What does life insurance cover?
Life insurance policies will not pay out for death caused by certain activities or illnesses. These vary depending on your policy wording, so you must understand any exclusions before taking out a policy.
When you get a life insurance quote through Quote Goat, you will be able to discuss policy exclusions with your life insurance broker, who will also be able to arrange a suitable policy according to your situation.
Typically, life insurance could be invalidated should death occur from drug and alcohol misuse, some high-risk activities, pre-agreed conditions, disabilities or chronic illness. Again, you should discuss this when you get a quote, as exclusions vary between policies.
How much does life insurance cost?
The cost of your policy depends on several factors, as well as the type of policy you choose.
Factors that affect the cost of your policy include:
- Level of cover
- Duration of cover
- Age
- Smoker Status
- Lifestyle – e.g. how much do you drink? Do you exercise?
- Medical History
- Optional extras such as critical illness cover
As a rough guide, life insurance with £100,000 of cover can start from as little as £5 per month for a healthy, non-smoker in their 20s and it increases from there.
Tip: The earlier you take out a life insurance policy, the cheaper your monthly payments will be.
How much life insurance cover do I need?
Ultimately this will depend on your situation and how much you want your family to receive if the worst should happen.
Areas that you should consider are:
Mortgage
How much do you owe on your mortgage, and would you want your life insurance policy to pay off your mortgage? Could your family afford to keep up with mortgage payments without you? This applies to those who contribute an income to the family and stay-at-home parents, who, for example, may look after the children whilst your partner works.
Outstanding debts
You may also wish to include any outstanding debts when calculating how much cover you require.
Ongoing living costs, bills & other expenses
Could your family meet ongoing living costs and pay the bills and other expenses should you die? Dependent on your circumstances, you may want to include enough money in your life insurance to cover ongoing living costs.
Of course, a higher level of life insurance cover means a higher premium, so you will want to find an affordable balance between your pay out amount and how much you can afford to pay every month.
Life insurance payouts and trusts
You may wish to put your life insurance policy in trust to avoid your beneficiaries having to pay inheritance tax on the cover amount. You should be able to obtain further information from your life insurance provider or a solicitor.
How do I compare life insurance providers?
When choosing a life insurance policy, the cheapest option is not necessarily the best. To find the most suitable policy you will need to take the time to compare life insurance quotes from different providers and work out which is appropriate for your requirements. Quote Goat make it easy to compare life insurance by submitting your details to a panel of life insurance brokers who will then contact you to discuss your requirements and provide you with tailored quotes.
Getting a no obligation quote is free and takes less than a minute to fill out the form, so why not run a life insurance comparison today and see how much cover you can get at competitive rates.
Life insurance FAQs
When should I take out life insurance?
Most people will take out life insurance due to a life-changing event, e.g. the birth of a child. However, you need not wait for such an event before you take out a policy. Taking out a life insurance policy when you are younger will result in lower monthly payments, so there may be no time like the present, particularly if you have people who depend on you financially.
I have a pre-existing medical condition, can I get life insurance?
People with pre-existing medical conditions can still get life insurance, however you will most likely end up paying more and you may find less life insurance providers are willing to cover you.
Does my employer’s life insurance cover me?
Your employer may provide you with a type of cover known as death in service benefit. This policy typically pays 4 times your salary and is often seen as an addition to a life insurance policy.
Do mortgages require life insurance?
Many mortgage providers will require you to have a life insurance policy that covers the outstanding amount of your mortgage. However, you do not need to take out a policy through your mortgage provider or broker.
If my term expires and I’m still alive, do I get my money back?
No, if you are alive at the end of your policy then your premium payments are not refunded. You may be able to extend your policy or you could look at taking out another policy should you require it.
I used to smoke, how does that affect me?
Each insurance provider may be different, however you will typically be classed as smoker if you have smoked in the last 12 months prior to taking out a life insurance policy.