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UK Healthspan Crisis The Sickness Burden

UK Healthspan Crisis The Sickness Burden 2026

UK 2025 New Projections Reveal Britons Face Years of Debilitating Chronic Illness Before Retirement, Fueling a Staggering £5 Million+ Lifetime Economic Drain & Eroding Family Legacies – Is Your LCIIP & PMI Shield Your Undeniable Protection Against The UK's Widening Health-Wealth Gap

The United Kingdom is facing a silent, creeping crisis. It’s not on the front page of every newspaper, but it affects every single one of us, our families, and our financial futures. While our lifespans are increasing, our healthspans—the number of years we live in good health—are stagnating, and in some cases, declining.

New projections for 2025 paint a stark picture: millions of Britons are set to spend nearly two decades of their adult life battling chronic, debilitating illnesses before they even reach state pension age. This isn't just a health tragedy; it's an economic catastrophe in the making. The sickness burden is creating a staggering financial drain that can exceed £5 million over a lifetime for a mid-career professional, systematically dismantling savings, destroying family legacies, and widening the chasm between the healthy and wealthy and the sick and struggling.

In this definitive guide, we will unpack the scale of the UK's healthspan crisis, quantify the devastating financial impact, and reveal why a robust, personal shield of Life and Critical Illness Insurance, Income Protection (LCIIP), and Private Medical Insurance (PMI) is no longer a luxury, but an absolute necessity for securing your financial wellbeing and protecting your family's future.

The Stark Reality: Unpacking the UK's 2025 Healthspan Projections

For decades, the narrative has been one of progress: we are living longer than ever before. But this headline figure masks a more troubling truth. The gap between lifespan and healthspan is widening into a chasm.

According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which informs our 2025 projections, a male born in the UK today can expect to live around 79 years. A female can expect to live to 83. However, their healthy life expectancy—the number of years lived in "good" health—is dramatically lower.

  • For men: A shocking 16.6 years of their life, on average, will be spent in a state of "poor" health.
  • For women: This figure is even higher, at 20.3 years spent in poor health.

This means that for many, the final quarter of their life will be defined not by a vibrant, active retirement, but by managing long-term health conditions. The years we imagine spending on hobbies, travel, and with grandchildren are increasingly being spent in waiting rooms, managing medication, and coping with pain and limited mobility.

What's Driving the Sickness Burden?

The decline in our national healthspan isn't caused by a single factor, but by a rising tide of chronic conditions. These are the long-term illnesses that erode quality of life and working capacity:

  1. Musculoskeletal Conditions: Back pain, arthritis, and other joint issues are the leading cause of work disability in the UK. They make physical jobs impossible and office work excruciating.
  2. Mental Health Disorders: Anxiety, depression, and stress are at epidemic levels, accounting for over half of all work days lost to ill health.
  3. Cardiovascular Diseases: Heart attacks, strokes, and related conditions remain a major cause of premature death and long-term disability.
  4. Cancer: While survival rates are improving, a cancer diagnosis and its treatment can mean months, if not years, out of the workforce, with lingering side effects.
  5. Metabolic Syndromes: Conditions like Type 2 diabetes are soaring, bringing a host of debilitating complications that affect everything from eyesight to mobility.

UK Lifespan vs. Healthspan at a Glance

The numbers speak for themselves. The table below, based on the latest ONS health state life expectancies data(ons.gov.uk), illustrates the profound gap we all face.

MetricUK MaleUK Female
Average Life Expectancy79.0 years82.9 years
Healthy Life Expectancy62.4 years62.7 years
Years in "Poor" Health16.6 years20.2 years
% of Life in "Poor" Health21%24%

This isn't a problem for "other people." This is a statistical reality for everyone in the UK. The question is no longer if you or a loved one will be affected by a long-term illness, but when—and whether you are financially prepared for it.

The £5 Million+ Economic Drain: How Chronic Illness Cripples Your Financial Future

The personal cost of chronic illness is immense, but the financial fallout is equally catastrophic. The £5 million figure might seem unbelievable, but when you dissect the lifetime financial impact on a 40-year-old professional earning £80,000 per year who is forced to stop working due to a serious illness like Multiple Sclerosis or severe arthritis, the numbers quickly become terrifying.

Let's break down how a long-term illness can trigger a multi-million-pound financial collapse.

1. Direct Loss of Earnings

This is the most immediate and significant blow. If a 40-year-old earning £80,000 has to stop work completely, the loss of income until a planned retirement at 67 is immense.

  • Calculation: £80,000 p.a. x 27 years = £2,160,000 in lost gross salary.

2. Annihilation of Pension Savings

A career cut short means an abrupt halt to pension contributions—from both you and your employer. This doesn't just stop future growth; it decimates the power of compound interest.

  • Calculation: A typical 10% pension contribution (£8,000 p.a.) over 27 years, with modest market growth, could easily result in a lost pension pot of £750,000 - £1,000,000+.

3. The Spiralling Cost of Private Care & Treatment

While the NHS is a national treasure, it does not cover everything. The costs of private healthcare, modifications, and ongoing care are substantial.

  • Home Modifications: Ramps, stairlifts, and accessible bathrooms can cost £20,000 - £50,000.
  • Specialist Equipment: A high-end mobility scooter or specialised wheelchair can be £5,000 - £15,000.
  • Private Care: If you need daily assistance, the costs are staggering. Even a few hours of care per day can amount to over £20,000 per year. Over a 20-year period, this can exceed £400,000.
  • Alternative Therapies: Physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, or specialist consultations not readily available on the NHS can add up to thousands per year.

4. The "Carer Drain": The Hidden Cost to Your Family

Often, a spouse or adult child is forced to reduce their own working hours or quit their job entirely to become a carer. The financial impact is twofold: their lost income and the strain it places on their own financial future. This can easily represent another £500,000 - £1,000,000 in lost family earnings and pension growth over two decades.

The Lifetime Financial Impact of Chronic Illness: A Hypothetical Case

Financial Impact AreaEstimated Lifetime CostDescription
Lost Gross Earnings£2,160,000For a 40-year-old earning £80k, unable to work until 67.
Lost Pension Value£1,000,000Loss of personal/employer contributions & compound growth.
Private Medical & Care Costs£500,000Includes home care, modifications, and specialist equipment over 20 years.
Family Carer Income Loss£750,000A spouse reducing hours or stopping work to provide care.
Depletion of Savings£250,000Using existing savings/investments to bridge the gap.
Total Estimated Drain£4,660,000+A conservative estimate of the total financial devastation.

This multi-million-pound drain doesn't just affect your lifestyle; it erodes your entire financial foundation. It means your mortgage may be at risk, your children's financial support (like university fees or a house deposit) vanishes, and any inheritance you hoped to leave is consumed by the costs of being unwell. This is the brutal reality of the UK's health-wealth gap.

Why the State Can't Be Your Only Safety Net

A common misconception is that in a time of crisis, the welfare state and the NHS will provide an adequate safety net. Unfortunately, for most middle-income families, this is a dangerously flawed assumption. The state's support system is designed to prevent destitution, not to maintain your standard of living.

The NHS Waiting Game

The NHS provides excellent emergency care, but for diagnostics, specialist consultations, and non-urgent (yet life-altering) surgery, the system is under unprecedented strain. As of mid-2024, the NHS referral to treatment (RTT) waiting list in England stood at a staggering 7.57 million treatments.

This isn't just a number. It represents months, or even years, of waiting in pain and uncertainty. A delay in diagnosing a condition can lead to poorer outcomes. A long wait for a hip replacement means a prolonged period of being unable to work and live a normal life. Accessing private medical care is often the only way to get a swift diagnosis and treatment plan, but it comes at a significant cost.

The Reality of State Benefits

The financial support offered by the state is minimal and falls far short of what's needed to cover the outgoings of a typical family.

  • Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): This is the first line of defence, but it's incredibly limited. The 2024/25 rate is just £116.75 per week, and it's only paid by your employer for a maximum of 28 weeks. After that, it stops.
  • Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) / Universal Credit: Once SSP runs out, you may be eligible for these benefits. However, the assessment process is rigorous, and the maximum amounts are designed for subsistence living, not covering a mortgage, bills, and family costs. The standard allowance for a couple on Universal Credit is around £617 per month.

State Support vs. Average UK Household Costs

Support / CostApproximate Monthly AmountDoes it Cover Family Needs?
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)£505No. Barely covers food for one person.
Universal Credit (Couple)£617No. Falls far short of average rent/mortgage payments.
Average UK Rent£1,279Not even close.
Average UK Mortgage£1,100+Significant shortfall.
Average Monthly Bills£500+Energy, council tax, water, internet etc.

Relying on the state is not a financial plan; it's a fast track to financial hardship. The gap between state support and your actual needs is a chasm that can only be bridged with private protection.

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Your Financial Armour: A Deep Dive into LCIIP & PMI

Facing this health-wealth crisis requires a proactive defence. You wouldn't drive a car without insurance or own a home without cover. Your ability to earn an income and maintain your health is your single most valuable asset, and it requires its own specialised armour. This is where a comprehensive LCIIP & PMI strategy comes in.

LCIIP isn't a single product, but a strategic combination of policies designed to protect you from every angle of a health crisis.

1. Life Insurance: Securing Your Legacy

Life insurance is the foundation of financial protection. It pays out a lump sum or a regular income upon your death. This ensures that even if the worst happens, your family is not left with a financial burden.

  • What it does: Clears your mortgage and other debts, provides a fund for your children's future, and covers funeral costs.
  • A specialist form: Family Income Benefit (FIB): Instead of a single lump sum, this pays out a regular, tax-free monthly income until the end of the policy term. It's an excellent way to replace your lost salary for your family, making budgeting simple and secure.
  • For Inheritance Tax: Gift Inter Vivos Insurance: If you've gifted assets (like a property or cash) to your loved ones, they could face a hefty Inheritance Tax (IHT) bill if you pass away within seven years. A Gift Inter Vivos policy is a specific type of life insurance designed to pay out and cover that exact tax liability, ensuring your gift is received in full.

2. Critical Illness Cover (CIC): Your Financial First Responder

Critical Illness Cover pays out a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of a list of specific, serious conditions defined in the policy (e.g., heart attack, stroke, most cancers, multiple sclerosis).

  • What it does: This money gives you immediate financial breathing room. You can use it to pay off your mortgage, cover private treatment costs, adapt your home, or simply replace lost income while you focus 100% on your recovery, free from financial stress. It’s the financial firepower you need the moment your health crisis hits.

3. Income Protection (IP): Your Monthly Salary Safeguard

Often considered the most crucial part of any working person's financial plan, Income Protection is the policy that pays you a regular, tax-free monthly income if you're unable to work due to any illness or injury.

  • What it does: It replaces a significant portion of your lost salary (typically 50-70%) and can pay out until you recover, retire, or the policy term ends—whichever comes first. Unlike SSP which lasts 28 weeks, a good IP policy can protect you for years, or even decades. It’s the policy that keeps the household running month after month.
  • For Tradespeople and High-Risk Jobs: For electricians, plumbers, nurses, and other hands-on professionals, IP is non-negotiable. It's often referred to as Personal Sick Pay, and it's the only thing that stands between a physical injury and financial disaster.

4. Private Medical Insurance (PMI): Your Health Fast-Track

PMI is your key to bypassing the NHS waiting lists for eligible conditions. It gives you access to prompt private diagnosis, specialist consultations, and treatment at a time and place of your choosing.

  • What it does: In the context of the healthspan crisis, PMI's value is clear. Faster diagnosis and treatment can lead to better long-term health outcomes, reducing the time you spend in pain and away from work. It directly shrinks the period of ill health, boosting your personal healthspan and getting you back on your feet faster.

Together, these four pillars—Life, Critical Illness, Income Protection, and PMI—form an impenetrable shield, protecting you from both the health and the wealth consequences of the UK's sickness burden.

Building Your Shield: A Practical Guide to Protection Planning

Understanding the need for protection is the first step. Building the right plan is the next. Here’s how you can create a shield that’s tailored to your unique circumstances.

Step 1: Conduct a Financial Health Check Before you can protect your finances, you need to understand them. Tally up:

  • Your Monthly Outgoings: Mortgage/rent, council tax, utilities, food, transport, childcare.
  • Your Debts: Car loans, credit cards, personal loans.
  • Your Dependents: Who relies on your income? Your spouse, your children?
  • Your Existing Cover: Check what, if any, sick pay your employer offers and for how long. Review any existing policies.

Step 2: Understand the Key Levers of a Policy When structuring a plan, particularly for Income Protection, you'll need to consider:

  • The Deferred Period: This is the waiting period from when you stop work to when the policy starts paying out. It can range from 4 weeks to 52 weeks. The longer the deferred period, the lower the premium. Aligning this with your employer's sick pay scheme is a smart way to save money.
  • The Level of Cover: How much income do you need to replace each month?
  • The Policy Term: How long do you want the cover to last? Typically, until your planned retirement age (e.g., 67).

Step 3: Don't Go It Alone - Speak to an Expert The protection insurance market is complex. Dozens of insurers offer hundreds of products, each with different definitions, terms, and claim philosophies. Trying to navigate this alone is overwhelming and risky.

This is where an independent broker like WeCovr is invaluable. Our role is to be your expert guide. We work for you, not the insurer. We take the time to understand your needs from Step 1 and then search the entire market—from major providers like Aviva, Legal & General, Zurich, and Vitality—to find the policy that offers the most robust protection for your budget. We handle the paperwork and ensure you get the right cover in place, without the jargon and confusion.

Step 4: Review and Adapt Regularly Your protection needs are not static. A new baby, a bigger mortgage, a promotion, or becoming self-employed are all life events that should trigger a review of your cover to ensure your financial shield remains fit for purpose.

Case Studies: Real-Life Scenarios of Protection in Action

Theory is one thing, but seeing protection in action illustrates its true power.

Case Study 1: The Young Family

  • Scenario: Sarah, a 38-year-old marketing manager and mother of two, is diagnosed with breast cancer.
  • Without Protection: The family would rely on her husband's income and her 6 months of full sick pay, followed by SSP. They would face immense stress, potentially having to remortgage their home to cover costs during her year-long treatment and recovery.
  • With Protection: Her Critical Illness Cover pays out a £150,000 lump sum. They immediately use it to clear their credit card debt and car loan, and put aside £100,000. Her Income Protection policy kicks in after her work sick pay ends, paying her £2,500 tax-free each month. The financial pressure is gone. Sarah can focus solely on her health, knowing her family's finances are secure.

Case Study 2: The Self-Employed Electrician

  • Scenario: Mark, a 45-year-old self-employed electrician, falls from a ladder and suffers a severe spinal injury, leaving him unable to work for at least two years.
  • Without Protection: As a sole trader, Mark has no sick pay. His income stops instantly. Within months, his savings are gone, and he faces losing his home and his business.
  • With Protection: Mark’s Income Protection policy (his 'Personal Sick Pay') had a 4-week deferred period. From week 5, it started paying him £3,000 a month. This income covers his mortgage and bills, allowing him to attend physiotherapy and focus on rehabilitation without the terror of financial ruin. His policy saved his family's home.

Case Study 3: The Inheritance Planner

  • Scenario: David and Susan, both 65, gift a second property worth £400,000 to their son to help him get on the property ladder.
  • The Risk: If either of them were to die within 7 years, their son would face an Inheritance Tax bill of up to £160,000 on the gift.
  • The Solution: They took out a Gift Inter Vivos life insurance policy for a seven-year term. The policy is specifically designed to pay out a lump sum that will cover the potential IHT liability, ensuring their son receives the full value of their generous gift, no matter what happens.

Beyond the Policy: Proactive Steps to Boost Your Healthspan

Financial protection is your shield, but improving your health is your sword. Taking proactive steps to manage your health can significantly increase your healthspan and reduce your risk of chronic illness.

Simple lifestyle changes can have a profound impact:

  • Balanced Nutrition: A diet rich in whole foods, fruits, and vegetables is fundamental to good health.
  • Regular Physical Activity: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.
  • Stress Management: Techniques like mindfulness, yoga, and ensuring adequate sleep can mitigate the harmful effects of chronic stress.
  • Regular Health Checks: Don't ignore symptoms. Engage with your GP and attend routine screenings.

At WeCovr, we believe in a holistic approach to wellbeing. We don't just want to protect you when things go wrong; we want to empower you to live a healthier life today. That's why, in addition to finding you the most robust financial protection, we also provide our clients with complimentary access to our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracker, CalorieHero. This powerful tool helps you take control of your diet and make informed choices, forming a key part of your personal healthspan strategy.

Your Health is Your Wealth: Don't Leave it to Chance

The UK's healthspan crisis is real, and its economic consequences are devastating. The gap between living a long life and living a healthy life is widening, and the financial drain caused by years of chronic illness can dismantle a lifetime of hard work, savings, and aspiration.

Relying on luck or a strained state system is a gamble you cannot afford to take. The only way to truly secure your family's future against the sickness burden is to build your own personal financial fortress. A comprehensive strategy combining Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, Income Protection, and Private Medical Insurance is the undeniable shield against the UK's widening health-wealth gap.

Taking action today is an investment in your peace of mind and your family's security. It ensures that if your health fails, your finances won't.

Let us at WeCovr help you navigate the complexities of the protection market. Our expert advisors are ready to help you assess your needs, compare plans from all the UK's leading insurers, and build a tailored shield that protects the life you've worked so hard to create. Don't wait for a crisis to reveal the cracks in your financial foundation. Secure your future today.


Related guides

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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