

The human cost is immeasurable. But the financial cost can be calculated, and the figures are nothing short of catastrophic. A significant health event striking a couple in their 40s can trigger a financial fallout exceeding £4.5 million over their lifetime. This devastating sum is a toxic cocktail of lost earnings, crippling private care costs, and the unseen expenses of living with a long-term condition.

While we place our faith in the NHS, the system is straining under unprecedented pressure. Relying solely on state support is a gamble most families cannot afford to lose. The question is no longer if a health crisis will impact your family's finances, but how you will weather the storm when it arrives.

In this definitive guide, we will unpack this unfolding crisis. We'll deconstruct the staggering financial burden, expose the limitations of state support, and reveal the powerful, three-layered defence that can safeguard your family's future: the Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection (LCIIP) shield.

The Widening Chasm: Unpacking the UK's Health Expectancy Gap

To grasp the scale of this challenge, we must first understand two crucial metrics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS):

  • Life Expectancy (LE): The average number of years a person is expected to live.
  • Healthy Life Expectancy (HLE): The average number of years a person is expected to live in a state of "good" or "very good" health.

The difference between these two numbers is the period we are likely to spend managing illness, disability, and a diminished quality of life. Recent ONS data, projected for 2025, reveals a deeply concerning trend.

Metric (at Birth)UK MaleUK Female
Life Expectancy79.3 years83.1 years
Healthy Life Expectancy61.3 years62.1 years
Years in Poor Health18.0 years21.0 years

Source: WeCovr analysis based on ONS national life tables and health state life expectancies.

What this data shows is a national health crisis hiding in plain sight. We are living longer, but a significant and growing portion of that extra life is spent battling chronic conditions. This isn't a problem confined to the very elderly; the decline in health often begins in our 40s and 50s, right at the peak of our earning power and family responsibilities.

What's Driving This Decline?

This health recession is fuelled by a confluence of factors:

  • Rise of Chronic Conditions: Illnesses like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, many cancers, and musculoskeletal disorders (such as arthritis and chronic back pain) are becoming increasingly common at younger ages.
  • The Mental Health Epidemic: Conditions like anxiety, depression, and stress are now a leading cause of long-term work absence, affecting millions and having a profound impact on physical health.
  • Lifestyle Factors: Decades of public health warnings have not fully curbed the impacts of poor diet, sedentary lifestyles, and excessive alcohol consumption.
  • Regional Disparities: The "postcode lottery" is real. A boy born in the most deprived area of England is expected to live 19 fewer years in good health than a boy born in the least deprived area.

This growing period of ill-health is a direct pathway to financial devastation.

The £4 Million+ Financial Black Hole: Deconstructing the Cost of Long-Term Illness

When a serious illness strikes, it doesn't just attack your body; it launches an all-out assault on your finances. The £4 Million+ figure isn't hyperbole; it's a realistic projection of the lifetime financial impact on a two-income household where one or both partners face a premature end to their working lives due to ill health.

Let's break down how this financial vortex is created.

Breakdown 1: The Annihilation of Income

For most families, their ability to earn an income is their single most valuable asset. A long-term illness can wipe it out completely.

Consider a typical professional couple, both aged 45 and earning the 2025 projected average UK salary of £36,000 each. If one partner is forced to stop working permanently due to a stroke, the immediate loss of income until state pension age (67) is:

22 years x £36,000 = £792,000

However, the reality is often far worse. The healthy partner may be forced to:

  • Reduce their own working hours to become a carer.
  • Take a lower-paying, more flexible job closer to home.
  • Stop working altogether.

If the second partner's income is halved for the same period, that's another £396,000 of lost earnings. Furthermore, this calculation ignores promotions, pay rises, and bonuses that would have been earned. When we factor in lost pension contributions and the corrosive effect of inflation, the total loss of household income can easily spiral past £1.5 million.

State support offers little comfort. Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is just £116.75 per week (as of 2024/25) and lasts for a maximum of 28 weeks. After that, you may be eligible for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), which is a mere fraction of a typical salary.

Breakdown 2: The Crushing Weight of Unfunded Care

As health deteriorates over this 20-year period, the need for care escalates. Whilst some care is provided by local authorities, it is heavily means-tested. If you have assets (including your home) or savings above a certain threshold (£23,250 in England), you will likely be expected to fund your own care.

The costs are astronomical and are set to rise further by 2025 and beyond.

Type of CareAverage Annual Cost (per person)Potential 20-Year Cost
Domiciliary Care (15 hrs/wk)£21,450£429,000
Residential Care Home£48,000£960,000
Nursing Care Home£65,000£1,300,000

Source: WeCovr analysis based on LaingBuisson and Age UK data, projected for 2025.

If both partners eventually require residential care for the final 10 years of their life, the combined cost could exceed £1 million. This is how family homes are lost, and inheritances are wiped out.

Breakdown 3: The Hidden Costs That Erode Your Life

Beyond income loss and direct care costs, there is a third wave of expenses that bleed a family dry:

  • Home Adaptations: A stairlift can cost £5,000, and converting a bathroom into a wet room can be £10,000+.
  • Specialist Equipment: A high-quality powered wheelchair can cost over £15,000. An adjustable bed, hoists, and communication aids all add thousands more.
  • Private Medical Costs: Faced with long NHS waiting lists, many opt for private consultations (£250+), diagnostic scans (£1,000+), or therapies like physiotherapy and counselling (£50-£100 per session).
  • Increased Bills: Being at home more, often with medical equipment running, leads to higher energy and utility bills.
  • Transport: A wheelchair-accessible vehicle can cost upwards of £30,000 more than a standard car. Even hospital parking fees can accumulate into a significant expense.

The Lifetime Burden: A Summary

When you combine these factors for a dual-income couple over a 20-year period of ill health, the £4 Million+ figure becomes frighteningly plausible.

Cost ComponentEstimated Lifetime Impact (Couple)
Lost Income & Pension (Partner 1)£1,500,000
Reduced Income & Pension (Partner 2)£750,000
Long-Term Care Costs (Combined)£1,800,000
Home Adaptations & Equipment£150,000
Private Medical & Therapy Costs£100,000
Other Hidden Costs (Transport, Bills)£200,000
TOTAL POTENTIAL BURDEN£4,500,000

This is the financial legacy of the UK's health expectancy gap. It is a burden that can dismantle a lifetime of work and savings, leaving families facing poverty and hardship at the most vulnerable time of their lives.

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The NHS is Ailing Too: Why You Can't Rely Solely on State Support

The National Health Service is one of Britain's proudest achievements. Its staff perform miracles daily. However, to believe the NHS will cover every eventuality of a long-term illness is a dangerous misconception.

The system is facing its own critical condition:

  • Record Waiting Lists: As of 2025, the number of people in England waiting for routine hospital treatment continues to hover around the 7.5 million mark. These aren't just hip replacements; they include cardiac procedures, neurological investigations, and cancer treatments. Waiting means prolonged pain, a longer time off work, and potentially worse health outcomes.
  • A Social Care Crisis: Local authority budgets have been squeezed for over a decade. The threshold for receiving state-funded social care is high, and the assessment process is complex. Most people discover they are "on their own" until their savings are almost completely depleted.
  • The Postcode Lottery: The quality and availability of specific treatments, from cutting-edge cancer drugs to mental health support, can vary dramatically depending on where you live.
  • Rationed Services: The NHS is increasingly forced to prioritise. This can mean longer waits for "non-urgent" but life-altering surgeries, limited access to therapies like physiotherapy, and strict criteria for mental health services.

The NHS provides a safety net, but it has holes. It was designed to treat acute illness, not to provide the comprehensive, long-term financial and social support required to navigate two decades of poor health. To secure your family's future, you need to build your own fortress.

Your LCIIP Shield: The Three Pillars of Financial Resilience

Relying on hope is not a strategy. The definitive solution is a robust, multi-layered financial plan known as the LCIIP Shield: Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, and Income Protection.

These three policies work together to create a comprehensive defence against the financial consequences of death, diagnosis, and disability. They are not a luxury; they are a fundamental necessity for any responsible adult in the UK today.

Let's break down each pillar.

Pillar 1: Life Insurance – The Foundation of Security

Life insurance is the simplest and most well-known form of protection. It pays out a tax-free lump sum to your loved ones if you pass away during the policy term.

What it does:

  • Clears the Mortgage: Instantly removes the single largest debt most families have.
  • Replaces Lost Income: Provides a substantial sum to cover a lifetime of lost earnings, ensuring your family can maintain their standard of living.
  • Covers Final Expenses: Pays for funeral costs, which now average over £4,000.
  • Creates a Legacy: Can be used for university fees, a deposit on a home for your children, or simply to provide a lasting financial cushion.

Example: Sarah and Tom, both 38, have a £300,000 mortgage and two young children. Their joint life insurance policy, costing them around £35 per month, would pay out £300,000 on the first death. This ensures the surviving partner and children can stay in the family home, debt-free, during an unimaginably difficult time.

Pillar 2: Critical Illness Cover (CIC) – The Crisis Fund

Critical Illness Cover is arguably the most vital shield against the health expectancy gap. It pays out a tax-free lump sum on the diagnosis of a specific, serious but not necessarily fatal illness. You don't have to die to benefit.

What it does:

  • Buys You Time and Options: The lump sum allows you to stop work, focus on recovery, and avoid financial stress.
  • Funds a Healthier Lifestyle: Pay off debts, reduce your mortgage, or adapt your home.
  • Unlocks Private Treatment: Bypass NHS waiting lists for scans, consultations, or even surgery.
  • Supports Your Carer: Enables a partner or family member to take time off work to support you without financial penalty.

The number of conditions covered is extensive, but the "big three" that account for the vast majority of claims are:

  • Cancer
  • Heart Attack
  • Stroke

Modern policies, however, cover a wide range of other conditions.

Common Conditions Covered by CIC
Multiple Sclerosis
Kidney Failure
Major Organ Transplant
Parkinson's Disease
Motor Neurone Disease
Blindness / Deafness
Severe Burns
Traumatic Head Injury

5 million every single day** in protection claims, with over 91% of critical illness claims being successful. This is a system that works.

Pillar 3: Income Protection (IP) – Your Monthly Salary Saviour

Often described by financial experts as the bedrock of any financial plan, Income Protection is the one policy that can protect your lifestyle month in, month out.

What it does:

  • Replaces Your Salary: If you are unable to work due to any illness or injury (not just a "critical" one), the policy pays you a regular, tax-free monthly income. This can be up to 70% of your gross salary.
  • Covers the Everyday: The payments continue until you can return to work, or until the end of the policy term (often your retirement age), covering your mortgage, rent, bills, and food.
  • Protects Against a Broader Range of Illnesses: IP is crucial because it covers conditions that CIC often doesn't, such as chronic back pain, stress, anxiety, and depression—the leading causes of work absence in the UK.

Key Terms to Understand:

  • Deferment Period: This is the waiting period before the policy starts paying out (e.g., 4, 8, 13, 26, or 52 weeks). The longer the deferment period you choose, the lower your premium. You can align this with your employer's sick pay scheme.
  • 'Own Occupation' Definition: This is the gold standard. It means the policy will pay out if you are unable to do your specific job. Less comprehensive (and cheaper) policies may only pay if you cannot do any job, which are much harder to claim on.

Income Protection is the shield that defends your standard of living against the long, slow grind of a chronic condition, ensuring your financial world doesn't collapse while you focus on managing your health.

WeCovr: Your Partner in Building a Fortress Around Your Family's Future

Navigating the world of Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection can feel complex. The definitions, the options, and the jargon can be overwhelming. This is where expert, independent advice is not just helpful—it's essential.

At WeCovr, we are specialist protection brokers. Our role is to act as your expert guide, helping you build the LCIIP shield that is perfectly tailored to your unique circumstances.

We don't work for an insurance company; we work for you. We compare policies and prices from all of the UK's leading insurers, including Aviva, Legal & General, Zurich, Royal London, and more. This allows us to find you the most comprehensive cover at the most competitive price.

Our advisory process involves:

  1. Understanding Your World: We take the time to understand your family, your finances, your mortgage, and your concerns.
  2. Quantifying Your Need: We help you calculate exactly how much cover you need for each pillar of the LCIIP shield.
  3. Searching the Market: We leverage our expertise and technology to scan the entire market for the best policies.
  4. Providing a Clear Recommendation: We present you with a straightforward, jargon-free recommendation, explaining why it's the right choice for you.
  5. Managing the Application: We handle the paperwork and liaise with the insurer to get your cover in place as smoothly as possible.

Furthermore, we believe that protecting your future goes hand-in-hand with improving your present. That’s why at WeCovr, we go the extra mile for our clients. In addition to securing your financial shield, we provide complimentary access to CalorieHero, our exclusive AI-powered health and calorie tracking app. It's our way of showing we care about your family's vitality today, as well as their security tomorrow.

Real-Life Scenarios: How LCIIP Works in Practice

Let's move from theory to reality. Here's how a robust LCIIP shield can make all the difference.

Case Study 1: The Self-Employed Builder

Mark, 36, is a self-employed builder with a partner and a young child. He has no employee benefits like sick pay. He suffers a serious back injury on-site and is told he cannot work for at least a year, and may never be able to return to manual labour.

  • Without Protection: Mark's income stops overnight. They burn through their savings in months. They start missing mortgage payments and the stress puts immense strain on his recovery and his family.
  • With an LCIIP Shield:
    • After his 8-week deferment period, Mark's Income Protection policy kicks in. It pays him £2,200 a month, tax-free.
    • This income covers the mortgage and bills, removing all financial pressure. Mark can focus entirely on his rehabilitation without worrying about losing his home. His policy will continue to pay out long-term if he is unable to return to his "own occupation" as a builder.

Case Study 2: The Office Manager

Chloe, 44, is a single office manager living in a mortgaged flat. She is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The diagnosis is a huge shock, and whilst she can still work for now, she knows her condition will likely progress.

  • Without Protection: Chloe lives in constant fear. Every day at work is a struggle. She worries about how she will afford her mortgage if she has to reduce her hours, and how she will pay for future adaptations to her home.
  • With an LCIIP Shield:
    • Upon diagnosis, Chloe's Critical Illness Cover pays her a tax-free lump sum of £85,000.
    • She uses this money to pay off a large chunk of her mortgage, drastically reducing her monthly outgoings. She puts the rest aside in an accessible savings account, earmarked for future care, equipment, or private neurological consultations. The financial freedom gives her priceless peace of mind.

Case Study 3: The Couple Planning for Retirement

David, 58, and his wife Susan have paid off their mortgage. Their children have left home. David is diagnosed with prostate cancer that requires immediate, intensive treatment.

  • Without Protection: The NHS waiting list for his specific radiotherapy is 4 months. The delay causes immense anxiety. Susan has to continue working full-time to keep their retirement plans on track, meaning she can't support David at his appointments.
  • With an LCIIP Shield:
    • David's Critical Illness Cover pays out £120,000.
    • They use £40,000 to access immediate private treatment, which starts within two weeks.
    • The remaining £80,000 allows Susan to take six months of unpaid leave from her job to be by David's side throughout his treatment and recovery, without derailing their financial future. The policy bought them the most precious commodity: time together when it mattered most.

Taking Action: How to Secure Your LCIIP Shield Today

The data is clear. The threat is real. The solution is within your reach. Procrastination is the only thing standing between your family and financial security. Here is your simple, four-step plan to take action.

  1. Assess Your Position: Don't guess. Sit down and calculate the real numbers. What is your outstanding mortgage? What are your monthly bills? How much income would need to be replaced? Use an online budget planner to get a clear picture.

  2. Don't Delay: The younger and healthier you are when you apply for protection insurance, the cheaper the premiums will be for the entire life of the policy. Every year you wait, the cost goes up, and the risk of developing a health condition that makes you uninsurable increases.

  3. Speak to an Expert Adviser: This is the single most important step. The UK protection market is vast and complex. An independent specialist broker like WeCovr will ensure you get the right type of cover, with the right definitions, from the right insurer, at the best possible price. It costs you nothing to get advice and can save you tens of thousands of pounds in the long run.

  4. Be Completely Honest: When applying, you must provide a full and honest account of your medical history and lifestyle. Withholding information, even accidentally, could give the insurer grounds to void the policy and refuse a claim just when your family needs it most. Honesty ensures your shield is unbreakable.

The Final Word

The prospect of spending two decades in poor health is a grim reality of modern life in the UK. The associated £4 Million+ financial burden is a clear and present danger to the stability of every family that is not adequately prepared.

The state, for all its strengths, cannot and will not shield you from the full financial impact.

Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, and Income Protection are not just financial products; they are the essential tools of responsibility in the 21st century. They are the statement you make to your loved ones that says, "No matter what happens to my health, our future is secure."

Don't wait for a diagnosis to become your financial plan. Build your fortress today. Protect your income, your home, and your family's vitality. Secure your LCIIP shield and take control of your future.


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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