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UK's Silent Diabetes Crisis 2026

UK's Silent Diabetes Crisis 2026 2026 | Top Insurance Guides

UK 2026 Shock New Data Reveals Over 1 in 3 Britons Are Secretly Living With Undiagnosed Pre-Diabetes or Early Type 2 Diabetes, Fueling a Staggering £4.4 Million+ Lifetime Burden of Unfunded Complications, Progressive Organ Damage, Lost Productivity & Premature Mortality – Your PMI Pathway to Early Advanced Metabolic Diagnostics, Integrated Lifestyle Management & LCIIP Shielding Your Foundational Health & Financial Future

A silent health emergency is unfolding across the United Kingdom. It doesn’t arrive with a sudden crash or a dramatic headline, but with a slow, insidious creep into the lives of millions. New projections for 2025 paint a startling picture: more than one in three adults in the UK are now estimated to be living with pre-diabetes or early, undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. This isn’t just a health statistic; it’s a ticking time bomb threatening our collective wellbeing and financial security.

This silent epidemic is laying the groundwork for a future burdened by devastating health complications—from heart attacks and strokes to kidney failure and blindness. The personal and economic cost is immense. For an individual diagnosed with severe complications, the potential lifetime financial burden, encompassing private medical treatments, extensive care needs, lost income from a high-earning career, and reduced productivity, can spiral upwards of £4.4 million. This is a catastrophic figure that NHS funding and standard safety nets are simply not designed to cover.

The damage is not just financial. It's the progressive, often irreversible, harm to the body's most vital organs. It's the lost years of healthy, productive life. It's the premature mortality that robs families of their loved ones.

But this future is not set in stone. The key to defusing this crisis lies in proactive awareness and decisive action. This guide illuminates the path forward, showing how a modern approach combining Private Medical Insurance (PMI) for early diagnostics, integrated lifestyle management, and a robust shield of Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection (LCIIP) can safeguard not just your financial future, but your most foundational asset: your health.

Understanding the Enemy: Pre-Diabetes and Early Type 2 Diabetes Explained

To fight this silent threat, we must first understand it. The journey to full-blown Type 2 diabetes rarely happens overnight. It begins with a condition that serves as a critical warning sign: pre-diabetes.

What is Pre-diabetes?

Think of your body's ability to process sugar (glucose) as a finely tuned engine. In a healthy person, the hormone insulin acts like a key, unlocking cells to let glucose in for energy. In pre-diabetes, that key starts to get a bit sticky. Your cells become resistant to insulin, forcing your pancreas to work overtime to produce more of it to keep blood sugar levels normal.

This state is formally identified by blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes. An HbA1c blood test, which measures your average blood sugar over the past three months, is the gold standard for diagnosis.

  • Normal: Below 42 mmol/mol
  • Pre-diabetes: 42 to 47 mmol/mol
  • Diabetes: 48 mmol/mol or above

Crucially, up to 90% of people with pre-diabetes don't know they have it. There are often no clear symptoms, allowing the underlying damage to progress unnoticed.

The "Silent" Progression to Type 2 Diabetes

If left unaddressed, pre-diabetes frequently progresses to Type 2 diabetes. At this stage, the pancreas can no longer keep up with the body's demand for insulin, or the body's cells become almost completely resistant to it. Glucose builds up in the bloodstream, where it acts like a poison, slowly damaging blood vessels and organs throughout the body.

The symptoms of early Type 2 diabetes can be deceptively mild and easily dismissed as part of ageing or a busy lifestyle.

Subtle Early SymptomsMore Advanced Symptoms
Feeling unusually tiredFrequent urination, especially at night
Increased thirstUnexplained weight loss
More frequent minor infectionsBlurred vision
Cuts or sores that heal slowlyGenital itching or thrush
Slightly blurred visionNumbness or tingling in hands/feet

This subtle onset is why millions remain undiagnosed, unknowingly allowing the condition to cause significant, and sometimes irreversible, harm.

The Alarming 2026 Statistics: A Nation on the Brink

The scale of this crisis is staggering. According to analysis from Diabetes UK and the NHS, the number of people living with diabetes in the UK has more than doubled in the last 15 years. Projecting current trends forward to 2025 reveals a deeply concerning landscape.

  • Diagnosed Cases: The number of people living with a formal diabetes diagnosis is projected to exceed 5.6 million.
  • Undiagnosed Population: An estimated 1 million people are living with Type 2 diabetes but are yet to be diagnosed.
  • The Pre-diabetic Tide: The most alarming figure is the estimated 14 million people living with pre-diabetes, putting them at high risk of developing the full-blown condition.

When combined, this means well over 20 million people in the UK—more than one in three adults—are on the spectrum of impaired glucose metabolism. This places an unprecedented strain on the NHS, which already spends at least £10 billion a year on diabetes—around 10% of its entire budget. The vast majority of this cost is spent not on managing the condition itself, but on treating its devastating complications.

The Domino Effect: How Undiagnosed Diabetes Wrecks Your Health and Finances

Ignoring the warning signs of pre-diabetes sets off a devastating chain reaction that impacts every aspect of your life. The high levels of glucose in the blood act as a corrosive agent, leading to widespread damage.

Health Complications: A Cascade of Organ Damage

  • Cardiovascular Disease: Diabetes dramatically increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. People with diabetes are up to four times more likely to suffer a major cardiovascular event.
  • Kidney Disease (Nephropathy): Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure in the UK. Thousands of people require dialysis or a transplant each year because of diabetes-related damage.
  • Nerve Damage (Neuropathy): High blood sugar can damage nerves throughout the body, leading to pain, tingling, or a complete loss of sensation, most commonly in the feet.
  • Eye Damage (Retinopathy): Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable sight loss in the working-age population. Damage to the blood vessels in the retina can lead to blindness if not caught and treated early.
  • Foot Problems: A combination of nerve damage and poor circulation can lead to severe foot ulcers and infections. Tragically, this results in over 185 amputations per week in the UK.

Financial Complications: The Lifetime Burden

The health consequences have a direct and severe financial impact. The initial diagnosis is just the beginning of a long and costly journey.

Type of Financial CostExamples
Direct Medical CostsPrescription charges, blood glucose monitors, test strips, insulin pens, pumps.
Increased Living CostsSpecialised diet foods, home adaptations (e.g., for disability), podiatry.
Lost Income & ProductivityTime off for appointments, sick days, reduced working hours, early retirement.
Unfunded Care CostsCosts of private carers or residential care due to severe complications.
Insurance ImpactSignificantly higher premiums or outright refusal for life and health insurance.

For a high-earning professional, a severe diagnosis preventing them from working can mean millions in lost future earnings. When combined with the high cost of private care required for serious complications like stroke or amputation, the total financial burden can easily reach the catastrophic £4.4 million+ figure over a lifetime.

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Your First Line of Defence: The PMI Pathway to Early Diagnosis & Management

While the NHS provides outstanding care for acute conditions, its resources for proactive, preventative screening for a silent condition like pre-diabetes are stretched. Waiting for symptoms to appear before seeking a diagnosis is a reactive strategy that allows irreversible damage to occur. This is where Private Medical Insurance (PMI) offers a powerful, proactive alternative.

A modern PMI policy is no longer just about skipping queues for surgery. It is a comprehensive wellness and diagnostics tool.

  • Advanced Metabolic Diagnostics: Many PMI plans now include comprehensive, preventative health checks as a standard benefit. These go far beyond a simple blood pressure check. They offer access to the very tests needed to catch pre-diabetes early, including HbA1c, fasting glucose profiles, and detailed cholesterol and lipid panels. This gives you a clear picture of your metabolic health long before symptoms arise.
  • Rapid Specialist Access: If your screening reveals any areas of concern, PMI provides swift access to a consultant endocrinologist. You can see a specialist in days, not months, allowing for immediate intervention and management planning.
  • Integrated Lifestyle Management: The best PMI providers understand that diagnosis is only the first step. They provide access to a network of professionals to help you reverse the condition, including:
    • Dietitians and Nutritionists: For personalised dietary plans.
    • Personal Trainers: To create effective and safe exercise programmes.
    • Mental Health Support: To help manage the stress and anxiety that can accompany a health concern.

PMI empowers you to move from a passive patient to the active CEO of your own health, armed with the data and expert support needed to make meaningful, lasting changes.

A Holistic Approach to Reversing the Tide: Diet, Activity, and Wellness

The most encouraging news about pre-diabetes is that, for many people, it is reversible. A diagnosis is not a life sentence; it is a call to action. Evidence-based lifestyle changes are the most powerful medicine available.

Diet: Fueling Your Body for Health

You don't need to follow a punishing or joyless diet. The focus is on whole, unprocessed foods.

  • Embrace the Mediterranean Way: A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, fish, and olive oil has been extensively proven to improve insulin sensitivity.
  • Control Carbohydrates: Be mindful of portion sizes for starchy carbohydrates like bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes. Opt for whole-grain versions where possible, as their fibre content slows sugar absorption.
  • Prioritise Protein and Healthy Fats: Including a source of protein (lean meat, fish, eggs, beans) and healthy fat (avocado, nuts, olive oil) with each meal helps to stabilise blood sugar levels and keep you feeling full.
  • Eliminate Sugary Drinks: Fizzy drinks, cordials, and fruit juices are sources of "empty" calories that cause rapid spikes in blood sugar. Water is always the best choice.

To help you on this journey, tracking your intake can be a game-changer. At WeCovr, we go beyond just finding the right insurance policy. We provide our customers with complimentary access to our proprietary AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, CalorieHero. This powerful tool makes it simple to monitor your diet, understand the nutritional content of your food, and stay on track with your health goals.

Activity: Moving for a Longer, Healthier Life

Exercise makes your cells more sensitive to insulin, meaning your body needs to produce less of it. The NHS recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week.

  • Moderate Intensity: This means you're breathing faster and feeling warmer, but can still hold a conversation. Brisk walking, cycling on level ground, or swimming are excellent examples.
  • Incorporate Resistance: Aim to include strength-training activities at least twice a week. This can be anything from lifting weights at the gym to using resistance bands or doing bodyweight exercises (like squats and push-ups) at home. Building muscle provides your body with another place to store glucose, taking pressure off your bloodstream.

Sleep and Stress: The Hidden Factors

The connection between sleep, stress, and blood sugar is profound.

  • Sleep: A lack of quality sleep can disrupt appetite-regulating hormones and increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol, both of which can impair insulin sensitivity. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night.
  • Stress: Chronic stress keeps cortisol levels elevated, which tells your body to release stored glucose into the bloodstream, directly challenging your insulin response. Incorporating stress-management techniques like mindfulness, yoga, or simply spending time in nature can have a significant physiological benefit.

The Financial Safety Net: Why Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection (LCIIP) are Non-Negotiable

Lifestyle changes are your primary weapon against diabetes, but a robust financial safety net is your essential shield. Securing comprehensive insurance protection before a diagnosis of pre-diabetes or diabetes is one of the most important financial decisions you can make. Once a diagnosis is on your medical record, obtaining affordable and comprehensive cover becomes significantly more difficult, if not impossible.

Life Insurance

A life insurance policy pays out a lump sum to your loved ones if you pass away. This money can be used to pay off a mortgage, cover funeral costs, and provide for your family's financial future. Applying with a pre-existing condition like diabetes will mean higher premiums and more extensive medical underwriting. Securing a policy while you are healthy locks in a lower rate for the entire term.

Critical Illness Cover (CIC)

This is arguably the most vital piece of the puzzle. CIC pays out a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with a specific serious illness listed in the policy. Crucially, many of the most devastating complications of diabetes are covered conditions:

  • Heart Attack
  • Stroke
  • Kidney Failure
  • Major Organ Transplant
  • Blindness
  • Amputation of a limb

Receiving a six-figure payout upon diagnosis of one of these conditions can be life-changing. It gives you the financial freedom to modify your home, pay for private treatment or care, and replace lost income, allowing you to focus entirely on your recovery.

Income Protection (IP)

Often called the bedrock of any financial plan, Income Protection is designed to replace a significant portion of your salary if you are unable to work due to any illness or injury, including complications from diabetes. Unlike sick pay from an employer, which is often limited, an IP policy can pay out a monthly, tax-free income right up until you are able to return to work or you reach retirement age. For anyone whose lifestyle depends on their ability to earn an income, IP is not a luxury; it's a necessity.

Insurance StatusImpact of a Diabetes Diagnosis
Applying Before DiagnosisStandard premiums, wider choice of insurers, simpler application process. You are covered for future diabetes complications.
Applying After DiagnosisSignificantly higher premiums (often 50-200%+), potential for policy exclusions (e.g., for eye or kidney conditions), or outright decline.

The message is unequivocal: the time to arrange your financial protection is now, while you are in good health.

Bespoke Protection for Business Owners, Directors, and the Self-Employed

While everyone needs a financial safety net, the stakes are even higher for those who run their own business or work for themselves. Your health is inextricably linked to the health of your enterprise.

For the Self-Employed and Freelancers

When you are your own boss, there is no safety net of statutory sick pay or a benevolent employer. If you can't work, your income stops.

  • Income Protection: This is your sick pay, your disability benefit, and your lifeline all rolled into one. It ensures your personal bills—mortgage, utilities, food—continue to be paid if diabetes or its complications stop you from working.
  • Personal Sick Pay: These are typically shorter-term policies, designed to cover your income for up to one or two years. They can be a more affordable starting point for those in riskier trades like electricians or construction workers.

For Company Directors and Business Owners

Your health has a direct impact not just on your family, but on your employees, your clients, and the very survival of your business. Standard personal policies are essential, but specialist business protection is also vital.

  • Executive Income Protection: A highly tax-efficient solution. The company pays the policy premiums for a director, and those premiums are typically treated as an allowable business expense. If the director is unable to work, the benefit is paid to the company, which can then continue to pay the director a salary through PAYE.
  • Key Person Insurance: Consider your business's most vital asset. Is it a top salesperson, a technical genius, or you, the founder? If a key individual were to be incapacitated for a long period due to a stroke or require major surgery following a diabetes diagnosis, what would be the financial impact? Key Person Insurance pays a lump sum to the business to cover lost profits, recruit a replacement, or steady the ship during a turbulent period.
  • Relevant Life Cover: This is a tax-efficient alternative to a traditional 'death-in-service' benefit. It's a life insurance policy paid for by the company for an employee or director. The premiums are not treated as a P11D benefit-in-kind, and the payout is made tax-free to the individual's family, outside of their estate for inheritance tax purposes.

Protecting your business is as important as protecting your family. A comprehensive review of your business protection needs is a cornerstone of responsible ownership.

The world of protection insurance can seem complex, with a vast array of products and providers, each with their own specific definitions and exclusions. Trying to navigate this alone, especially when considering a potential health condition, can be overwhelming. This is where expert, independent advice is invaluable.

At WeCovr, we specialise in cutting through the complexity. As an independent brokerage, we are not tied to any single insurer. Our loyalty is to you, our client. We have access to the entire UK market, from major household names to specialist insurers who may have a more favourable view of certain health conditions.

Our role is to:

  • Understand You: We take the time to understand your unique personal, family, and business circumstances.
  • Scan the Market: We use our expertise and technology to compare policies from all the UK's leading providers.
  • Decipher the Small Print: We help you understand the key differences in policy definitions—for example, how one insurer's definition of "heart attack" might differ from another's.
  • Manage the Application: We guide you through the medical underwriting process to ensure the best possible outcome.

We can also help you explore a wider range of tailored solutions:

  • Family Income Benefit: A cost-effective alternative to traditional lump-sum life insurance. Instead of a single large payout, it provides your family with a regular, tax-free monthly or annual income for a set term, replacing your lost salary in a more manageable way.
  • Gift Inter Vivos Insurance: A specialist policy designed for estate planning. If you gift a significant asset (like property or cash) and pass away within seven years, that gift could be subject to inheritance tax. This policy pays out a lump sum to cover that potential tax bill, ensuring your beneficiaries receive the full value of your gift. This becomes particularly relevant when a health scare prompts you to consider your mortality and legacy.

Conclusion: Taking Control of Your Health and Financial Destiny

The silent diabetes crisis projected for 2025 is a formidable challenge, but it is not an insurmountable one. It is a future we can rewrite, one individual at a time. The power to change course rests in our hands, through proactive choices and strategic planning.

The path forward is clear. It begins with awareness—of the risks, the symptoms, and the silent progression of this condition. It continues with action—leveraging the diagnostic power of Private Medical Insurance to gain early insight into your health and embracing a lifestyle that builds resilience and reverses risk.

Finally, it is secured with a comprehensive financial shield. Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, and Income Protection are not mere products; they are the essential tools that provide peace of mind and ensure that a health crisis does not become a financial catastrophe for you, your family, or your business.

The time to act is not when symptoms appear or when a diagnosis is handed down. The time to take control of your health and financial destiny is now. By making informed decisions today, you can build a healthier, more secure, and prosperous future for yourself and those you love.


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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