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UK 2025 Shock 1 in 3 Face Dementia

UK 2025 Shock 1 in 3 Face Dementia 2025

UK 2025 Shock New Data Reveals Over 1 in 3 Britons Will Be Diagnosed With Dementia In Their Lifetime, Fueling A Staggering £4 Million+ Lifetime Burden Of Exhausting Care Costs, Eroding Family Savings, Unfunded Specialist Support & Devastating Family Legacies – Your PMI Pathway To Rapid Neurological Diagnostics, Advanced Memory Clinic Access & LCIIP Shielding Your Cognitive Future & Family Wealth

The numbers are no longer a distant forecast; they are a present-day reality and a stark warning for the future. New analysis for 2025 reveals a deeply unsettling projection: more than one in three people born in the UK today will be diagnosed with dementia in their lifetime. This isn't just a health crisis; it's a looming financial catastrophe for millions of British families.

The personal cost of a dementia diagnosis is immeasurable, but the financial toll is catastrophic. Families are facing a potential lifetime burden exceeding a staggering £5.5 million in a high-cost scenario. This figure encompasses decades of specialist care, devastating loss of income, the erosion of hard-earned savings, and the gut-wrenching dismantling of a family's legacy.

The state's safety net is frayed and, for many, non-existent. The path to diagnosis and support through the NHS can be agonisingly slow, while means-tested social care leaves the vast majority of homeowners to fund their own, often ruinously expensive, care.

But there is a pathway to regaining control. A strategic combination of Private Medical Insurance (PMI), Life & Critical Illness Protection (LCI), and Income Protection (IP) can create a powerful financial shield. This guide will illuminate the true scale of the dementia challenge in the UK and detail how you can leverage modern insurance solutions to secure rapid diagnostics, access elite care, and safeguard your family's financial future from the devastating impact of cognitive decline.

The Unspoken Epidemic: Dementia's Shadow Over the UK

Dementia is not a single disease but an umbrella term for a range of progressive neurological disorders affecting memory, thinking, and behaviour. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause, but there are many others, including vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia.

The journey for the individual and their family is one of profound emotional strain. Yet, running parallel to this is a financial drain so severe it can liquidate a lifetime of work and saving in just a few years. Families are forced into impossible choices: selling the family home, depleting retirement funds, and family members sacrificing their careers to become full-time, unpaid carers.

While medical science races for a cure, financial planning offers a potent form of immediate defence. It's about creating choices where, otherwise, there would be none.

Decoding the Data: The Startling Reality of Dementia in the UK (2025)

The statistics paint a sobering picture of the challenge ahead. Based on projections from sources like the Alzheimer's Society and the Office for National Statistics, the scale of the issue is undeniable.

  • Current Prevalence: As of 2025, it is estimated that over 1 million people in the UK are living with dementia.
  • Future Projections: This number is projected to surge to 1.6 million by 2040, driven by an ageing population.
  • Lifetime Risk: The most alarming statistic is that 1 in 3 Britons are now expected to develop dementia in their lifetime. For women, the risk is even higher.
  • Economic Cost: The total cost of dementia to the UK economy is now estimated to be over £42 billion per year. This includes healthcare costs, social care, and the value of unpaid care.
  • Personal Cost: The average lifetime cost of care for a person with dementia is well over £100,000, with a significant portion funded by the individual and their family. In complex cases, this can spiral into hundreds of thousands, or even millions.

The trajectory is clear. Waiting is not a strategy. The time to understand this threat and plan for it is now.

YearProjected Number of People with Dementia in the UK
2025~1,000,000
2030~1,200,000
2040~1,600,000
2050Over 2,000,000

Source: Projections based on data from Alzheimer's Research UK and the ONS.

The Crushing Financial Burden: A £4 Million+ Threat to Your Family's Future

How can the cost of a single illness reach such an astronomical figure? The headline "£4 Million+" represents a potential, high-end scenario for an individual, particularly a high-earning professional, diagnosed with early-onset dementia. While not the average, it illustrates the devastating potential of the disease to completely dismantle a family's finances.

Let's break down the components of this financial onslaught.

1. Direct Care Costs

This is the most visible and relentless expense.

  • Residential Care: The average cost for a residential care home in the UK is around £48,000 per year.
  • Nursing Care: For those with more complex needs, a nursing home is required, with average costs rising to over £65,000 per year. In areas like the South East, this can easily exceed £80,000.
  • Live-in Care: For those who wish to remain at home, 24/7 live-in care can cost between £1,500 and £2,500 per week, equating to £78,000 - £130,000 per year. Specialist neurological carers command even higher rates.
  • Home Adaptations: Significant modifications may be needed, such as walk-in showers, stairlifts, and secure entry systems, costing tens of thousands of pounds.

2. Loss of Income

A dementia diagnosis is often career-ending, not just for the individual but potentially for a partner who becomes a carer.

  • Individual's Lost Earnings: For a professional earning £100,000 per year, a diagnosis at age 55 means a loss of over £1.2 million in potential earnings until retirement, not including lost pension contributions and bonuses.
  • Carer's Lost Earnings: If a spouse earning £50,000 per year gives up work to provide care, that's another £600,000+ in lost family income over a similar period.

3. The "Unpaid Carer" Economy

Millions of family members and friends provide unpaid care, estimated to save the UK economy over £16 billion annually. While "unpaid," this care has a huge opportunity cost in lost careers, pension contributions, and personal well-being for the carer.

The High-Cost "£4 Million+" Scenario

This figure is reached in a devastating, long-duration case. Consider a 50-year-old executive diagnosed with a slow-progressing form of dementia.

  • 20 Years of Specialist Care: 20 years of live-in specialist nursing care at £150,000/year = £3,000,000
  • Lost High-Level Earnings: 17 years of lost salary at £150,000/year = £2,550,000
  • Other Costs: Home adaptations, private therapies, specialist equipment = £100,000+
  • Total Direct & Indirect Cost: Over £5.65 million

This doesn't even factor in the opportunity cost of depleting a multi-million-pound investment portfolio that would otherwise have been growing for retirement and inheritance. It shows how dementia can not only consume existing wealth but also obliterate future wealth creation, destroying a family's financial legacy.

Cost ComponentAverage Annual CostHigh-End Annual Cost
Residential Care£48,000£70,000+
Nursing Care Home£65,000£90,000+
24/7 Live-in Home Care£90,000£150,000+
Domiciliary (Hourly) Care£20,000 (at 20hrs/week)£40,000+ (at 40hrs/week)
Loss of Income (Example)£40,000 (UK Average)£150,000+ (High Earner)

The NHS and Social Care Gap: Why You Can't Rely Solely on the State

Many people assume the NHS or the government will step in to cover these costs. This is a dangerously misguided belief. The system is a complex, means-tested maze that leaves most families to fend for themselves.

The NHS Diagnostic Pathway

While the NHS provides excellent care, it is under immense pressure. The typical journey to a diagnosis can be protracted:

  1. GP Visit: Initial concerns are raised with a General Practitioner.
  2. Referral: The GP refers the individual to a specialist NHS memory clinic or service.
  3. Waiting Lists: This is the critical bottleneck. Waiting times for a first appointment at a memory clinic can be many months, sometimes over a year, depending on the region. This is a period of immense anxiety and uncertainty where the condition may be worsening.
  4. Assessment & Scans: Further waits for neurological assessments and diagnostic imaging like MRI or CT scans can extend the timeline.

This delay is more than just frustrating; it's a delay in accessing potential treatments, support services, and making crucial financial and legal arrangements.

Means-Tested Social Care

Once a diagnosis is made and care is needed, the funding responsibility shifts from the NHS (free at the point of use) to Social Care (means-tested).

  • The Capital Threshold: In England, if you have capital (savings, investments, and in most cases, your home) over £23,250, you are expected to fund the full cost of your care. The rules vary slightly in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but the principle is the same.
  • The Family Home: If you need to move into a care home permanently, the value of your home is included in the means test (unless your partner or certain other dependents still live there). For millions of homeowners, this means they are automatically classified as "self-funders."
  • NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC): This is a package of ongoing care funded solely by the NHS for people with very severe and complex health needs. It is notoriously difficult to qualify for. The criteria are so strict that most people with dementia, even in advanced stages, do not meet the threshold.

The stark reality is this: if you own your home or have even modest savings, you will be paying for your own dementia care.

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Your Proactive Defence: The Insurance Shield for Your Cognitive Health and Wealth

You cannot insure yourself against a dementia diagnosis. But you can insure yourself against the catastrophic financial consequences. A sophisticated, multi-layered insurance portfolio is the most powerful tool available to build a financial fortress around you and your family.

The three core pillars of this fortress are:

  1. Private Medical Insurance (PMI): Your key to rapid diagnosis and specialist access.
  2. Life & Critical Illness Cover (LCI): Your source of a tax-free lump sum to fight back financially.
  3. Income Protection (IP): Your personal salary safeguard when you can no longer work.

Let's explore how each component provides a unique and vital layer of protection.

Pathway to Peace of Mind Part 1: Private Medical Insurance (PMI)

PMI's primary role in the context of dementia is to radically shorten the journey to a definitive diagnosis. In a condition where time is critical, this is an invaluable advantage.

  • Bypass Waiting Lists: Instead of waiting months for an NHS memory clinic appointment, PMI gives you swift access to a private consultant neurologist or geriatrician, often within days or weeks.
  • Rapid Diagnostics: It covers the cost of advanced diagnostic imaging like MRI, CT, and PET scans without the long NHS waits. An early and accurate diagnosis is essential for planning and accessing any available treatments or clinical trials.
  • Access to Elite Specialists: PMI opens the door to leading experts in the field, allowing for second opinions and access to the very best diagnostic minds in the country.
  • Comprehensive Mental Health Support: A dementia diagnosis has a profound impact on the mental health of both the individual and their family. Most modern PMI policies include extensive cover for therapy, counselling, and psychiatric support, providing a crucial pillar of emotional resilience.

It is crucial to understand that PMI is designed for the diagnosis and treatment of acute conditions. It will not typically cover the chronic, long-term care costs associated with dementia. Its role is to get you the best diagnosis, as quickly as possible, so you can activate the next layers of your financial plan.

FeatureNHS PathwayPMI Pathway
GP to SpecialistMonths, potentially over a yearDays or weeks
Diagnostic ScansFurther waiting lists post-consultationArranged swiftly after consultation
Choice of DoctorLimited to local NHS trust availabilityAccess to a nationwide network of top specialists
Mental Health AidLong waits for services like IAPTRapid access to private therapy & counselling

Pathway to Peace of Mind Part 2: Life & Critical Illness Cover (LCI)

This is your financial war chest. A comprehensive Critical Illness policy pays out a tax-free lump sum upon the diagnosis of a specified illness. Crucially, most high-quality policies sold in the UK today include dementia and Alzheimer's disease as a standard covered condition.

The policy wording is key. Insurers typically define this as "a definite diagnosis of dementia resulting in permanent symptoms," confirmed by a specialist consultant.

This lump sum—which could be £50,000, £250,000, or more depending on your level of cover—provides immediate and total financial flexibility. It can be used for anything you need to fight the financial impact of the disease:

  • Clear the Mortgage: Removing your largest monthly outgoing provides immense financial and emotional relief.
  • Fund Immediate Care: Pay for private carers or specialist day centres without waiting for a social care assessment.
  • Adapt Your Home: Install a wet room, stairlift, or make other changes to allow you to stay in your home for longer.
  • Replace Lost Income: Provide a buffer for a partner who may need to reduce their working hours or stop working entirely.
  • Protect Savings: Use the payout for care costs, leaving your pension and investments untouched to grow for the future.
  • Fund Alternative Therapies: Explore treatments or support services not available on the NHS.

A Critical Illness payout gives you control. It transforms you from a passive victim of circumstance into an active agent, able to fund the choices that are right for you and your family. At WeCovr, we specialise in comparing the nuanced definitions of dementia cover across all major UK insurers, ensuring our clients get the most robust and reliable protection available.

Pathway to Peace of Mind Part 3: Income Protection (IP)

Often overlooked, Income Protection is arguably one of the most vital components of a long-term financial plan. While Critical Illness cover provides a lump sum, IP provides a regular, recurring monthly income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury.

  • Early Intervention: Cognitive decline can impact your ability to perform your job long before you might receive a formal CIC-triggering diagnosis. If a GP signs you off work due to stress, memory loss, or an inability to concentrate, your IP policy can start paying out after a pre-agreed waiting period (e.g., 3 or 6 months).
  • Long-Term Security: You can structure an IP policy to pay out right up until your planned retirement age. This provides a stable, tax-free income stream (typically 50-65% of your gross salary) to cover bills, living costs, and contribute towards ongoing care needs for years, or even decades.
  • Pension Protection: Being forced to stop work early devastates your pension pot. An IP income allows you to continue making personal pension contributions, shoring up your long-term financial future.

IP is the policy that keeps your household running. It pays the bills, buys the groceries, and fuels the car, preventing a health crisis from immediately becoming a cashflow crisis.

The Integrated Shield: A Real-Life Example

To see how these three policies create an impenetrable shield, let's consider a hypothetical case.

Meet David, a 54-year-old architect with a wife and two teenage children.

  1. The Concern (PMI in Action): David starts struggling with complex projects and forgetting client names. His wife is deeply concerned. Instead of a 9-month wait for the local memory clinic, they use his company PMI policy. He sees a top neurologist within two weeks, has an MRI and PET scan the following week, and receives a definitive diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's. Time from concern to diagnosis: 1 month.

  2. The Financial Response (LCI in Action): David has a Critical Illness policy. Upon receiving the confirmed diagnosis, his policy pays out a £200,000 tax-free lump sum. They immediately use £80,000 to clear their remaining mortgage. The other £120,000 is placed in a separate account, earmarked for future care and home adaptations. The financial pressure is instantly relieved.

  3. The Long-Term Stability (IP in Action): David is signed off work by his GP. After a 6-month deferred period, his Income Protection policy kicks in, paying him £4,500 per month, tax-free. This replaces a significant portion of his lost salary, ensuring his family can maintain their lifestyle, continue saving for university, and he can keep contributing to his pension. This income will continue until he turns 67.

Thanks to this integrated strategy, David's diagnosis, while emotionally devastating, does not trigger a financial implosion. The family has time, options, and the resources to navigate the difficult road ahead with dignity and security.

Choosing Your Guardian: How to Select the Right Insurance

Navigating the insurance market requires expertise. The details in the policy documents are what separate mediocre cover from truly life-changing protection.

  • Check the Definitions: Not all Critical Illness policies are created equal. The specific wording for dementia and TPD (Total and Permanent Disability) can vary. It's vital to choose a policy with clear, comprehensive definitions.
  • Review PMI Features: Look beyond the headline price. Assess the mental health support, cancer care pathways (as health risks are often linked), and the network of hospitals and specialists.
  • Tailor Your IP: Choose a deferred period that matches your employer's sick pay and savings. Opt for an "own occupation" definition, which is the most comprehensive form of cover.
  • Declare Everything: Be completely honest and thorough during the application process. Non-disclosure of past medical issues can invalidate your policy precisely when you need it most.

This complexity is why seeking independent advice is so important. A specialist broker like WeCovr works for you, not the insurance company. We meticulously compare policies from the entire UK market to find the optimal blend of cover for your unique circumstances and budget. Our goal is to ensure your financial fortress has no weaknesses.

Furthermore, we believe in supporting our clients' holistic health. That's why every WeCovr customer receives complimentary access to our proprietary AI-powered nutrition app, CalorieHero. We know that proactive health management, including a balanced diet, is a key pillar in maintaining long-term well-being and cognitive function.

Beyond Insurance: Proactive Steps for Cognitive Health

While financial planning is a critical defensive measure, there are proactive lifestyle steps supported by robust scientific evidence that can help reduce the risk of developing dementia. The Alzheimer's Society UK and the NHS recommend focusing on:

  • Heart Health: What's good for your heart is good for your brain. Manage blood pressure and cholesterol.
  • Physical Activity: Regular exercise improves blood flow to the brain.
  • Balanced Diet: A Mediterranean-style diet, rich in vegetables, fruits, fish, and healthy fats, has been shown to be beneficial.
  • Staying Socially Active: Engaging with friends, family, and community groups keeps your brain stimulated.
  • Challenging Your Brain: Keep learning new things, whether it's a language, an instrument, or just doing puzzles.
  • Protect Your Hearing: Untreated hearing loss is a significant and modifiable risk factor for dementia.

Conclusion: Secure Your Legacy, Protect Your Family

The threat of dementia is one of the most significant health and financial challenges facing Britons today. The prospect of 1 in 3 people being diagnosed, coupled with the potential for multi-million-pound care costs, demands a proactive and robust response.

Relying on a strained NHS for timely diagnosis and a means-tested social care system for financial support is a gamble most cannot afford to take. It is a path that often leads to the erosion of savings, the sale of the family home, and the destruction of a lifetime's work.

The power to change this outcome is in your hands. By creating an integrated shield of Private Medical Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, and Income Protection, you can seize control. You can guarantee swift access to the best medical minds, secure a powerful financial reserve to fund your choices, and ensure a stable income to protect your family's standard of living.

A dementia diagnosis does not have to mean a financial apocalypse. By taking decisive action now, you can safeguard your cognitive future, protect your family's wealth, and secure the legacy you have worked so hard to build.


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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