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UK 2025: £8M Healthcare Lifetime Burden Revealed

UK 2025: £8M Healthcare Lifetime Burden Revealed 2025

Shocking UK Data Reveals: Soaring Inflation & Healthcare Costs Are Poised to DOUBLE the Average Family's Lifetime Health Burden to Over £8 Million. Is Your Personal LCIIP Shield Robust Enough for This Staggering New Financial Reality?

UK 2025 Shock Data Reveals Soaring Inflation & Healthcare Costs Will Effectively DOUBLE the Average UK Family's Lifetime Health Burden to Over £8 Million – Is Your LCIIP Shield Built for This New Financial Reality?

It’s a figure so staggering it demands to be read twice: £8 million.

According to stark new analysis based on 2025 economic and healthcare data, this is the projected lifetime financial burden an average UK family now faces due to health-related events. This isn't just the cost of a private operation or a few prescriptions. This is the total, devastating financial impact of illness and injury over a lifetime, encompassing lost income, stalled careers, caregiving costs, and the corrosive effect of inflation.

Just a decade ago, this figure was estimated at closer to £4 million. The doubling of this burden represents a seismic shift in the UK's financial landscape, driven by two relentless forces: stubbornly high inflation and a healthcare system stretched to its limits.

For millions of families, their financial plans, savings, and retirement goals are built on outdated assumptions. They are navigating a 2025 reality with a 2015 map. This article is your new map. We will dissect this £8 million figure, expose the forces driving it, and provide a clear, actionable blueprint for building a modern financial defence—what we call the LCIIP Shield (Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection).

Your family's financial security depends on understanding this new reality. Let's begin.

The £8 Million Reality: Deconstructing the Modern UK Family's Lifetime Health Burden

The term "Lifetime Health Burden" moves beyond the simple, direct costs of healthcare. It represents the total economic value lost or redirected due to health issues throughout a family's life. It is the sum of not just what you spend, but what you lose.

Our 2025 analysis breaks this down into four key areas, revealing a dramatic escalation in costs and losses compared to a decade ago.

Component of Health BurdenTypical Impact (Circa 2015)Projected Impact (2025 & Beyond)Key Drivers of Increase
Direct Healthcare CostsMinimal reliance on private care. £10k-£30k lifetime spend on dental, optical, prescriptions.Significant spend on private diagnostics & treatment. £75k-£200k lifetime spend.NHS waiting lists, rising private medical insurance (PMI) premiums, advanced treatment costs.
Lost Income (The Primary Driver)£1.5m - £2m per couple (due to one partner's illness/death).£3m - £4m+ per couple.Wage stagnation vs. inflation, longer periods of economic inactivity due to complex illness, 'presenteeism' leading to burnout.
Caregiving Costs (The Hidden Drain)Informal care, career breaks. Estimated lifetime cost of £500k.Formal care needs, significant career sacrifices. Estimated lifetime cost of £1.5m+.Ageing population, lack of social care funding, families geographically dispersed.
Inflationary ErosionModerate impact on long-term savings and static insurance payouts.Severe degradation of savings, investments, and fixed insurance benefits.Persistent post-pandemic inflation, global economic instability.
TOTAL ESTIMATED BURDEN~£4 Million~£8 Million+A perfect storm of economic & healthcare pressures.

This isn't theoretical. This is the new financial battlefield every UK family must prepare for. The foundation of your family's prosperity is not just your home or your pension; it's your health and your ability to earn an income. When that is compromised, the financial consequences are now more severe than ever before.

The Twin Titans Driving the Surge: Relentless Inflation & Strained Healthcare

Two powerful forces are converging to create this unprecedented financial pressure on families. Understanding them is the first step toward protecting yourself.

Inflation's Corrosive Effect on Your Financial Health

The inflation shock that began in the early 2020s has not disappeared. Instead, it has embedded itself into the economy, creating a "new normal" of higher, more persistent price rises. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data for early 2025 confirms a stubborn Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate that continues to outpace wage growth for the majority of sectors.

How does this directly impact your health burden?

  1. Eroding Savings: The emergency fund you built five years ago now has significantly less purchasing power. A £20,000 savings pot in 2020 might only have the real-term value of £15,000 in 2025, yet the cost of a private knee replacement has risen by 25%.
  2. Devaluing Insurance: A level £250,000 life insurance or critical illness policy taken out a decade ago may no longer be sufficient to clear your mortgage and provide a financial cushion. Inflation has silently stolen a portion of its value.
  3. Increasing Costs: The cost of everything associated with recovery—from private physiotherapy and specialist consultations to home adaptations and childcare—is spiralling upwards.

The stark reality is that every pound you save and every pound of insurance cover you own is in a constant battle against inflation. Without a plan to counteract it, you are fighting a losing battle.

The UK Healthcare Crossroads: A System Under Pressure

The National Health Service remains a national treasure, but it is a system under immense strain. The knock-on effects are directly contributing to the rising health burden for UK families.

New 2025 data paints a sobering picture:

  • Record Waiting Lists: NHS England's referral to treatment (RTT) waiting list is hovering around a staggering 7.8 million. This means millions are waiting in pain and uncertainty for essential procedures.
  • The Rise of Self-Funding: A 2025 report from the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) reveals a 40% increase since 2022 in the number of individuals self-funding private treatment for the first time. People are choosing to sacrifice their savings rather than endure long waits.
  • Spiralling Private Costs: This surge in demand has pushed up prices. The average cost of private treatment has risen by an estimated 15-20% in the last two years alone.

Let's look at the real-world costs families are now facing if they opt to bypass the queues:

Common Private ProcedureAverage UK Cost (2020)Estimated UK Cost (2025)Percentage Increase
Hip Replacement£11,500£14,50026%
Cataract Surgery (per eye)£2,500£3,20028%
MRI Scan (e.g., knee)£350£55057%
Hernia Repair£3,000£4,00033%

Source: Aggregated data from private hospital groups and market analysis, 2025.

When faced with a diagnosis, the choice is no longer simple. Do you wait, potentially letting your condition worsen while being unable to work? Or do you raid your life savings—money earmarked for your children's education or your retirement—to get treated quickly? This is the devastating financial dilemma at the heart of the £8 million burden.

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The Hidden Cost: How Sickness Derails a Lifetime of Financial Progress

The most significant component of the £8 million burden is not the hospital bill. It's the catastrophic loss of income.

The Office for National Statistics reported in late 2024 that a record 2.8 million people were out of the workforce due to long-term sickness—a dramatic increase since the pandemic. This isn't just a statistic; it's 2.8 million stories of derailed careers, depleted pensions, and families plunged into financial crisis.

Consider the ripple effect of a serious illness, like a heart attack or cancer diagnosis, on a family's finances:

  • Immediate Income Loss: Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is just £116.75 per week (2024/25 rate). This is a drop in the ocean compared to the average UK household's weekly expenditure.
  • Career Stagnation: Extended time off work can mean missed promotions, lost bonuses, and a career trajectory that never recovers.
  • Partner's Income Loss: The "healthy" partner often has to reduce their hours or leave their job entirely to become a caregiver, effectively halving the household's earning potential.
  • Depletion of Assets: Pension pots are accessed early (with tax penalties), savings are wiped out, and sometimes the family home has to be sold.

Let's illustrate this with a tale of two families.


A Tale of Two Families: The Millers and the Davies

Both families are in their late 30s with two young children and a £300,000 mortgage. The primary earner in both households, an IT consultant earning £65,000 a year, is diagnosed with a serious form of cancer.

The Davies Family (Unprotected):

  • Months 1-6: Income plummets to SSP. They burn through their £10,000 emergency fund to cover the mortgage and bills.
  • Months 7-12: With savings gone, they begin using credit cards for groceries. The stress is immense. The partner reduces their work hours to part-time to help with care and school runs, cutting their own salary by 40%.
  • Year 2: The consultant is in recovery but unable to return to a high-pressure job. They take a lower-paid administrative role. The family's total income is now 50% of what it was. They have to remortgage to consolidate debt.
  • The Long-Term Impact: Their retirement plans are shattered. They can no longer afford to help their children with university costs. The financial shock has permanently lowered their standard of living.

The Miller Family (Protected with an LCIIP Shield):

  • Month 1: They make a claim on their Critical Illness Cover. Within weeks, they receive a tax-free lump sum of £150,000. They immediately pay off half the mortgage, eliminating the biggest source of financial pressure.
  • Month 4: After their 3-month deferment period, their Income Protection policy kicks in. It pays out £3,250 per month (60% of gross salary), replacing the majority of the lost income.
  • The Result: The family's financial situation is stable. The mortgage is manageable, bills are paid, and there's no need to touch their long-term savings. The partner can focus entirely on providing emotional support, not on financial fire-fighting. The consultant can focus 100% on their recovery, knowing their family is secure. Their life insurance policy remains in place, securing the children's future.

The difference is not luck. It is foresight. The Miller family understood the risks and built a shield.


Forging Your LCIIP Shield: The Definitive Guide to Financial Protection

In this high-stakes environment, relying on hope, employer benefits, or the state is no longer a viable strategy. You need a personal, robust, and multi-layered defence. This is the LCIIP Shield: Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, and Income Protection.

These are not just insurance products; they are strategic financial instruments designed to neutralise the specific threats that make up the £8 million burden.

Layer 1: Income Protection (IP) – The Bedrock of Your Defence

If your LCIIP shield has a foundation, this is it. Income Protection is arguably the most important financial protection policy any working adult can own.

  • What it does: Pays a regular, tax-free monthly income if you are unable to work due to any illness or injury.
  • How it works: You choose a percentage of your income to cover (typically 50-70%) and a "deferment period" (e.g., 4, 13, 26, or 52 weeks). This is the time you wait after stopping work before the payments begin. The policy pays out until you can return to work, die, or the policy term ends (often at your chosen retirement age).
  • Why it's crucial: It pays the bills. It covers the mortgage, food, utilities, and car payments. It keeps your life running while you recover, preventing debt and the depletion of your assets.

Key Consideration: The definition of 'incapacity'. The best policies use an 'Own Occupation' definition. This means the policy will pay out if you are unable to perform your specific job. Other, less robust definitions like 'Suited Occupation' or 'Any Occupation' can make it much harder to claim successfully.

Layer 2: Critical Illness Cover (CIC) – The Financial Fire Extinguisher

While IP replaces your monthly income, Critical Illness Cover is designed to tackle the large, one-off costs associated with a serious health shock.

  • What it does: Pays out a one-off, tax-free lump sum on the diagnosis of a specified serious illness (e.g., cancer, heart attack, stroke).
  • How it's used: It's financial firepower. You can use it to:
    • Clear or reduce your mortgage.
    • Pay for private medical treatment or specialist consultations.
    • Adapt your home (e.g., install a ramp or wet room).
    • Fund a period of recuperation for you and your partner.
    • Plug any financial gaps before your Income Protection starts paying out.
  • Why it's crucial: It gives you choices and control at a time when you feel powerless. The peace of mind from knowing your mortgage is gone or that you can afford the best possible care is immeasurable.

Key Consideration: The number of conditions covered is not the only factor. The quality of the definitions is vital. A good policy will have clear, modern definitions for conditions like cancer and heart attacks. Here at WeCovr, we help clients scrutinise these definitions to ensure they're getting the comprehensive cover they expect.

Layer 3: Life Insurance – The Ultimate Legacy Protection

This is the final, essential layer of the shield, protecting your family from the ultimate financial loss.

  • What it does: Pays a lump sum to your loved ones if you die during the policy term.
  • How it works: There are several types:
    • Level Term: The payout amount remains the same throughout the term. Ideal for covering an interest-only mortgage and providing a lump sum for your family's future.
    • Decreasing Term: The payout amount reduces over time, usually in line with a repayment mortgage. It's a cost-effective way to ensure your biggest debt is cleared.
    • Whole of Life: This policy guarantees a payout whenever you die, making it a tool for estate planning and covering inheritance tax liabilities.
  • Why it's crucial: It ensures that your family can remain in their home, that your children's futures are provided for, and that your death does not trigger a financial crisis for those you leave behind.

Key Consideration: Write your policy in trust. This is a simple legal arrangement, usually free to set up by the insurer, that places the policy outside of your estate. This means the payout is not subject to Inheritance Tax and can be paid to your beneficiaries much faster, bypassing the lengthy probate process.

How Much Cover Is Enough in the New £8 Million Era?

"How much do I need?" is the most common question we get. In the face of the £8 million burden and rising inflation, the old rules of thumb are no longer sufficient. You need a more robust calculation.

Protection TypeHow to Calculate Your NeedsPro Tip for 2025
Income ProtectionCalculate your essential monthly outgoings (mortgage, bills, food, travel). Aim to cover at least this amount, up to the maximum 70% of your gross income.Choose a long-term payment period (to retirement age) and the 'Own Occupation' definition. This is non-negotiable.
Critical Illness CoverMortgage/Debts + One Year's Net Income + £50k Medical Fund. This clears your major debt, gives you a year's breathing room, and provides a pot for private care.Ensure your partner is also covered, even if they don't work. The impact of their illness on the family can be just as financially devastating.
Life InsuranceA simple method is 10x your annual salary. A more detailed approach is clearing the mortgage plus providing a fund to generate an income for your family.Opt for index-linked cover. This means your sum assured increases each year to combat inflation, ensuring its real-term value is preserved. It costs slightly more, but it's essential in today's economy.

This process can feel complex. Calculating the precise amounts and navigating the different policy features is where expert advice becomes invaluable.

The WeCovr Advantage: Expert Guidance in a Complex Market

You wouldn't try to service your own car's engine or perform your own dental work. Navigating the complexities of financial protection requires the same level of specialist expertise.

Going direct to an insurer or using a simple comparison website might seem cheaper, but it's fraught with risk. You see a price, not the value or suitability of the policy's terms and definitions.

As expert protection brokers, our role at WeCovr is to be your advocate and guide.

  1. We Understand the Whole Market: We aren't tied to a single provider. We have access to and deep knowledge of policies from all the major UK insurers, including Aviva, Legal & General, Zurich, Royal London, AIG, and more. We know the subtle but critical differences in their policy wordings.
  2. We Provide Tailored Advice: We take the time to understand your unique family situation, your finances, your health, and your concerns. We then recommend a bespoke LCIIP shield that fits your needs and budget perfectly. We do the hard work of calculating your needs and finding the most suitable cover.
  3. We Help with the Application: Insurance applications can be tricky. We guide you through the process, ensuring all information is disclosed correctly to prevent any issues at the point of a claim.
  4. We Go Beyond the Policy: We believe in our clients' holistic well-being. That's why every WeCovr customer receives complimentary access to CalorieHero, our exclusive AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app. It’s a small way we can help you invest in your health today, demonstrating our commitment to your well-being long before you might ever need to claim.

Common Myths and Misconceptions Debunked

Inertia is the biggest enemy of financial planning. It's often fuelled by misconceptions. Let's tackle the most common ones head-on.

  • "It won't happen to me."

    • The Reality: Cancer Research UK predicts that 1 in 2 people in the UK will get cancer in their lifetime. The ABI (Association of British Insurers) states that protection insurers pay out over £18.6 million every single day in life, critical illness, and income protection claims. The risk is real.
  • "The NHS and the state will look after me."

    • The Reality: The NHS provides treatment, not financial support. And as we've seen, that treatment can involve long, debilitating waits. State support like Universal Credit and SSP is a safety net with very large holes, designed for subsistence, not for maintaining your family's lifestyle.
  • "I have cover through my employer."

    • The Reality: This is a fantastic benefit, but it's rarely enough. 'Death in Service' benefits are typically 2-4x your salary, far less than the 10x often needed. Employer-provided critical illness and income protection is less common and often has limitations. Crucially, if you leave your job, you lose the cover. Personal policies are portable and belong to you.
  • "It's too expensive."

    • The Reality: For the protection it offers, an LCIIP shield is remarkably affordable. A healthy 35-year-old could secure comprehensive income protection, critical illness cover, and life insurance for less than the cost of their daily coffee or monthly TV subscriptions. It's about prioritising a small, regular cost to prevent a catastrophic future one.

Building Your 2025-Proof Financial Fortress: Your Final Checklist

The financial landscape has changed. The £8 million Lifetime Health Burden is no longer a distant threat; it is the new reality for UK families. Inflation and healthcare pressures have created a perfect storm that can wreck even the most carefully laid financial plans.

But you are not powerless. You can act today to build a fortress around your family's future.

Your plan is clear:

  1. Acknowledge the New Reality: Accept that the old assumptions no longer hold. The risk is higher, and the financial consequences are greater.
  2. Calculate Your Burden: Use the framework in this guide to assess your family's unique vulnerability. How would you cope with a sudden loss of income?
  3. Construct Your LCIIP Shield: Don't leave any gaps in your defence.
    • Income Protection to pay the monthly bills.
    • Critical Illness Cover to provide a lump sum for major costs.
    • Life Insurance to secure your legacy.
  4. Seek Expert Advice: Don't go it alone. The stakes are too high. Engage with an expert broker like us who can navigate the market and tailor a solution that is robust, affordable, and right for you.

The financial security of your family is the most important investment you will ever make. In the face of an £8 million burden, building your LCIIP shield is not a choice; it is an act of profound responsibility and foresight. Contact us today to take the first step.


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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