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Your Unstoppable Future: The Growth Protection Playbook

Your Unstoppable Future: The Growth Protection Playbook

Unlock Your Unstoppable Future: How Proactive Protection—including tailored Personal Sick Pay for tradespeople, nurses, and electricians, robust Income Protection, Critical Illness Cover, Family Income Benefit, Life Protection, and the strategic legacy of Gift Inter Vivos offering a lump sum payment on death—is your ultimate personal growth accelerator in a 2025 world where health uncertainties, like cancer affecting nearly one in two people, are more prevalent than ever, empowering you with private health insurance access and peace of mind to truly thrive.

Welcome to 2025. A world brimming with unprecedented opportunity, flexible working, and the tools to build the life you've always envisioned. Yet, it's also a world of increasing uncertainty. The pace of life is faster, the pressures are greater, and our health, the very bedrock of our ambition, is facing new challenges. Consider this stark fact from Cancer Research UK: nearly one in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

For generations, insurance has been viewed through a lens of fear—a necessary evil to guard against the worst-case scenario. But this mindset is outdated. It's time for a radical shift in perspective.

Today, financial protection is not a defensive measure. It's your ultimate offensive strategy. It is the solid foundation upon which you can build a truly unstoppable future. It's the freedom to take calculated risks, the confidence to pursue your passions, and the peace of mind that allows you to focus not on 'what if?', but on 'what's next?'.

This is your playbook for growth. It’s a deep dive into how a strategic, personalised protection portfolio—from robust Income Protection to specialised Personal Sick Pay and clever legacy planning with Gift Inter Vivos—doesn't just protect you from falling. It gives you the power to fly.

The Modern Mindset Shift: From 'What If?' to 'What's Next?'

The traditional view of insurance is simple: you pay a premium, and if something terrible happens, your loved ones get a payout. It’s a transaction rooted in catastrophe. But this view misses the bigger, more empowering picture.

Proactive protection is about underwriting your ambition. It’s the invisible force that fuels personal and professional growth.

  • For the Aspiring Entrepreneur: You have a brilliant business idea, but the thought of giving up a steady salary is terrifying. What if you get ill in the first year? With a solid Income Protection policy, that fear diminishes. Your income is secured, giving you the confidence to take the leap.
  • For the Career Climber: You’re considering a move to a new company with huge potential but fewer initial benefits. Or perhaps you want to take a sabbatical to retrain for a more senior role. A safety net of Critical Illness Cover and Income Protection means a health setback won’t derail your entire career trajectory.
  • For the Growing Family: You want to provide the best for your children, which means focusing on your career and investments. The right Life Protection and Family Income Benefit mean you can do this with complete peace of mind, knowing their future is secure no matter what.
  • For the Self-Employed Professional: Your ability to earn is directly linked to your ability to work. Every day off is a day without pay. Tailored protection is not a luxury; it's an essential business overhead, as crucial as your tools or your laptop.

In essence, a well-structured protection plan removes the biggest variable from your life's equation: the financial devastation of an unexpected health crisis. By ring-fencing your finances, you liberate your mindset. You are no longer just surviving; you are positioned to thrive.

The Bedrock of Your Ambition: Understanding Income Protection

If you were to insure your most valuable asset, what would it be? Your house? Your car? The answer is simple: it’s your ability to earn an income. Your income pays for everything else. Without it, the entire financial structure of your life collapses.

This is where Income Protection (IP) comes in. It’s arguably the most important financial protection product for any working adult.

What is Income Protection?

Income Protection is an insurance policy that pays you a regular, tax-free monthly income if you are unable to work due to any illness or injury. It continues to pay out until you can return to work, you retire, or the policy term ends—whichever comes first.

It's designed to replace a significant portion of your lost earnings, typically 50-70% of your gross salary. This allows you to continue paying your mortgage, bills, and living expenses, removing financial stress so you can focus entirely on your recovery.

A 2024 report by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) highlighted that over 197,000 families were supported by protection policies in 2023, with over £7 billion paid out. A significant portion of this came from IP claims for conditions ranging from musculoskeletal issues to mental health challenges.

Key Features of Income Protection Explained

FeatureWhat It MeansWhy It Matters
Level of CoverThe percentage of your income the policy will pay out each month.You need enough to cover your essential outgoings, but you can't over-insure.
Deferred PeriodThe waiting period before the policy starts paying out (e.g., 4, 13, 26, or 52 weeks).A longer deferred period means a lower premium. Align it with your sick pay and savings.
Definition of IncapacityThe criteria used to decide if you are eligible to claim. 'Own Occupation' is the gold standard.'Own Occupation' means you're covered if you can't do your specific job. Avoid 'Any Occupation'.
Policy TermHow long the policy lasts. Typically set to your planned retirement age (e.g., 68).This ensures you are protected throughout your entire working life.

'Own Occupation' Cover: The Non-Negotiable Gold Standard

This is a critical point. Some cheaper policies use 'Suited Occupation' or 'Any Occupation' definitions.

  • Any Occupation: The insurer will only pay out if you are so unwell you cannot do any job at all.
  • Suited Occupation: The insurer may require you to take another job based on your skills and experience.
  • Own Occupation: The policy pays out if you are unable to perform the duties of your specific job. A surgeon with a hand tremor or a pilot with impaired vision would be covered under 'Own Occupation', even if they could work in another capacity.

For true peace of mind, always insist on an 'Own Occupation' definition of incapacity.

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Tailored Protection for Hands-On Heroes: Personal Sick Pay

Whilst comprehensive Income Protection is the ideal for many, some professions face unique challenges. Tradespeople like electricians and plumbers, healthcare professionals like nurses, and other manual workers often have higher-risk roles and may not have generous employer sick pay schemes, especially if they are self-employed or contract-based.

For these hands-on heroes, Personal Sick Pay (PSP)—sometimes known as Accident, Sickness & Unemployment cover—can be a more accessible and immediate solution.

What is Personal Sick Pay?

PSP is a type of short-term income protection. It's designed to be more straightforward and quicker to pay out, bridging the immediate financial gap when you're unable to work.

Key differences from traditional IP:

  • Shorter Deferred Periods: You can often choose a deferred period as short as one day or one week, which is vital when you have no other sick pay to fall back on.
  • Simpler Underwriting: The application process is typically simpler, with fewer medical questions.
  • Fixed Payout Period: Unlike long-term IP, PSP policies usually have a limited payout period per claim, often for 1, 2, or 5 years. This makes them more affordable.

Real-World Scenarios:

  • The Self-Employed Electrician: Mark, an electrician, suffers a fall from a ladder, breaking his wrist. He can't work for 8 weeks. His Personal Sick Pay policy, with a one-week deferred period, kicks in quickly. It pays him £1,500 a month, covering his mortgage and bills until he's back on his feet. Without it, he would have drained his savings.
  • The Agency Nurse: Chloe, a nurse, develops a severe back problem from lifting patients. Her agency provides no sick pay. Her PSP plan starts paying out after four weeks, allowing her to afford private physiotherapy to speed up her recovery and get back to the job she loves without financial panic.

Income Protection vs. Personal Sick Pay: A Comparison for a Tradesperson

FeatureComprehensive Income ProtectionPersonal Sick Pay (PSP)
Best ForLong-term, catastrophic illness/injuryShort-to-medium term sickness/accidents
Deferred PeriodTypically 1-12 monthsCan be as short as 1 day
Payment PeriodCan pay until retirementTypically 1, 2, or 5 years per claim
UnderwritingFull medical underwritingSimpler, often fewer questions
CostHigher premium for comprehensive coverGenerally more affordable
Ideal CandidateOffice worker, professional, someone wanting total securityTradesperson, freelancer, nurse, someone with no employer sick pay

For many in these professions, a combination can be powerful: a PSP policy for immediate cover and a long-term IP policy with a 12-month deferred period for catastrophic events, creating a cost-effective, multi-layered safety net.

The Critical Illness Buffer: Your Financial First Responder

Imagine receiving a life-changing diagnosis—cancer, a heart attack, or a stroke. Amid the emotional turmoil, the last thing you or your family should worry about is money. This is the crucial role of Critical Illness Cover (CIC).

What is Critical Illness Cover?

CIC pays out a one-off, tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of a list of specified serious illnesses or medical conditions. It’s important to note that you don’t have to be unable to work to receive a payout; the diagnosis itself is the trigger.

According to the ABI, cancer, heart attack, and stroke remain the "big three" conditions, accounting for the vast majority of CIC claims. However, modern policies are incredibly comprehensive, often covering 50+ conditions, and some even up to 100+, including:

  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Major organ transplant
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Kidney failure
  • Permanent blindness or deafness

How Can the Lump Sum Be Used?

The power of CIC lies in its flexibility. The money is yours to use as you see fit, providing a vital financial buffer at a time of immense stress. People typically use the payout to:

  • Clear a mortgage or other debts: Removing the single biggest financial burden.
  • Cover lost income: Allowing a partner to take time off work to care for you.
  • Pay for private medical treatment: Accessing treatments or specialist consultations not readily available on the NHS.
  • Make home modifications: Installing a ramp or a stairlift.
  • Fund a recuperative holiday: Aiding mental and physical recovery.
  • Simply provide breathing space: Allowing you to recover without financial pressure.

Real-Life Example: The David and Sarah Story David, a 45-year-old graphic designer and father of two, had a combined Life and Critical Illness policy. He was fit and healthy but suffered an unexpected heart attack. Whilst his recovery went well, he was unable to work for six months.

His CIC policy paid out £150,000. David and his wife Sarah used the money to pay off the remaining £110,000 on their mortgage. They used the rest to cover their bills during his recovery and booked a family holiday for when he was well enough. The removal of the mortgage payment transformed their financial situation and significantly reduced their stress, allowing David to focus purely on getting better.

For Business Leaders & Freelancers: The Corporate Shield

If you are a company director, business owner, or a high-flying freelancer, your value extends beyond your personal finances—it's integral to the health of your business. Standard personal protection is essential, but specialist business protection is what separates savvy leaders from the vulnerable.

These policies are not just "nice to have"; they are a cornerstone of business continuity and a powerful, tax-efficient way to attract and retain top talent.

Key Person Insurance: Protecting Your Most Valuable Asset

Who is indispensable to your business? It might be the director with all the client contacts, the technical genius who codes your product, or the sales manager who brings in 70% of the revenue.

Key Person Insurance is a policy taken out by the business on the life of such a key individual. If that person dies or is diagnosed with a specified critical illness, the policy pays a lump sum directly to the business.

This money can be used to:

  • Recruit and train a replacement.
  • Clear business loans or debts.
  • Reassure lenders and investors of the company's stability.
  • Replace lost profits during the disruption.

Executive Income Protection: The Director's Safety Net

This is an Income Protection policy paid for by the company, for an employee or director. It's treated as a legitimate business expense, making it highly tax-efficient. The premiums are not typically treated as a P11D benefit for the employee. If a claim is made, the benefit is paid to the company, which then pays the employee's salary through the payroll system. It's a fantastic executive perk that protects both the director and the business.

Relevant Life Cover: A Tax-Smart 'Death in Service' for SMEs

Many small limited companies don't have enough employees to set up a full group death-in-service scheme. Relevant Life Cover is the solution. It's a company-paid life insurance policy for an employee or director.

The key benefits are tax-related:

  • Premiums are paid by the business and are generally considered an allowable business expense.
  • The benefit is paid tax-free to the employee's chosen beneficiaries via a trust, bypassing the business entirely.
  • It does not form part of the employee's lifetime pension allowance.

Business Protection at a Glance

Policy TypeWho Pays?Who Benefits?Key Purpose
Key Person InsuranceThe BusinessThe BusinessBusiness continuity, replaces lost profits
Executive Income ProtectionThe BusinessThe Employee (via the business)Protects a director's income tax-efficiently
Relevant Life CoverThe BusinessThe Employee's Family (via a trust)A tax-efficient death-in-service benefit

Building this corporate shield is a mark of a responsible and forward-thinking leader. It protects your legacy, your employees, and the future of the enterprise you've worked so hard to build.

Securing Your Legacy: Life Protection, FIB & Gift Inter Vivos

Protecting your own future is one thing; ensuring the security of those you leave behind is another. This is the domain of legacy planning, where life insurance in its various forms provides the ultimate expression of care.

Life Protection (Life Insurance): The Cornerstone

This is the most well-known form of protection. In its simplest form (Term Life Insurance), you choose an amount of cover and a policy term (e.g., £250,000 over 25 years to match your mortgage). If you pass away within that term, the policy pays out the lump sum. It's straightforward, affordable, and incredibly effective at:

  • Clearing a mortgage and other debts.
  • Providing a lump sum for your family to live on.
  • Covering funeral expenses (the average UK funeral cost in 2024 is around £4,000 - £5,000).

Family Income Benefit (FIB): The Smart Alternative

Whilst a large lump sum sounds great, managing it can be daunting for a grieving family. Family Income Benefit is an often-overlooked but brilliant alternative.

Instead of a single lump sum, FIB pays out a regular, tax-free monthly or annual income to your family from the point of claim until the policy's end date.

Why is FIB so powerful?

  • Budget-Friendly: It's often cheaper than an equivalent level term life insurance policy.
  • Practical: It replaces your lost monthly income, making budgeting for bills, school fees, and daily life much simpler for your loved ones.
  • Peace of Mind: It provides a steady, reliable income stream rather than a lump sum that could be spent too quickly.

Example: James, aged 35, wants to ensure his children (aged 3 and 5) are supported until they are 21. He takes out a FIB policy with a 18-year term that would pay out £2,500 a month. If he were to pass away 5 years into the policy, his family would receive £2,500 every month for the remaining 13 years.

Gift Inter Vivos: The Inheritance Tax Solution

For those with significant assets, Inheritance Tax (IHT) can be a major concern. When you gift a large sum of money or an asset (like a property) to someone, it is known as a Potentially Exempt Transfer (PET). If you survive for seven years after making the gift, it becomes fully exempt from IHT.

However, if you pass away within those seven years, the gift could be subject to IHT on a sliding scale. This can create a surprise tax bill for the person who received the gift.

A Gift Inter Vivos insurance policy is designed to solve this exact problem. It's a specialised life insurance policy where the sum assured decreases over seven years, mirroring the reducing IHT liability on the gift. It pays out a lump sum on death within the 7-year period, specifically to cover the tax bill. It's a shrewd piece of financial planning that ensures your gift is received in full, as you intended.

The Wellness Dividend: More Than Just a Cheque

In 2025, the best insurance policies do more than just pay out on a claim. They actively help you stay healthy in the first place. Insurers have realised that a healthy customer is a happy customer, and they now include a vast array of value-added benefits and wellness services with their plans, often at no extra cost.

This transforms your policy from a passive safety net into a proactive health and wellbeing partner. These benefits can include:

  • 24/7 Virtual GP: Skip the NHS waiting times and speak to a GP via video call, often within hours. Get prescriptions, advice, and referrals quickly and conveniently.
  • Mental Health Support: Access to counselling sessions, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and support lines for stress, anxiety, and depression. With ONS data showing rising rates of anxiety, this is more valuable than ever.
  • Physiotherapy Services: Get expert assessment and treatment for musculoskeletal issues—a leading cause of sickness absence in the UK.
  • Second Medical Opinions: If you receive a serious diagnosis, you can have your case reviewed by a world-leading expert to confirm the diagnosis and explore treatment options.
  • Nutrition and Fitness Programmes: Access to tailored diet plans, fitness apps, and health tracking tools to help you manage your wellbeing proactively.

At WeCovr, we believe so strongly in this proactive approach that we go a step further. We provide our valued protection clients with complimentary access to our proprietary AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, CalorieHero. It’s our way of investing in your long-term health, helping you build positive habits that not only improve your quality of life but can also contribute to a healthier future.

How to Build Your Personalised Protection Playbook

Navigating this landscape can feel complex, but building your strategy can be broken down into simple, logical steps.

Step 1: Audit Your Life & Finances Be honest with yourself.

  • Dependents: Who relies on your income? Children, a partner, ageing parents?
  • Debts: What do you owe? Mortgage, car finance, credit cards, personal loans?
  • Income: What is your gross monthly salary? Do you have other sources of income?
  • Outgoings: What are your essential monthly costs? (Housing, utilities, food, transport).
  • Savings & Sick Pay: How long could you survive financially if your income stopped tomorrow? What does your employer provide?

Step 2: Define Your "Why" What is the primary goal of your protection?

  • Is it to ensure your income continues if you're ill? (Income Protection)
  • Is it to clear your mortgage if you get seriously ill? (Critical Illness Cover)
  • Is it to provide for your children if you're no longer around? (Life Insurance / FIB)
  • Is it to protect your business from collapse? (Key Person Insurance)

Step 3: Understand the Core Products Use the information in this guide to match the right product to your "why". Remember, it's rarely about choosing just one. A robust playbook often involves a combination of policies that work together.

Step 4: Seek Independent, Expert Advice This is the most important step. You could go directly to an insurer, but they will only tell you about their own products. An independent expert broker, like us at WeCovr, works for you.

We take the time to understand your unique situation from Step 1 and your goals from Step 2. We then use our expertise and market knowledge to search for the best policies from all the UK's leading insurers. We compare features, definitions, and prices to build a tailored portfolio that provides the most comprehensive protection for your budget. We handle the paperwork, explain the jargon, and ensure your plan is placed in trust where appropriate to ensure maximum efficiency and speed of payout.

Your Unstoppable Future Awaits

Financial protection in 2025 is not about dwelling on what could go wrong. It’s about creating the certainty and confidence you need to make things go right.

It is the freedom to change careers, start a business, invest in your skills, and build a life of purpose, secure in the knowledge that your financial foundations are unshakeable. It’s the peace of mind that comes from knowing that should illness or injury strike, you and your loved ones are protected, allowing you to focus on recovery, not finances.

By embracing a proactive protection strategy, you are not just buying an insurance policy. You are making a profound investment in yourself, your family, and your limitless potential. You are building the launchpad for your own unstoppable future.


What's the difference between Income Protection and Critical Illness Cover?

This is a common and important question. They cover different needs and often work best together.

Income Protection (IP) pays a regular, monthly income if you can't work due to any illness or injury. The goal is to replace your lost salary. It can pay out for a short period or right up until retirement age, depending on the policy. A bad back that stops you from working for 6 months could trigger an IP claim.

Critical Illness Cover (CIC) pays a one-off, tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with a specific, serious illness defined in the policy (like cancer or a stroke). You receive the lump sum regardless of whether you can work or not. The goal is to provide a financial buffer to reduce major debts, pay for treatment, or adapt your home.

Is Personal Sick Pay just for tradespeople?

Generally, whilst Personal Sick Pay (PSP) is particularly well-suited for tradespeople, nurses, and other manual workers due to its short deferred periods and simpler setup, it's not exclusively for them. It can be a good option for anyone with little or no employer sick pay, including freelancers, contractors, and those in the gig economy. It's designed for anyone who would face immediate financial hardship if their income stopped, even for a few weeks.

How much cover do I actually need?

The amount of cover you need is entirely personal and depends on your circumstances. A good starting point is:

  • For Life Insurance: Aim to cover your mortgage, any other large debts, and provide a lump sum for your family's future living costs. A common rule of thumb is 10 times your annual salary, but a detailed needs analysis is better.
  • For Critical Illness Cover: Consider an amount that would clear your major debts or cover 2-5 years of your income to give you significant breathing space.
  • For Income Protection: The maximum you can usually get is 50-70% of your gross income. You should aim to cover all of your essential monthly outgoings after tax.

An expert adviser can perform a detailed calculation to help you find the precise level of cover for your needs and budget.

Can I get cover if I have a pre-existing medical condition?

Yes, in many cases, you can. It's crucial to be completely honest about your medical history during the application. The insurer's decision will depend on the nature, severity, and date of your condition. Possible outcomes include:

  • Being accepted on standard terms.
  • Having a "loading" applied, meaning your premium will be higher.
  • Having an "exclusion" applied, meaning the policy will not cover claims related to your specific condition.
  • Having your application postponed or declined in more severe cases.

Using a broker like WeCovr is highly advantageous here, as we have experience with specialist insurers who are more likely to offer favourable terms for certain conditions.

Why should I use a broker like WeCovr instead of going direct to an insurer?

Using an independent broker offers several key advantages:

  • Whole-of-Market Access: We compare policies from all the major UK insurers, not just one. This means more choice and a better chance of finding the perfect fit.
  • Expert Advice: We are experts in this field. We can explain the complex jargon, highlight crucial differences in policy definitions (like 'Own Occupation' cover), and tailor a solution to your specific needs.
  • Time and Hassle Saving: We do all the research and handle the application process for you.
  • Trust and Advocacy: We work for you, not the insurance company. We can also help with setting up policies in trust to ensure the payouts are fast and tax-efficient.

What is Gift Inter Vivos insurance and who needs it?

Gift Inter Vivos (GIV) insurance is a specialist life insurance policy designed for Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning. In the UK, if you gift an asset (money or property) and then live for another seven years, the gift becomes exempt from IHT. If you pass away within those seven years, the gift may be liable for IHT on a sliding scale.

A GIV policy is taken out by the person making the gift. It's designed to pay out a lump sum if they die within the seven-year period, specifically to cover the IHT bill. This ensures the recipient of the gift receives the full value as intended, without facing an unexpected tax liability. It's for anyone with a large estate who is making substantial lifetime gifts as part of their IHT planning.

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.

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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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Who Are WeCovr?

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👍 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.

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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.