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UK Cancer Costs: Your Family's Financial Fortress

UK Cancer Costs: Your Family's Financial Fortress 2025

By 2025, Nearly 1 in 2 Britons Will Face a Cancer Diagnosis, Fueling a Staggering £2.5 Million+ Lifetime Burden of Devastating Treatment Costs, Lost Income & Eroding Family Wealth. Discover How Your Private Medical Insurance (PMI) Pathway & LCIIP Can Shield Your Future, Guaranteeing Rapid Cancer Care and Protecting Your Family's Financial Fortress.

UK 2025 Shock: Nearly 1 in 2 Britons Will Face a Cancer Diagnosis, Fuelling a £2.5 Million+ Lifetime Burden of Devastating Treatment Costs, Lost Income & Eroding Family Wealth – Your PMI Pathway to Rapid Cancer Care & LCIIP Shielding Your Future & Your Family's Financial Fortress

The statistics are no longer a distant warning; they are a stark, imminent reality. By 2025, the landscape of UK health will have fundamentally shifted. Landmark research from Cancer Research UK projects a future where a cancer diagnosis will become a personal reality for nearly one in every two people born since 1960. This isn't a vague future possibility; for millions, it's a statistical certainty looming on the horizon.

While medical science continues to make extraordinary leaps, turning many cancers into treatable, manageable conditions, a second, more insidious threat follows in the wake of a diagnosis: a financial tsunami. This financial shockwave is silent but devastating, capable of eroding decades of hard-earned wealth, derailing life plans, and placing an almost unbearable strain on families. The cost is not simply about treatment; it's a complex web of lost income, reduced earning potential, and unforeseen expenses that can accumulate to a staggering lifetime burden exceeding £2.5 million for some families.

This is not an article about fear. It is an article about foresight, control, and building an impenetrable financial fortress for you and your loved ones. We will dissect the true, multi-faceted cost of cancer in the UK today and map out a clear, strategic pathway to protect your health and your wealth. This is your definitive guide to leveraging Private Medical Insurance (PMI) for rapid, world-class cancer care and shielding your entire financial world with a robust combination of Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, and Income Protection (LCIIP).

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The £2.5 Million Question: Deconstructing the True Lifetime Cost of Cancer

The National Health Service (NHS) is a national treasure, providing care that is free at the point of use. However, the belief that a cancer diagnosis comes with no financial implications is a dangerous misconception. The real costs are a financial iceberg, with the most significant and damaging parts hidden beneath the surface.

Let's break down the components of this potential multi-million-pound lifetime burden.

Direct Costs: The Tip of the Iceberg

Even with the NHS, direct costs quickly accumulate. A 2023 report from Macmillan Cancer Support revealed that 83% of people with cancer in the UK face a financial impact, with the average cost reaching £891 a month. This is the "Cancer Premium" you pay just to get by.

  • Travel and Parking: Frequent trips to specialist hospitals for consultations, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy can mean hundreds or even thousands of pounds a year in fuel and exorbitant hospital parking fees.
  • Prescription Charges: While cancer treatment itself is free, prescriptions for managing side effects like nausea or pain are often chargeable in England.
  • Home Adjustments: Specialist beds, walk-in showers, or stairlifts may become necessary, with costs running into the thousands.
  • Increased Household Bills: Spending more time recovering at home naturally leads to higher utility bills.

The PMI Advantage: Accessing Care Beyond the Standard

This is where Private Medical Insurance (PMI) provides its first powerful advantage. It doesn't just replicate NHS care; it elevates it. A comprehensive PMI policy can grant access to breakthrough drugs, therapies, and treatments that may not be available on the NHS, or only accessible after lengthy delays through the Cancer Drugs Fund.

FeatureStandard NHS ProvisionComprehensive PMI Provision
Diagnosis SpeedSubject to waiting list targets (often missed)Rapid access to specialists & diagnostics
Treatment WaitingCan be weeks or months for non-urgent casesTreatment typically begins within days of diagnosis
Choice of SpecialistAssigned by the NHS TrustYour choice of leading oncologist/surgeon
Hospital ChoiceLocal NHS hospitalUK-wide network of private hospitals
Drug AccessApproved list (NICE guidelines)Access to drugs not yet NHS-approved
ComfortWard accommodationPrivate, en-suite room

Access to these advanced treatments isn't just a luxury; it can be life-altering. But without PMI, funding them privately could cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds, instantly vaporising savings.

Indirect Costs: The £2.5 Million Financial Tsunami

The most significant financial damage is not from what you spend, but from what you lose. This is where the numbers become truly eye-watering.

Let's construct a plausible scenario for a professional family to illustrate the potential £2.5 million+ lifetime financial impact:

Scenario:

  • Anna, age 42: A marketing director earning £85,000 per year.
  • Tom, age 44: Her husband, a self-employed consultant earning £60,000 per year.
  • Diagnosis: Anna is diagnosed with breast cancer, requiring a year of intensive treatment followed by five years of recovery and ongoing therapy.

1. Lost Income (The Immediate Shock):

  • Anna's Income Loss: Anna takes one full year off work. Statutory Sick Pay provides just £116.75 per week (2024/25 rate) for 28 weeks. After that, her income is zero. She then returns to work part-time for two years at 50% capacity.
    • Year 1 Loss: ~£79,000
    • Years 2-3 Loss: ~£85,000
  • Tom's Income Loss: Tom reduces his workload by 30% for the first year to care for Anna and their children.
    • Year 1 Loss: £18,000
  • Total Immediate Income Loss (3 Years): £182,000

2. Reduced Future Earning Potential (The "Cancer Penalty"):

  • Studies show that cancer survivors often face workplace discrimination or are unable to return to the same level of seniority. Let's conservatively assume Anna's career progression stalls, and she misses out on two promotions over the next 15 years, creating a 20% gap in her potential earnings versus her pre-cancer trajectory.
  • Lost Future Earnings (to age 60): £350,000+

3. Depleted Wealth and Lost Growth (The Silent Erasure):

  • Savings & Investments: To cover the income shortfall and extra costs, they are forced to liquidate their £75,000 ISA and investment portfolio.
  • Lost Investment Growth: That £75,000, if left to grow at a modest 5% per year for the next 18 years until retirement, would have become over £180,000. This wealth is now gone forever.
  • Pension Contributions: Both Anna and Tom reduce or pause their pension contributions during the high-stress years.
    • Anna's Lost Pension Contributions (Employer & Employee): ~£12,750/year. Over 3 years, this is a £38,250 direct loss.
    • The Devastating Impact of Compounding: That lost £38,250, compounded over 18 years until retirement, represents a staggering £115,000 reduction in her final pension pot.

4. The Ultimate Cost - The Family Home:

  • In a worst-case scenario where Anna's illness becomes long-term and her ability to work is permanently impaired, the pressure could become so immense that they are forced to downsize their family home, crystallising a huge loss in both emotional security and future asset growth. The potential lost equity growth over 20 years could easily be £500,000 to £1,000,000+ in many parts of the UK.

Calculating the Lifetime Burden:

Impact AreaEstimated Financial Cost
Immediate Lost Income£182,000
Reduced Future Earnings£350,000
Liquidated Savings & Investments£75,000
Lost Investment Growth£105,000
Lost Pension Pot Value£115,000
Potential Impact on Property Wealth£1,000,000+
Total Potential Lifetime Impact:~£1,827,000+

This illustrative calculation, which is by no means a worst-case scenario, already approaches £2 million. If private treatment costs of £100,000-£200,000 were needed, or if the recovery period was longer, the total financial devastation could easily surpass £2.5 million. This is the silent, catastrophic risk that every UK family, regardless of income, unknowingly faces.

Your First Line of Defence: Private Medical Insurance (PMI) – The Pathway to Rapid Cancer Care

While the financial figures are daunting, the first priority is always health. Private Medical Insurance is designed to tackle the health crisis head-on, giving you the best possible chance of a positive outcome by removing the two greatest barriers in healthcare: time and access.

The NHS is under unprecedented strain. For cancer, while there are "urgent" referral targets, the pathway from seeing your GP to starting treatment can still be a fraught and anxious journey lasting weeks, if not months.

The Core Pillars of PMI Cancer Cover

  1. Speed of Diagnosis: If you have concerning symptoms, a PMI policy allows you to bypass the initial GP waiting list and see a specialist consultant privately, often within days. You can get access to diagnostic scans like MRI and CT quickly, meaning you get a definitive answer—and a treatment plan—faster.
  2. Prompt Treatment: Once diagnosed, there is no waiting list. Your treatment, whether it's surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy, can begin almost immediately. This speed can be crucial for both clinical outcomes and your mental wellbeing.
  3. Unrivalled Choice: You are in control. You can choose the leading cancer specialist you want to see and the private hospital where you want to be treated, whether it's near your home for convenience or a nationally recognised centre of excellence.
  4. Advanced Therapies and Drugs: This is a key differentiator. PMI policies often provide access to the very latest medical advancements—from targeted therapies and immunotherapies to new surgical techniques—that may not yet be approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for NHS use. This can open up life-saving options that would otherwise be unavailable or require self-funding at a cost of thousands per month.
  5. A More Comfortable Experience: From a private en-suite room to more flexible visiting hours and enhanced facilities, the private hospital environment is designed to reduce stress and aid recovery during one of life's most challenging periods.

A robust PMI policy acts as your health concierge, navigating you to the best and fastest care possible, allowing you to focus all your energy on getting better.

The Financial Fortress: Shielding Your Family with Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection (LCIIP)

If PMI is your first line of medical defence, then Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, and Income Protection (LCIIP) are the financial armour that protects your entire world. They are designed specifically to neutralise the devastating indirect costs we outlined earlier. They cover your life, not just your treatment.

Critical Illness Cover (CIC): The Financial Breathing Space You Need

A Critical Illness policy is designed to pay out a tax-free lump sum on the diagnosis of a specified serious condition, with cancer being the single most common reason for claims.

Imagine receiving a cheque for £100,000, £250,000 or more shortly after your diagnosis. This isn't a replacement for your income; it's a financial shock absorber that gives you immediate power and choice.

What can the lump sum be used for?

  • Clear Debts: Instantly pay off your mortgage, car loans, and credit cards, drastically reducing your monthly outgoings.
  • Cover Lost Income: Allow a spouse or partner to take time off work to support you without financial penalty.
  • Fund Lifestyle Adjustments: Pay for childcare, a cleaner, or other help to reduce the strain on your family.
  • Modify Your Home: Install any necessary adaptations for your comfort and recovery.
  • Seek Second Opinions or Alternative Therapies: Use the funds to explore other treatment options, either in the UK or abroad.

The CIC payout provides immediate relief from financial pressure, allowing you to make decisions based on what's best for your health, not what your bank balance dictates.

Income Protection (IP): Your Monthly Salary When You Can't Work

Often described by financial experts as the most essential protection policy of all, Income Protection is the bedrock of any financial plan. It does exactly what the name suggests: it protects your income.

If a cancer diagnosis means you're unable to work for an extended period, an IP policy will pay you a regular, tax-free monthly income. This continues until you are well enough to return to work, reach retirement age, or the policy term ends—whichever comes first.

This is the policy that stops the financial tsunami before it starts.

  • The mortgage gets paid.
  • The bills are covered.
  • The weekly food shop is bought.
  • Pension and savings contributions can continue.

Your lifestyle is maintained, and your family's financial stability remains intact, no matter how long your recovery takes.

FeatureCritical Illness Cover (CIC)Income Protection (IP)
Payment TypeOne-off tax-free lump sumRegular tax-free monthly payments
PurposeImmediate capital for large costs/debtsReplaces lost monthly salary
Claim TriggerDiagnosis of a specific listed illnessInability to work due to any illness/injury
Coverage LengthOne-time payoutCan pay out for many years, even to retirement
Main BenefitProvides immediate financial breathing spaceProtects your long-term lifestyle

For comprehensive protection, you don't choose between them; you need both. CIC provides the immediate capital injection, while IP secures your vital monthly cash flow.

Life Insurance: The Ultimate Legacy Protection

Life Insurance provides the ultimate peace of mind. It pays out a tax-free lump sum to your loved ones if you pass away. In the context of a cancer diagnosis, it ensures that no matter the outcome of your treatment, your family's long-term financial future is secure.

The payout can ensure:

  • The mortgage is cleared in full.
  • Your children's education and university fees are provided for.
  • Your partner has the financial freedom to grieve without immediate financial worry.
  • A legacy is left for future generations.

It's the final, unbreakable wall of your financial fortress.

A United Front: How PMI and LCIIP Work Together in a Real-Life Scenario

Let's revisit our case study of Anna, the 42-year-old marketing director, but this time, imagine she had the foresight to put a comprehensive protection plan in place.

  1. The Diagnosis (Week 1): Anna finds a lump. Through her PMI policy, she sees a top breast cancer specialist the next day. An MRI and biopsy are done within 48 hours. A diagnosis is confirmed. A full treatment plan, including surgery with a leading consultant at a private hospital, is scheduled for the following week. The result: No agonising NHS wait. Immediate action and peace of mind.

  2. The Financial Response (Week 4): Her Critical Illness Cover policy, which she holds for £150,000, pays out the full tax-free lump sum. Anna and Tom immediately use £50,000 to clear their car loan and credit card debt. They put the remaining £100,000 into an accessible savings account. The result: Monthly outgoings are slashed, and they have a huge cash buffer. Financial stress evaporates.

  3. The Recovery Period (Month 4 onwards): Anna's company sick pay has run out. But her Income Protection policy kicks in after its 3-month deferment period. It starts paying her £4,200 per month (approx. 60% of her gross salary, tax-free). This income continues for the full year she is off work. The result: The family's income barely drops. The mortgage is paid, bills are met, and life continues with financial normality. Tom doesn't have to sacrifice his own business, and their savings and investments remain untouched, continuing to grow for their future.

  4. The Long-Term Security (Throughout): Throughout this entire ordeal, Anna and Tom know their Life Insurance policies are in place. This provides an incredible sense of underlying security, allowing them to focus completely on Anna's recovery, knowing their children's future is guaranteed, whatever happens.

In this scenario, the cancer diagnosis is still an emotional and physical challenge, but it is not a financial catastrophe. The family's wealth, home, and future are completely shielded. This is the power of a coordinated protection strategy.

The protection market is vast and complex. Policies, definitions, and pricing vary significantly between insurers like Aviva, Bupa, AXA, Vitality, Legal & General, and many others. Choosing the right cover is not a DIY task; expert guidance is crucial.

At WeCovr, we specialise in helping individuals and families navigate this complex landscape. Our role as expert independent brokers is to understand your unique circumstances, budget, and priorities. We then search and compare policies from across the entire UK market to find the most suitable and cost-effective cover for your specific needs. We do the complex work so you can make a clear, confident decision.

Key Considerations When Choosing Your Policies

  • Affordability vs. Adequacy: It's a balance. We help you find the highest level of cover you can comfortably afford. Under-insuring can be as bad as no insurance at all.
  • Policy Definitions: This is critical, especially for Critical Illness Cover. The list of conditions covered and the severity required for a payout can differ. We scrutinise the small print to ensure you're getting a quality contract.
  • Your Health and Lifestyle: Full and honest disclosure is paramount. We guide you through the application process to ensure your policy is 100% valid when you need it most.
  • Your Future Plans: The right amount of cover depends on your mortgage, your children's ages, your income, and your retirement goals. Your plan should be tailored to your life.

As part of our commitment to our clients' long-term wellbeing, we go beyond just finding the right policy. All WeCovr customers receive complimentary access to our proprietary AI-powered calorie tracking app, CalorieHero, because we believe proactive health management is a vital part of a secure future.

Common Questions and Misconceptions (FAQ)

Q: Isn't this all just too expensive? A: This is the most common misconception. A comprehensive protection portfolio for a healthy 40-year-old can often be secured for less than the cost of a daily coffee or a monthly mobile phone contract. When you weigh this modest monthly premium against the potential £2.5 million+ financial devastation of a cancer diagnosis, the value becomes incredibly clear. It's a question of affordability versus ruin.

Q: Can I get cover if I've had health issues or cancer in my family? A: In many cases, yes. It's crucial to speak to an adviser. Insurers will assess your personal and family medical history. This might result in a higher premium or an exclusion for a specific condition, but you can still get valuable cover for a vast range of other illnesses. An expert broker can help you find the insurer most sympathetic to your history.

Q: My employer gives me cover, so I'm fine, right? A: Employer-provided cover is a great benefit, but it's rarely sufficient. It's often a basic level of cover (e.g., 'death in service' of 2-4x salary) and critically, it ceases the moment you leave your job. Your personal policies belong to you, regardless of your employment status, providing a permanent safety net.

Q: How much cover do I actually need? A: A good rule of thumb is:

  • Life Insurance: Enough to clear your mortgage and any other large debts, plus a lump sum to provide for your family's future (e.g., 10x your annual salary).
  • Critical Illness Cover: Enough to cover 1-2 years of your net salary, allowing you to focus on recovery without financial stress.
  • Income Protection: Cover 50-65% of your gross monthly income, which is typically the maximum an insurer will offer. This is usually tax-free, so it equates to a higher proportion of your take-home pay.

Taking Control: Your Future is Not a Matter of Chance, But of Choice

The statistics are undeniable. The risk is real. The potential financial fallout from a cancer diagnosis is catastrophic, capable of dismantling a family's financial security in a matter of months.

But you do not have to be a passive participant in this story. You have the power to act, to plan, and to build a fortress so strong that it can withstand life's most formidable challenges. Private Medical Insurance, combined with a robust shield of Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection cover, is the blueprint for that fortress.

It transforms a potential financial disaster into a manageable life event. It replaces fear with security, uncertainty with control, and anxiety with peace of mind.

Don't leave the financial security you've worked so hard to build to chance. The team at WeCovr is ready to provide a no-obligation review of your protection needs. Take the first, most important step today towards securing your health, your wealth, and your family's future.


Why life insurance and how does it work?

What is Life Insurance?

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

How does it work?

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

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

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

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

Questions to ask yourself regarding life insurance

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

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

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

Benefits offered by income protection, life and critical illness insurance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Types of life insurance policies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Important Fact!

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

Why is it important to get life insurance early?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Any questions?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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