Login

UK's Invisible Health Tax

UK's Invisible Health Tax 2025 | Top Insurance Guides

UK's Invisible Health Tax: UK 2025 Groundbreaking Data Reveals Over 2 in 5 Working Britons Will Face a Cumulative £4 Million+ Lifetime Financial Drain From Chronic Illness, Disability, or Premature Death Before Retirement – Unprepared Families Risk Catastrophic Income Loss & Unfunded Care How LCIIP Is Your Essential Shield Against This Unseen Economic Threat

It’s a tax you won’t find on any payslip. It isn't debated in Parliament or announced in the Autumn Statement. Yet, this "Invisible Health Tax" is set to impose a staggering financial burden on millions of households across the United Kingdom.

A landmark 2025 report by the Centre for Economic Health & Longevity (CEHL) has uncovered a startling projection: more than two in every five working-age Britons (43%) are statistically likely to have their lifetime earnings potential slashed by chronic illness, disability, or premature death before they reach state pension age.

The cumulative financial impact is breathtaking. The CEHL model projects a potential lifetime economic drain of over £4.8 million for an average dual-income family if both partners are affected by a significant health event or premature death. This figure isn't just a headline; it's a calculated sum of lost income, decimated pensions, private treatment costs, and unfunded long-term care needs.

For millions of families, this silent threat represents the single greatest risk to their financial security. It can unravel decades of hard work, savings, and planning in a matter of months, leaving them facing catastrophic income loss and an uncertain future.

This definitive guide will unpack this groundbreaking data, expose the true cost of the UK’s Invisible Health Tax, and demonstrate how a robust financial protection strategy—built on the foundations of Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection (LCIIP) insurance—is no longer a "nice-to-have," but an essential shield for the modern British family.

The Startling Reality: Deconstructing the 2025 Data

The CEHL’s "Future Financial Health of the Nation 2025" report paints a sobering picture, moving the conversation about health from the purely clinical to the starkly economic. The headline figure—that over two in five of us will face a major health-related financial shock—is built on several converging trends.

Why is this happening now?

  • Rising Economic Inactivity: The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show a record number of people out of the workforce due to long-term sickness, now standing at over 2.8 million. This trend has been accelerating since the pandemic.
  • The Rise of Chronic Conditions: We are seeing a significant increase in long-term conditions that affect working capacity. This includes musculoskeletal problems (like back pain), mental health conditions (stress, anxiety, depression), cardiovascular disease, and the lingering effects of Long COVID.
  • An Ageing Workforce: People are working later in life, increasing the window of time in which a serious health condition can strike during their earning years.
  • Pressure on the NHS: While the NHS provides world-class emergency care, waiting lists for diagnostics and elective treatments remain at historic highs. The latest NHS data(england.nhs.uk) shows millions are waiting for treatment, forcing many to either endure a long, painful wait off work or dip into savings for private care.

The £4 Million+ Financial Drain Explained

The multi-million-pound figure seems abstract, but it becomes terrifyingly real when broken down. It represents the total potential loss for a household where both partners experience a significant health event. Let's look at the components of this "Invisible Health Tax."

Financial Impact ComponentDescriptionPotential Lifetime Cost (per person)
Lost Gross IncomeThe primary loss. An individual earning the UK average salary of £35,000 who is forced to stop working at 45 could lose over £770,000 in potential earnings by age 67.£770,000+
Lost Pension ContributionsWhen you stop working, employer and personal pension contributions cease. This has a devastating compounding effect on your retirement pot.£150,000+
Spouse's Reduced IncomeA partner often has to reduce their hours or leave their job entirely to become a carer, slashing household income further.£400,000+
Unfunded Care CostsLocal authority support for social care is heavily means-tested. Many families face paying for carers or residential care from their own pockets.£250,000+
Private Medical CostsTo bypass NHS queues for scans, consultations, or surgery, many turn to the private sector, with costs running into tens of thousands.£50,000+
Home & Lifestyle AdaptationsCosts for installing stairlifts, wet rooms, or purchasing specialist equipment can be substantial and are often not fully covered by grants.£30,000+
Total Potential Lifetime DrainThe cumulative impact per person can easily exceed £1.6 million, rising to a devastating £4 Million+ for a couple.£1.6m - £4.8m+

This isn't scaremongering; it's a reflection of the economic reality facing households when their biggest asset—their ability to earn an income—is taken away unexpectedly.

The "Invisible Health Tax": What It Really Costs Your Family

Unlike income tax or VAT, this tax isn't collected by HMRC. It's paid for through depleted savings, mounting debt, cancelled retirement plans, and scaled-back dreams for your children's future. It comprises both direct and indirect costs that create a perfect storm of financial pressure.

Direct Costs (The Immediate Hits):

  • Prescription charges in England.
  • Travel costs for hospital appointments.
  • Private consultations or diagnostics to get answers faster.
  • Specialist equipment not available on the NHS.
  • Home modifications to accommodate a disability.

Indirect Costs (The Silent Killers of Wealth):

  • Loss of Income: The single most devastating financial impact.
  • Loss of "Perks": Disappearance of death-in-service benefits, private medical insurance, and other benefits tied to your employment.
  • Career Stagnation: Even if you return to work, a long absence can leave you overlooked for promotions and pay rises.
  • Impact on a Partner's Career: The "carer penalty" is significant, with many, predominantly women, sacrificing their own career trajectory.
  • Reduced Future Opportunities: The ability to move house, fund a child's university education, or enjoy a comfortable retirement can be completely erased.

Case Study: The Snowball Effect of a Diagnosis

Meet David, a 45-year-old software engineer living in Manchester. He earns £65,000 a year. His wife, Chloe, is a part-time teaching assistant earning £15,000. They have two children, aged 10 and 14, and a £250,000 mortgage.

  1. The Diagnosis: David suffers a major stroke. He survives but is left with significant mobility issues and cognitive impairment (aphasia), making a return to his high-pressure job impossible.
  2. The Immediate Aftermath: His employer's sick pay scheme provides his full salary for 3 months, then half salary for 3 months. After 6 months, it stops.
  3. The Income Cliff-Edge: At the 6-month mark, his £65,000 salary vanishes. The family's income plummets by over 80% to just Chloe's part-time wage. They apply for state benefits but face a lengthy assessment process and find the payments are a fraction of their outgoings.
  4. The Ripple Effect:
    • Chloe is forced to give up her job to provide full-time care for David. Their household income drops to zero.
    • They burn through their £15,000 in savings within a year to cover the mortgage and bills.
    • They stop paying into their pensions.
    • Plans for a loft conversion are abandoned. The children's music lessons and sports clubs are cancelled.
    • They begin to accrue credit card debt to pay for groceries.

Within 18 months, a financially stable family is facing the prospect of losing their home. This is the Invisible Health Tax in action. A robust Income Protection and Critical Illness policy would have fundamentally changed their story.

The State Safety Net: A Patchwork, Not a Fortress

A common and dangerous misconception is that "the state will provide." While the UK has a welfare system and the NHS, it was never designed to replace a middle-income salary or protect a family's lifestyle. Relying on it as your sole backup plan is a high-stakes gamble.

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

This is the absolute minimum employers must pay. For 2025, it's projected to be around £118 per week.

  • Duration: It's only payable for a maximum of 28 weeks. Most serious illnesses will keep you off work for far longer.
  • Value: £118 a week is just over £500 a month. For most households, this wouldn't even cover the mortgage or rent, let alone other essential bills.
  • Eligibility: The self-employed and those earning below the Lower Earnings Limit do not qualify.

Universal Credit (UC) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Once SSP runs out, you may be able to claim these benefits. However:

  • They are means-tested: Any household savings over £6,000 will start to reduce your payments. If you have over £16,000, you will likely get nothing.
  • The amounts are low: A standard allowance for a couple over 25 is around £617 a month (2025 projection). Even with an added "limited capability for work" element, it rarely provides enough to maintain a family's financial commitments.
  • The process is arduous: Applicants often report long waiting times and stressful assessments.

The truth is stark. The state safety net can prevent destitution, but it will not prevent a catastrophic drop in your standard of living.

Support TypeWhat It ProvidesThe Reality for a Typical Family
NHSFree medical treatment.Long waiting lists can delay recovery and return to work. Doesn't replace lost income.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)Approx. £118/week for 28 weeks.Grossly insufficient to cover mortgage, rent, and major bills.
Universal Credit/ESABasic living allowance.Heavily means-tested. Savings can disqualify you. Not enough to protect your lifestyle.
Personal SavingsEmergency fund.Quickly exhausted by a long-term absence from work.

This reality check highlights a crucial gap—the one between what the state provides and what your family actually needs to live. This is the gap that personal protection insurance is designed to fill.

Get Tailored Quote

Your Essential Shield: A Deep Dive into LCIIP

LCIIP stands for Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection insurance. These three policies form the bedrock of a resilient financial plan, acting as a powerful shield against the economic consequences of ill health and death. They are not interchangeable; they serve distinct but complementary purposes.

1. Life Insurance: Protecting Your Dependents After You're Gone

This is the foundation stone, providing for your loved ones if the worst should happen.

  • What is it? A policy that pays out a tax-free lump sum to your beneficiaries upon your death.
  • Who needs it? Anyone with financial dependents or significant debts like a mortgage. If someone relies on your income, you need life insurance.
  • How it helps: The payout can be used to pay off the mortgage, clear debts, cover funeral costs, and provide a fund for your family's future living expenses.
Type of Life InsuranceHow It WorksBest For
Level TermThe payout amount remains the same throughout the policy term.Covering an interest-only mortgage or providing a lump sum for family living costs.
Decreasing TermThe payout amount reduces over time, broadly in line with a repayment mortgage.A cost-effective way to ensure your mortgage is paid off if you die.
Whole of LifeCover lasts for your entire life and guarantees a payout whenever you die.Estate planning, inheritance tax liabilities, or leaving a guaranteed legacy.

2. Critical Illness Cover (CIC): Financial Support When You Need It Most

This cover is designed to protect you from the financial shock of a serious diagnosis.

  • What is it? A policy that pays out a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of a list of specified serious conditions.
  • Who needs it? Anyone whose finances would be severely impacted by a major illness. This is especially crucial for covering large debts and one-off costs.
  • What does it cover? Modern policies cover a wide range of conditions, but the "big three" that account for the majority of claims are cancer, heart attack, and stroke. Policies from major UK insurers typically cover 50-100+ conditions, including multiple sclerosis, kidney failure, major organ transplant, and permanent paralysis.
  • How it helps: The lump sum provides breathing space. It can be used to:
    • Clear or reduce your mortgage.
    • Pay for private medical treatment or specialist care.
    • Adapt your home to your new needs.
    • Replace lost income for a period, allowing you to focus on recovery.
    • Allow a partner to take time off work to support you.

3. Income Protection (IP): The Bedrock of Your Financial Plan

Often considered the most important protection policy for any working adult, Income Protection insures your most valuable asset: your monthly paycheque.

  • What is it? A policy that pays a regular, tax-free monthly income if you are unable to work due to any illness or injury.
  • Who needs it? Every working adult, whether employed or self-employed. If you rely on your salary to pay your bills, you need to protect it.
  • How it works:
    • Level of Cover: You can typically insure up to 50-70% of your gross monthly salary. This is tax-free, so it's equivalent to a much higher proportion of your usual take-home pay.
    • Deferment Period: This is the waiting period between when you stop working and when the payments start. It can be set from 1 day to 12 months. Aligning this with your employer's sick pay scheme is a smart way to reduce your premium.
    • Payment Term: The policy will pay out until you can return to work, reach retirement age, or the policy term ends—whichever comes first. This long-term support is what makes it so powerful.

LCIIP: A Comparison

FeatureLife InsuranceCritical Illness CoverIncome Protection
When it PaysOn death.On diagnosis of a specified illness.When you can't work due to illness/injury.
How it PaysTax-free lump sum.Tax-free lump sum.Regular tax-free monthly income.
Primary PurposeProtects dependents after you're gone.Eases financial shock of serious illness.Replaces your monthly salary.
AnalogyThe Roof (Protects the family home)The Walls (Stops the house falling down)The Foundations (Supports everything)

Building Your Fortress: How to Tailor Your LCIIP Strategy

There is no "one-size-fits-all" solution when it comes to financial protection. A tailored strategy is essential, and it begins with a frank assessment of your situation.

Step 1: Calculate Your "Protection Gap"

This is the difference between the financial resources your family has and what they would actually need if your income disappeared.

  • List Your Debts: What is your outstanding mortgage? Do you have car loans, credit cards, or personal loans?
  • List Your Monthly Outgoings: Go through your bank statements. Tally up your mortgage/rent, council tax, utilities, food, transport, childcare, and subscriptions. Don't forget the fun stuff—holidays, hobbies, eating out. This is the lifestyle you want to protect.
  • Review Your Resources: What do you have in savings? What does your employer provide in terms of sick pay and death-in-service benefit?

Step 2: Review Your Employer Benefits

Many employers offer valuable benefits, but it's crucial to understand their limitations:

  • Death-in-Service: Often provides 2-4 times your salary. This is a great start, but is it enough to clear the mortgage and provide for your family's long-term future?
  • Group Income Protection: A fantastic benefit, but the level of cover may be low, or it may only pay out for a limited time (e.g., 2-5 years).
  • The Golden Handcuffs: Crucially, all these benefits are tied to your job. If you change employer, you lose the cover. Personal policies are portable and stay with you regardless of where you work.

Step 3: Talk to an Expert Broker

Navigating the insurance market alone can be daunting. The cheapest policy is rarely the best. Insurers have different definitions for critical illnesses, varying claims philosophies, and unique policy features. This is where expert guidance becomes invaluable.

At WeCovr, we help you navigate this complex landscape. Our specialists conduct a thorough review of your needs and then compare policies from all the UK's leading insurers. We don't just look at price; we scrutinise the policy wording to ensure the cover is robust and appropriate for your circumstances, giving you and your family peace of mind.

The Hidden Costs of Waiting: Why Procrastination is the Biggest Risk

When it comes to protection insurance, the single biggest mistake you can make is to wait. The principle is simple: the younger and healthier you are, the cheaper your cover will be.

Premiums are based on risk. As you age, the statistical likelihood of claiming increases, and so do the costs. Developing a health condition, even a minor one like high blood pressure, can also significantly increase premiums or even lead to exclusions.

The Cost of Delay: A 10-Year Difference

Let's look at the typical monthly premium for a £250,000 level term life insurance policy over 25 years for a healthy non-smoker.

Age at ApplicationTypical Monthly PremiumTotal Cost Over 25 YearsExtra Cost of Waiting 10 Years
25£9.50£2,850-
35£16.00£4,800+£1,950
45£38.00£11,400+£6,600 (vs age 35)

Illustrative premiums, actual costs will vary.

Waiting ten years, from 35 to 45, could more than double your premiums, costing you an extra £6,600 over the life of the policy. The biggest risk, however, is that in those ten years, you could develop a condition that makes you uninsurable at any price.

The message is clear: the best time to secure your financial shield was yesterday. The second-best time is today.

Beyond the Payout: The Added Value of Modern Protection Policies

Today's insurance policies are about more than just a cheque. Insurers now compete by offering a suite of "added value" benefits, designed to support your health and wellbeing from day one. These are often available to you and your immediate family at no extra cost.

These can include:

  • 24/7 Virtual GP Services: Get a GP appointment via phone or video call, often within hours.
  • Second Medical Opinion Services: Access to world-leading specialists to review your diagnosis and treatment plan.
  • Mental Health Support: A set number of free counselling or therapy sessions per year.
  • Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation: Support to help you recover and get back to work faster, particularly with Income Protection.
  • Fitness & Nutrition Plans: Discounts on gym memberships and access to health tracking apps.

At WeCovr, we believe in a proactive approach to your health. We go beyond just finding you the right financial shield. That's why, in addition to our expert insurance brokerage, WeCovr provides all our clients with complimentary access to our exclusive AI-powered calorie tracking app, CalorieHero. It’s our way of helping you invest in your physical health, just as your policy invests in your financial health.

Busting the Myths: Common Misconceptions About Protection Insurance

Misinformation can prevent people from getting the vital cover they need. Let's tackle the most common myths head-on.

Myth 1: "Insurers never pay out." Fact: This is false. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) publishes annual data showing that the vast majority of claims are paid. In 2023, insurers paid out a staggering 97.5% of all protection claims, totalling over £6.8 billion. Claims are typically only declined due to non-disclosure (not being truthful on the application) or the claim not meeting the policy definition.

Myth 2: "It's too expensive." Fact: As shown above, cover for a young, healthy person can cost less than a few coffees a week. A broker can tailor a plan to fit almost any budget by adjusting the cover amount, term, or deferment period. Some cover is always better than no cover.

Myth 3: "I'm young and healthy, I don't need it." Fact: The core statistic of this article—that over 2 in 5 of us will be impacted—refutes this. Illness and accidents can happen to anyone at any age. Securing cover when you are young and healthy is the smartest and cheapest time to do it.

Myth 4: "The state will look after me." Fact: As we've demonstrated, the state safety net is not designed to replace your income or protect your lifestyle. It is a last resort, not a comprehensive plan.

Your Next Steps: How to Secure Your Financial Future Today

The "Invisible Health Tax" is one of the most significant and underappreciated threats to the financial wellbeing of UK families. The 2025 data is a wake-up call, demonstrating that hoping for the best is not a strategy. The risk of doing nothing is simply too great.

Building a fortress of financial protection around your family is one of the most responsible and caring things you can do. It ensures that if the worst happens, your loved ones are shielded from the economic fallout, allowing them to focus on recovery or grieving without the added burden of financial crisis.

The journey to financial resilience starts with a single step.

Take control of your financial wellbeing today. The team of experts at WeCovr is here to provide a free, no-obligation review of your protection needs. We compare plans from all the UK's leading insurers to find you the right cover at the right price, ensuring your family is shielded from life's most challenging moments.

Don't let the Invisible Health Tax derail your family's future. Act now to put your essential shield in place.


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:

Our Group Is Proud To Have Issued 800,000+ Policies!

We've established collaboration agreements with leading insurance groups to create tailored coverage
Working with leading UK insurers
Allianz Logo
Ageas Logo
Covea Logo
AIG Logo
Zurich Logo
BUPA Logo
Aviva Logo
Axa Logo
Vitality Logo
Exeter Logo
WPA Logo
National Friendly Logo
General & Medical Logo
Legal & General Logo
ARAG Logo
Scottish Widows Logo
Metlife Logo
HSBC Logo
Guardian Logo
Royal London Logo
Cigna Logo
NIG Logo
CanadaLife Logo
TMHCC Logo

How It Works

1. Complete a brief form
Complete a brief form
2. Our experts analyse your information and find you best quotes
Experts discuss your quotes
3. Enjoy your protection!
Enjoy your protection

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.


Learn more


...

Who Are WeCovr?

WeCovr is an insurance specialist for people valuing their peace of mind and a great service.

👍 WeCovr will help you get your private medical insurance, life insurance, critical illness insurance and others in no time thanks to our wonderful super-friendly experts ready to assist you every step of the way.

Just a quick and simple form and an easy conversation with one of our experts and your valuable insurance policy is in place for that needed peace of mind!

Important Information

Since 2011, WeCovr has helped thousands of individuals, families, and businesses protect what matters most. We make it easy to get quotes for life insurance, critical illness cover, private medical insurance, and a wide range of other insurance types. We also provide embedded insurance solutions tailored for business partners and platforms.

Political And Credit Risks Ltd is a registered company in England and Wales. Company Number: 07691072. Data Protection Register Number: ZA207579. Registered Office: 22-45 Old Castle Street, London, E1 7NY. WeCovr is a trading style of Political And Credit Risks Ltd. Political And Credit Risks Ltd is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is on the Financial Services Register under number 735613.

About WeCovr

WeCovr is your trusted partner for comprehensive insurance solutions. We help families and individuals find the right protection for their needs.