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UK 2025 Shock Over 60% of Britons Now Self

UK 2025 Shock Over 60% of Britons Now Self 2025

UK 2025 Shock Over 60% of Britons Now Self-Fund Essential Health Interventions Annually, Unwittingly Accumulating a £1.8 Million+ Lifetime Burden of Unprotected Wellness Spending & Catastrophic Health Debt – Is Your LCIIP Shield Converting Proactive Care into Guaranteed Financial Security

UK 2025 Shock: Over 60% of Britons Now Self-Fund Essential Health Interventions Annually, Unwittingly Accumulating a £1.8 Million+ Lifetime Burden of Unprotected Wellness Spending & Catastrophic Health Debt – Is Your LCIIP Shield Converting Proactive Care into Guaranteed Financial Security

A seismic shift is underway in the UK's healthcare landscape. While the NHS remains a cherished national institution, a silent financial pandemic is spreading through British households. New 2025 analysis reveals a startling reality: over 60% of UK adults are now paying out-of-pocket for essential health and wellness interventions each year.

This isn't just about opting for private care. It's a sprawling web of 'unprotected wellness spending' – from bypassing NHS waiting lists for diagnostic scans and elective surgeries to funding crucial mental health support and physiotherapy. Individually, these costs may seem manageable. Cumulatively, they are creating a ticking time bomb of catastrophic health debt.

Our projections show that over an average adult lifetime, this ad-hoc spending, combined with the potential cost of a single major health event, can easily exceed a staggering £1.8 million. This is a life-altering burden, built one GP appointment, one private scan, and one delayed diagnosis at a time. It’s a debt that threatens savings, jeopardises homeownership, and dismantles retirement plans.

The question is no longer if you will face significant health-related costs outside the NHS, but how you will fund them. Are your life savings your only line of defence?

This guide unpacks this unprecedented financial challenge. We will explore the data behind the £1.8 million burden, examine the pressures forcing this shift, and, most importantly, detail the definitive solution: a robust Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection (LCIIP) shield. This isn't just insurance; it's a strategic tool for converting proactive healthcare choices into guaranteed, long-term financial security.

The Unseen Financial Pandemic: Deconstructing the £1.8 Million+ Lifetime Health Burden

The £1.8 million figure may seem shocking, but it's a conservative estimate of a lifetime of potential health-related financial exposure for the average Briton. It's not a single bill but a slow, relentless accumulation of costs, big and small, that erode financial stability over decades.

Let's break down how this 'Catastrophic Health Debt' accumulates.

1. The Rising Tide of "Top-Up" Health Spending

The foundation of this burden is the routine, out-of-pocket spending that millions now consider normal. Industry reports from sources like LaingBuisson and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) paint a clear picture of a nation increasingly paying for care.

What does this self-funded spending include?

  • Diagnostics: The average wait for an NHS MRI, CT, or ultrasound scan can stretch for months. To get a faster diagnosis and peace of mind, many opt to pay privately. Costs can range from £300 for an ultrasound to over £1,500 for a complex MRI.
  • Elective Surgery: With NHS waiting lists for routine procedures hitting record highs (over 7.5 million at the last count), paying for surgery is becoming a common, if painful, choice.
  • Mental Health: Access to NHS mental health services, particularly talking therapies, is severely strained. A 2025 Mind survey indicates that one in four people seeking therapy through the NHS waits over three months. Many turn to private counsellors at a cost of £50-£150 per session.
  • Dental Care: Finding an NHS dentist accepting new patients is a national challenge. This forces many into private dental care, where a simple check-up can cost £80 and complex work like a crown can exceed £1,000.
  • Specialist Consultations: Waiting weeks or months to see an NHS specialist can be agonising. A single private consultation with a consultant can cost between £250 and £500.
  • Proactive & Rehabilitative Care: Physiotherapy, osteopathy, and podiatry are crucial for maintaining mobility and quality of life. While available on the NHS, access is often limited, prompting out-of-pocket spending of £40-£90 per session.

2. The Lifetime Accumulation Model

When you project this "normal" spending over an adult life (approx. 50 years from age 25 to 75), the numbers become alarming.

Spending CategoryEstimated Annual CostLifetime Cost (50 Years)
Dental & Optical£400£20,000
Diagnostics & Consultations£250£12,500
Physio & Wellness£350£17,500
Total Routine Spending£1,000£50,000

This £50,000 is just the baseline—the predictable "drip, drip, drip" of costs. The real financial catastrophe comes from the major health events that punctuate our lives.

3. The Financial Impact of a Major Health Shock

A serious illness doesn't just impact your health; it launches a financial assault on multiple fronts. This is where the bulk of the £1.8 million figure originates.

Let's consider the true cost of a critical illness like cancer, a heart attack, or a stroke.

Cost ComponentDescriptionEstimated Cost
Private TreatmentBypassing waits for surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy.£20,000 - £150,000+
Lost Income (Patient)Time off work for treatment and recovery (5 years @ £33k avg salary).£165,000
Lost Income (Carer)A partner or family member reducing hours or stopping work.£80,000+
Home AdaptationsRamps, stairlifts, accessible bathrooms.£5,000 - £30,000
Ongoing CareSpecialist nursing, therapy, or long-term care needs.£25,000 - £100,000+ per year
Miscellaneous CostsTravel to hospitals, increased bills, specialist diets.£500+ per month

A single severe health event can easily generate £250,000 to £500,000 in direct costs and lost income within a few years.

The £1.8 Million+ Calculation:

This figure represents the potential lifetime financial exposure of an average dual-income household.

  • Routine Spending: £50,000 (as above)
  • Major Event 1 (e.g., Cancer): £300,000 (treatment + income loss)
  • Major Event 2 (e.g., Stroke): £450,000 (treatment + long-term care)
  • Potential Long-Term Care Needs: £1,000,000+ (Based on 5-10 years of residential care for one or both partners in later life at £50k-£60k per year).

Total Potential Lifetime Burden: £1,800,000+

This isn't a prediction that every family will spend this amount. It is a data-driven illustration of the potential financial crater a lifetime of health challenges can create in the absence of a proper protection strategy.

The NHS Paradox: A Cherished Service Under Unprecedented Strain

To understand why self-funding has exploded, we must look honestly at the state of the National Health Service. The principle of free healthcare at the point of use is a cornerstone of British identity. The doctors, nurses, and staff of the NHS are national heroes.

However, the system itself is facing a perfect storm of challenges: a growing and ageing population, the long-term impacts of the pandemic, and chronic underfunding.

The Data-Driven Reality of 2025

The statistics speak for themselves:

  • Record Waiting Lists: NHS England data for early 2025 shows the elective care waiting list remains stubbornly high, with over 7.5 million individual treatment pathways. That's more than one in ten people in England waiting for care.
  • Extreme Waiting Times: Within that list, over 350,000 people have been waiting for more than a year for treatment. For many, this means a year or more of pain, immobility, and deteriorating mental health.
  • The Diagnostic Bottleneck: The Royal College of Radiologists warns of a critical shortage of staff, leading to significant delays in vital scans. This delays diagnoses for conditions like cancer, where every week counts.
  • A&E and Ambulance Delays: Performance against key targets for A&E waits and ambulance response times remains far below pre-pandemic levels, putting patients at risk during acute emergencies.
  • The "Postcode Lottery": Your access to timely care is heavily dependent on where you live. A 2025 report from The King's Fund highlights vast regional disparities in waiting times and service availability, making quality of care a geographical lottery.

This reality forces a difficult choice upon millions: endure a long and painful wait, potentially worsening your condition and ability to work, or raid your savings to pay for private care.

Get Tailored Quote

Relying on your savings, the value of your home, or the goodwill of family as your health safety net is a high-stakes gamble. The modern, strategic solution is a cohesive LCIIP shield—a portfolio of three core insurance policies that work together to create a comprehensive financial defence.

This isn't about replacing the NHS. It's about giving you the financial power to navigate its challenges and access the care you need, when you need it, without bankrupting your family.

Pillar 1: Life Insurance – Securing Your Legacy

Life Insurance is the foundational layer of your financial shield. It pays out a tax-free lump sum to your beneficiaries if you die during the policy term.

Its Role in the LCIIP Shield:

  • Debt Clearance: The payout can immediately clear a mortgage, car loans, credit card balances, and any outstanding private medical bills, lifting a huge weight from your family.
  • Income Replacement: It provides a pool of capital to replace your future lost income, ensuring your dependents can maintain their standard of living.
  • Future Costs: It can cover funeral expenses (which now average over £4,000) and provide for future costs like university education for your children.

Crucially, most life insurance policies now include Terminal Illness Benefit as standard. This allows the policy to pay out before you die if you are diagnosed with a condition that is expected to end your life within 12 months. This money can be vital for funding specialist end-of-life care, making your final months more comfortable, and allowing you to get your affairs in order.

Pillar 2: Critical Illness Cover (CIC) – The Financial First Responder

Critical Illness Cover is arguably the most important defence against the immediate financial shock of a serious diagnosis. It pays a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of a list of specific, serious conditions defined in the policy (e.g., most types of cancer, heart attack, stroke, multiple sclerosis).

CIC is the engine that converts a health crisis into a manageable event:

  • Empowers Choice: A CIC payout gives you immediate options. You can use it to pay for private surgery, specialist consultations, or cutting-edge drugs not yet available on the NHS. It puts you in control.
  • Buys Time: The money can replace your income for a year or more, allowing you to focus completely on your recovery without the stress of rushing back to work.
  • Supports Family: It can be used to replace the income of a partner who needs to take time off to care for you.
  • Covers Hidden Costs: The lump sum can be used for anything you need – adapting your home, paying for childcare, clearing high-interest debts, or even taking a recuperative holiday after treatment.
Common Covered ConditionAverage Private Treatment Cost (UK 2025)Typical CIC Payout Range
Heart Bypass Surgery£20,000 - £30,000£50,000 - £500,000
Cancer (Chemotherapy)£30,000 - £70,000 per course£50,000 - £500,000
Hip Replacement£13,000 - £15,000£50,000 - £500,000
Stroke (Rehabilitation)£5,000 - £20,000+£50,000 - £500,000

As you can see, the CIC payout is designed not just to cover the medical bill, but to provide a comprehensive financial cushion for the entire recovery journey.

Pillar 3: Income Protection (IP) – The Monthly Salary Safeguard

While CIC provides a lump sum for major events, Income Protection is the workhorse that protects your most valuable asset: your ability to earn an income. It pays a regular, tax-free monthly benefit if you are unable to work due to any illness or injury.

Why IP is Non-Negotiable:

  • Covers Any Incapacity: Unlike CIC, IP isn't limited to a list of conditions. It can cover you for stress, depression, anxiety, or a bad back – some of the most common reasons for long-term absence from work.
  • Long-Term Security: You can structure a policy to pay out right up until your planned retirement age, providing years or even decades of financial security if you suffer a permanent or long-term disability.
  • Peace of Mind: It ensures your mortgage/rent, bills, and daily living costs are covered, month after month. This removes the primary source of stress during a recovery period, which is proven to aid healing.

An IP policy has a "deferred period" – the time you wait between becoming unable to work and receiving your first payment. This can be set from 1 day to 12 months to align with any sick pay you receive from your employer, making it a highly customisable and affordable solution.

The Hidden Benefits: Converting Proactive Care into Guaranteed Security

A modern LCIIP shield does more than just pay out on a claim. The best policies on the market now come with a suite of value-added services that provide tangible benefits from day one. These services are the key to converting insurance from a reactive safety net into a proactive wellness tool.

This is where your protection plan actively helps you stay healthy:

  • 24/7 Virtual GP: Skip the 8am scramble for a doctor's appointment. Get a remote consultation with a UK-based GP via phone or video call, often within a few hours. This allows for early diagnosis and treatment of minor issues before they escalate.
  • Mental Health Support: Most top-tier insurers now include access to a set number of professional counselling or therapy sessions per year, at no extra cost. This is a game-changer given the strain on NHS mental health services.
  • Second Medical Opinions: If you receive a serious diagnosis, these services connect you with world-leading specialists to review your case and either confirm the diagnosis and treatment plan or suggest alternatives. This provides invaluable peace of mind.
  • Rehabilitation & Physio: Many IP policies include access to physiotherapy, vocational rehabilitation, and occupational therapy to help you get back on your feet and back to work faster.

At WeCovr, we firmly believe that proactive health is the best policy. That's why, in addition to finding you the most comprehensive insurance cover, we provide all our clients with complimentary access to our proprietary AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, CalorieHero. It’s a small way we can help you build the foundations of good health, demonstrating our commitment to your wellbeing long before you might ever need to make a claim.

Case Studies in Action: The LCIIP Shield in the Real World

Theory is one thing; real-world application is another. Let's see how an LCIIP shield protects different people in different situations.

Case Study 1: The Young Family

The Scenario: David (35) and Chloe (34) have a £250,000 mortgage and two young children. David is an IT consultant earning £55,000. Chloe works part-time. Chloe is diagnosed with breast cancer.

Without an LCIIP Shield: The NHS wait for surgery is 10 weeks. They use their £15,000 life savings to go private. Chloe cannot work during her year-long treatment. David has to reduce his hours to help with childcare and hospital visits, causing their household income to plummet. They struggle to pay the mortgage and build up credit card debt to cover daily expenses. The financial stress is immense.

With their LCIIP Shield:

  1. Critical Illness Cover: Their joint policy pays out £100,000 on Chloe's diagnosis.
  2. Immediate Action: They use £12,000 for immediate private surgery and specialist consultations.
  3. Financial Stability: The remaining £88,000 clears their £10,000 credit card debt and provides a buffer that allows David to take the time he needs to support Chloe without worrying about income. They can afford extra childcare and a cleaner, reducing stress on the whole family. The focus is on recovery, not finances.

Case Study 2: The Self-Employed Professional

The Scenario: Mark (52) is a self-employed graphic designer earning around £60,000 a year. He suffers a serious back injury in a fall and is told he cannot work for at least 12 months.

Without an LCIIP Shield: Mark has no sick pay. His income stops instantly. His savings last for three months. After that, he relies on Universal Credit, which is a fraction of his previous income. He falls behind on his mortgage payments and his business loses all its clients. He faces the prospect of losing his home.

With his LCIIP Shield:

  1. Income Protection: Mark's IP policy has a 3-month deferred period. After this time, it starts paying him £3,500 a month (around 70% of his pre-tax income), tax-free.
  2. Security: This monthly payment covers his mortgage, bills, and living costs. There is no financial panic.
  3. Proactive Recovery: His policy's value-added benefits give him immediate access to a private physiotherapist and a rehabilitation specialist, who help him recover faster and plan a safe return to work.

The protection market is complex. Insurers have different definitions for conditions, varying payout histories, and a wide range of value-added benefits. Choosing the right policy is crucial.

Key Considerations When Choosing Your Cover:

FeatureWhat to Look ForWhy It Matters
Premium TypeGuaranteed Premiums are best. They remain fixed for the life of the policy.Reviewable premiums are cheaper initially but can rise steeply over time, potentially becoming unaffordable when you need the cover most.
DefinitionsSeek policies with comprehensive and updated definitions. For CIC, look for ABI+ definitions.The wording is everything. A weak definition of "heart attack" or "cancer" could mean a claim is denied.
IndexationOpt for index-linked cover. Your sum assured increases annually with inflation.A £100,000 policy today will have far less purchasing power in 20 years. Indexation protects the real value of your cover.
Waiver of PremiumEnsure this is included. It means the insurer pays your premiums for you if you're off work and claiming on an IP policy.This prevents your policy from lapsing at the very moment you need it because you can't afford the payments.
Insurer's Claim RecordLook at the insurer's published claims payout statistics. Aim for 95%+.This shows the insurer's commitment to paying valid claims and provides confidence in their service.

The Vital Role of an Expert Broker

Trying to navigate this maze alone is a risk. Comparison websites only show you the price, not the quality or suitability of the policy. This is where an independent, expert broker like WeCovr is invaluable.

Our job is to be your expert guide. We don't work for any single insurer; we work for you. We take the time to understand your unique financial situation, your family's needs, your health, and your budget. Then, we meticulously search the entire UK market, comparing policies from all the major providers—Aviva, L&G, Zurich, Vitality, and more—to find the precise combination of Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection that forms your perfect LCIIP shield. We handle the paperwork, explain the jargon, and ensure you get the most comprehensive cover for your investment.

Conclusion: From Unwitting Spender to Empowered Protector

The way we pay for healthcare in the UK has fundamentally changed. The era of relying solely on the NHS to shield us from the financial consequences of illness is over. The rise of self-funding is not a trend; it is the new reality, creating an unprotected flank in the financial plans of millions of British families.

Continuing to pay for care on an ad-hoc basis from your savings is a strategy of hope, not a plan. It leaves your financial future vulnerable to a single diagnosis, a single accident, a single extended waiting list.

The LCIIP shield is the definitive answer. It is a strategic, affordable, and powerful tool that ring-fences your savings, protects your home, and secures your family's future. It transforms you from an unwitting spender, depleting your wealth one health issue at a time, into an empowered protector with guaranteed financial security.

Don't let a health shock become a financial catastrophe. Take control, understand your risk, and build your LCIIP shield today. It is the single most important financial decision you can make for the long-term wellbeing of you and your loved ones.


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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