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Life Insurance

Level term policies to protect your family’s finances

life insurance
Johanna Noble
Johanna Noble and Tony Forchione | Edited by Martin Lewis
Updated 1 February 2018

The sobering statistic is around one child in 29 loses a parent before they grow up. Sadly, the grief and misery are often compounded by a loss of income causing financial crisis – but life insurance is one of the cheapest ways to protect your family's finances if the worst happens.

However, it's very easy to pay £1,000s more than you need to over the life of the policy – even if you get it through a comparison site – due to huge commissions. Therefore, this guide not only takes you through how to work out if life insurance is right for you, but also how to get it the cheapest way.

Life insurance best buys

In this guide

Want Mortgage Life Insurance?

This guide isn't for you. See our Mortgage Life Insurance guide for more on an alternative type of life cover policy. 

The 10 life insurance need-to-knows

There are many different types of life insurance: some protect a mortgage and some protect all your dependants, while others provide a way to mitigate inheritance tax. Yet here we're focusing solely on life insurance taken out to provide money for your family if you or your partner were to die. This is something every parent, partner, or person with any other type of dependant needs to consider. 

The key product for doing this is called 'level term' life insurance or assurance. You insure something that MAY happen, while you assure something that WILL happen. Death is of course assured, but as the question is "will you die within a set time?" many call it insurance, and here's what you need to know.

  1. Level term life insurance pays out a set amount if you die within a fixed term

    This is the simplest type of life insurance and the name actually tells you all you need to know...

    • Level: The payout you get doesn't vary. It's always at a set amount regardless of when you die during the term, eg, £200,000

    • Term: You only get a payout if you die within a fixed term, eg, 18 years

    So all in all the cover guarantees a lump sum payout upon death to your dependants within a fixed time, for example, £200,000 if you die within the next 18 years. Obviously, the more cover you get and the longer the term you want, the more it costs. 

    It's also worth noting that as the policy only pays out on death – there's usually little dispute over whether someone is dead or not – and it pays a fixed amount, then providing the company is reputable...

    It's just a case of the cheaper the policy, the better.

    Don't confuse it with other types of life insurance

    This is just one type of life insurance, there are others that do different jobs including:

    • Mortgage decreasing term insurance: This pays out to cover your mortgage if you die within a set term. As mortgage debt decreases over time, the amount it pays also decreases (it's often called 'decreasing term assurance' because of this).

      It's cheaper than level term life assurance as the insurer usually has to pay a lot less. See our Mortgage Life Insurance guide for how to get it. However, if you want to leave a lump sum for your dependants to cover other debts and ongoing spending, a level term life insurance policy, while more expensive, is likely to be a better option.

    • Whole of life insurance: These are often (but not always) investment-linked life insurance policies mainly used to mitigate inheritance tax. In other words, the payout amount should cover the inheritance tax bill on death, and the policy runs out when you die, instead of after a fixed time.

    • Life insurance investment: These are effectively investments operated through life insurers. While there is a life insurance element they're often things like endowments or with-profits policies and are used far more often in the 'investment' zone rather than for protection if someone dies. 

  2. You don't need life insurance if you don't have dependants

    If you have no dependants and are single, then you'd be right to question why you would bother to get this policy. This is all about paying out when you're gone, so if you've no one you want the money to go to, don't bother. 

    However, if you do have dependants, such as a partner and/or children or anyone else who relies on your income, then ask yourself: what would happen financially to the people around me if I died?

    If the answer is there'd be little financial impact, then you may not need a policy. But if paying the bills, the mortgage, bringing up kids, food shopping and more would be a struggle, this is a cheap way to solve that.

  3. Roughly cover 10 times the annual income of the highest earner till kids have finished full-time education

    The rough rule of thumb is to cover 10 times the main breadwinner's income, yet you don't have to stick with that. It may just be a case of do what you can afford – the budget planner should help. Here are some things you should take into account. It should cover...

    • Any outstanding debts that need to be paid off (including a mortgage if you don't have a separate policy)
    • Immediate outgoings your dependants would need to pay
    • Future spending you would have wanted to make, eg, university fees for the kids
    • Any additional expenses a death may trigger, such as funeral costs

    While 10 times your income may seem high, it's worth remembering that inflation will mean the value of this payout is less in, say, 10 years' time than it is now, and you're getting cover to last you that long (or longer if you choose a greater term).

    Your dependants don't have to pay any income tax on the payout, but it does count as part of your estate so if your total assets are above the inheritance tax (IHT) threshold, they will have to pay 40% (ouch!) IHT on it. This can be avoided by putting the policy into something called a trust, see below for more info.

    How long should the term be?

    A policy covering children should last until they are no longer reliant on you, so that's generally at least until they finish full-time education. If you're planning on having more children you may want to estimate when that'd be rather than trying to extend or get a new policy later. This is because cover becomes more expensive the older you get.

    To cover a partner it should last until the year you expect to reach pensionable age. Don't feel obliged to cover a round number of years, eg, policies can be for 17 years.

    Quick questions:

    • I've heard that Family Income Benefit may be a cheaper option. Is that right?

      If you want to provide a regular income for your family, rather than a lump sum, an alternative is to take out an insurance product called Family Income Benefit (FIB). This provides an annual tax-free payment for a set period (and despite it's unfortunate name it has nothing to do with receiving benefits).

      Sometimes FIB can work out cheaper than level term cover and sometimes it's the other way round – it all depends on when you die so unless you have a crystal ball this will be impossible to tell. But to demonstrate how they compare here's an example:

      • FIB taken out over 10 years paying out £10,000 a year will cost £7.28 a month – if you died in the first year your dependants would receive £10k a year for 10 years, meaning a total income of £100,000. But if you died in the last year they would only get £10,000.
      • Meanwhile, 10-year level term insurance for £100,000 will cost £11.10 a month but would pay out £100,000 regardless of whether you died on the first or the last day of that 10-year period.

      Some of the best buy brokers below offer quotes for FIB but if you're not sure whether it's for you it's worth seeking the advice of a broker or financial adviser before you proceed. See our cheapest advisory brokers below for more.

    • Why is 10 times the salary of the highest earner a good rule of thumb?

      Covering 10 times the salary of the highest earner in the household is a good guideline figure because it is likely to leave enough money to cover mortgage repayments and expenses. Take the example of a family where one partner works and the other stays at home to look after the children.

       If the working partner dies, the partner looking after the children still needs money to pay the mortgage and look after the little ones. If the partner looking after the children dies, the sum that would be paid out would be enough to cover the working partner if they had to leave full-time employment to look after the kids.

    • What is the best age to buy level term life insurance?

      If you want to buy level term life insurance, it is best to get cover while you are as young as possible. Obviously, if you're an 18-year-old, do not own a home, are single and don't have any children, the product is not suitable, but you should consider cover as soon as you have people relying on your income.

      The reason you should get cover as soon as possible is because it will cost less. Younger people are largely healthier and will have longer to live than their older counterparts and this will be reflected in the prices offered by insurers. Here's a table to illustrate this point.

      MONTHLY COST FOR £200,000 LEVEL TERM COVER OVER 25 YEARS IF YOU TAKE IT OUT WHEN YOU'RE...
      25 years old 35 years old 45 years old
      £5.53 £8.06 £17.85
      Prices for non-smoker. Obtained via Moneyworld in September 2017.

    • A colleague told me our employer provides cover. Can I rely on that instead?

      Many employees benefit from free "death-in-service" cover through their employer. It'll pay out a multiple of your salary, typically around four times, while you are an employee of that company. The death doesn't need to occur at work or be linked to your job, but regardless, it's not a good idea to rely on this cover as your only protection.

      This is because you'll probably change jobs at some point and your next employer may not offer it and, if you've had any significant health problems in the interim, you may find it expensive to arrange your own cover.

    • I've been offered critical illness cover with my life policy. Should I get it?

      We're not big fans of critical illness insurance. Many believe they will pay out if you get ANY serious illness and can't work. Yet that isn't true, critical or serious illness policies pay out a lump sum if you get a specific illness as defined by the terms of the policy; for example losing one leg isn't critical, but two legs is! So don't think "I'm covered for cancer"; most policies only cover a limited range of cancers.

      Picking a good critical or serious illness policy would take a doctor and financial nerd combined; so one option is to get the level term cover and an income protection policy – which protects your income from a range of eventualities. If you want critical illness though, speak to a financial adviser.

  4. Two single policies can be better than joint cover

    When buying level term life insurance, you can either get a single policy or a joint couples policy. If both you and your partner are getting life cover, a joint policy may be marginally cheaper than getting two single policies, but it will only pay out once, usually on the first death. You used to be able to get a policy paying out on the second death but they have now become incredibly rare.

    A joint policy vs two single policies

    Joint policy: The pros

    ...a joint policy is cheaper than two single policies.

    ...if you are married but have no dependants it's much less hassle to set up a joint policy compared to two single ones.

    Joint policy: The cons

    ...if you have dependants you will only get one payout, usually on the death of the first policyholder. Single policies, however, pay out twice.

    ...if you split with your partner you may have to cancel the cover (unless you're still on good terms) and buy two single policies, priced on your new age and health, which will be more expensive.

    Two single policies: The pros

    ...each policy will pay out on the death of each person, rather than just on the first death, which is what happens with a joint policy. So you get two payouts rather than just one.

    ...if you split with your partner you would not have to buy a new policy.

    Two single policies: The cons

    ...two singles policies are typically more expensive than a joint policy.

    ...if you are married but don't have dependants you will only need one payout – to your partner. So there is no need for a second payout as there would be no one for it to go to.

    THE MONTHLY COST OF TWO SINGLE POLICIES AT £400,000 EACH VS ONE JOINT POLICY AT £400,000
    Both 30 years old Both 35 years old
    Two single policies One joint policy Two single policies One joint policy
    £22.04 £17.06 £30.72 £24.16
    All prices are for non-smokers. Figures obtained via Cavendish Online with L&G in February 2018.

  5. The less risk you'll die, the cheaper the cover

    The cost of the cover increases with the likelihood of death within the term – age, health, having a risky occupation or being a smoker can increase price. So a 98-year-old tobacco chewing racing driver who likes to go cageless shark diving may struggle to get a good deal, even after reading this.

    Pricing radically changes depending on who you are so it's important to disclose everything. However, the rules around disclosure are changing and from August 2016 insurers will be unable to unfairly reject customers' claims if they've given the wrong information about a part of their policy that is irrelevant to their claim (see the news story: New insurance laws will stop insurers wriggling out of claims). But until then...

    Disclose everything; all past conditions and any risks. If not, your insurer may use 'non-disclosure' as an excuse not to pay out.

    When it comes to pre-existing medical condition, every insurer has its own rules. If you've had issues, it's worth speaking to a broker, who will know which insurers will give you the best rates.

    At what point you need to disclose all your medical information depends on who you buy the cover from. If you are buying it from a discount broker it's very much like getting home or car cover from a comparison site. The broker will ask you a few basic questions and then you will be sent to the website of the insurer, which will ask you for much more detailed information, such as your medical history.

    Advisory brokers, on the other hand, will ask the detailed questions before you speak to the chosen insurer.

  6. Quit smoking or planning to? You could get cheaper cover

    Non-smokers pay a lot less than smokers, because they're a lot less likely to die during the term. To count as a non-smoker, you need to have been genuinely nicotine-free for at least a year and in some cases longer, so always check.

    Therefore one year after you quit, it's worth getting a new deal to see if you could save big. But don't be tempted to lie. If you die and it is discovered you had been a smoker, it could invalidate the policy. If you are seriously giving up, it's a good idea to get it noted on your medical records to back up any potential claim.

    It is also worth noting that some insurers have tightened their criteria and their cheapest policies now outline that you need to have been smoke-free for five years to count as a non-smoker.

  7. Make sure the cost is fixed each month with 'guaranteed premiums'

    When you buy level term cover you will be given two choices of premium (which is the official name for monthly insurance payments). It can be guaranteed or reviewable.

    If your premiums are guaranteed, your insurer will never change the price, so you'll know what you'll be paying over the life of the policy. Reviewable premiums, on the other hand, cost less at first, but your insurer can hike costs later on, meaning a cheap deal can potentially become costly as you age.

  8. Write your policy in trust and the money can't be claimed by the taxman

    If you die your life insurance forms part of your estate, which could mean it's hit with a huge whack of Inheritance Tax. In many cases it's possible to avoid this by writing the policy in trust, if it's done at the time the policy is taken out.

    If you write in trust the insurance pays out directly to your dependants, so it never becomes part of your estate, which avoids inheritance tax and speeds up the payout.

    This is relatively easy to do. When you get most insurance policies they include the option (and papers) for writing in trust directly at no extra charge. If you know what you are doing, you can write the policy in trust yourself. If not, get advice from one of our cheapest advisory brokers or see our guide on Independent Financial Advisers.

  9. Switching MAY cut costs

    If you already have a level term policy, this guide could help you cut the cost if you decide to switch. If a new quote shows you can save (make sure the cover is at the same level), all you need to do is set up the new cover.

    Once it's in force, cancel your existing policy BUT remember to check the T&Cs carefully to make sure the cover is covering the same things your previous policy did. Your current policy could be better value so don't rush out cancelling it before you're sure you can get equal or better cover elsewhere.

    However, there's no guarantee you'll save. If your policy was bought years ago, or you've had health problems since then, the savings from buying a cheaper policy may be cancelled out by your increased risk level and/or age.

  10. You are protected if your provider goes bust

    As taking out life insurance is usually a long-term decision, many things can happen during the lifespan of the policy, and while your insurance company may be doing well now it could be a different scenario 20 years down the line. If something happens, here's how it would affect you:

    • If your insurer went bust. If your provider goes bust, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) will try to find another insurer to take over or issue a substitute policy. However, if you've ongoing claims, or need to claim before a new insurer is found, the FSCS should ensure you're covered (always check new insurers are on its register to make sure they're UK registered). For more see the insurance section of our Savings Safety guide.

    • If your broker went bust. The only payment you're likely to make to a broker will be the fee for arranging the policy, which is often no more than £25. 

      In the unlikely event your broker went bust after you paid it but before your insurance was arranged, the chance of you getting your money for the fee back is slim. Saying that, the FSCS would be able to help with any premiums lost as a result of a broker going bust, as these payments are ring-fenced, but this is unlikely to extend to broker fees in this instance.

How to slash the cost of life insurance

The worst way to get life insurance is by going straight to an insurer, here you pay full price and don't check whether it's the cheapest on the market. So what many people do – which makes them feel they have the best deal – is to use a comparison site. It scours the market to find you the cheapest deal. And, indeed, you feel you've saved big.

However, what comparison sites don't tell you is they're a taking a huge whack of commission by doing so. But there is a way to slash costs by using a discount broker....

The top discount brokers

Here – as long as you don't get advice – you can buy a policy through them (usually for a fee of £25) and they rebate all the commission they get from the insurer into your policy (so you basically get a discount hence the name discount broker). So, while the fee is a one-off £25, you can save £1,000s over the life of policy. It's an easy win.

Having reviewed the main 10 discount brokers on the market for a range of quotes, here are our top brokers:

  • Cavendish Online is an online broker with a £25 fee, which rebates all commission. This broker also promises to price match its competitors.

  • Moneyworld is another online broker (with a £25 fee) and promises to price match its competitors. It also rebates all commission.

  • Money Minder is also an online broker with slightly higher premiums and a £25 fee, which rebates all commission.

Our suggestion is to always check the top two and then add in the rest if you've time. Remember if you're not sure what you're doing, consider getting advice.

You may wonder why the prices below are slightly different when each rebates all of the commission. It's because each discount broker has a different deal with the insurers and therefore the prices aren't always the same.

Cost of level term life insurance

Guaranteed prices over a 25-year term with £200,000 benefit
TABLE_CELL_STYLE 30 YEAR OLD (NON-SMOKER) 45 YEAR OLD (SMOKER)
TABLE_CELL_STYLE MONTHLY TOTAL COST DIFFERENCE COMPARED TO THE CHEAPEST BROKER MONTHLY TOTAL COST DIFFERENCE COMPARED TO THE CHEAPEST BROKER
CHEAPEST DISCOUNT BROKERS
Cavendish Online (includes fee) £5.83 £1,770 Cheapest £36.99 £11,120 Cheapest
Moneyworld (includes fee) £5.83 £1,770 Cheapest £36.99 £11,120 Cheapest
Money Minder (includes fee) £5.83 £1,770 Cheapest £36.99 £11,120 Cheapest
CHEAPEST ADVISORY BROKERS (QUALITY OF ADVICE MAY VARY, SEE BELOW)
LifeSearch £6.40 £1,950 £170 £40.66 £12,220 £1,100
Money Minder £6.96 £2,110 £340 £44.15 £13,270 £2,150
Cavendish Online (advisory) (1) £6.96 £2,110 £340 £44.15 £13,270 £2,150
TYPICAL COMPARISON SITE, BANK AND INSURER
Typical comparison site £8.00 £2,430 £650 £50.75 £15,250 £4,130
Typical direct insurer £8.72 £2,640 £870 £53.55 £16,090 £4,970
Typical direct bank £9.37 £2,840 £1,060 £63.13 £18,960 £7,840
Note: Correct as of February 2018. (1) Cavendish Online will price match or beat an alternative quote on a like-for-like basis.

The top advisory brokers

It's important to understand that the discount brokers above are "execution only". This means they don't give you advice, they just find you the cheapest policy.

If you're confused or unsure of what you're doing then forget the very cheapest and get independent advice from an advisory broker, yet doing this means a broker will take some commission and you'll therefore pay more. The big players in this market with strong reputations are:

  • LifeSearch is an independent adviser with online and phone access. It will also write your policy in trust for free and offers counselling and guidance to your loved ones after you die.

  • Money Minder is also an online broker able to provide independent advice with online and phone access.

  • Cavendish Online can also arrange cover on an advisory basis and will consider many medical conditions for those who may have trouble getting cover. They also promise to match (or beat) a cheaper quote on a like-for-like basis.

  • LifeAssure Online is another independent adviser with online and phone access. They have previously appeared in our cheapest advisory broker table so are worth considering. It also sells over-50s life insurance and funeral plans.

Alternatively, you can speak to an independent financial adviser (IFA). IFAs cover life insurance, among other products, and may be able to see where it fits in with your other protection and wider money issues.

It's also a good idea if you'd prefer face-to-face advice (most brokers tend to be phone based). They are regulated and must pass exams on more subjects than brokers, though the costs can vary depending on whether you pay fees or commission. For more and how to find an adviser, see the IFA guide.

  • Can I complain if I get advice and it leads me to the wrong policy?

    Selling life insurance is a regulated activity, which means brokers have to meet certain standards set by the Financial Conduct Authority, and you can complain if things go wrong. Anyone giving advice also needs to achieve Competent Adviser Status by taking FCA-approved exams.

    Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs), meanwhile, are regulated and must pass exams on more subjects than brokers. But the costs can vary. For more information and how to find an adviser, see the IFA guide.

    If you're looking for advice, you can either go via a local IFA (see the IFA guide) or a broker. Make sure you ask for the advisory service if you want it, because some providers do execution-only policies as well.

Cashback sites may pay you for signing up

As an extra boon, members of specialist cashback websites can be paid when they sign up to some financial products. Do check that it’s exactly the same deal though, as terms can be different. And remember the cashback is never 100% guaranteed until it’s in your account. 

Full help to take advantage of this and pros & cons in our Top Cashback Sites guide.

What to do if something goes wrong

First, you need to complain to your insurance company directly. If it doesn’t respond, or if you don’t like what it says, then you don’t need to just take it.

You can escalate your complaint to the free Financial Ombudsman. The ombudsman is an independent adjudicator which will make the final decision on a claim if you are locked in a dispute with your insurer. For more on how to make a complaint, read our Financial Rights guide.

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