Frequently Asked Questions

Income protection pays you a regular monthly income if you're unable to work due to illness or injury. It typically replaces a percentage of your earnings (often around 50–65%) and continues paying until you return to work, the policy ends, or you reach retirement. It's one of the most valuable protection products available, particularly for anyone whose household relies on their income.

Critical illness cover pays a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of the specific serious conditions listed in the policy, for example cancer, heart attack or stroke. Life insurance pays out when you die. They cover different events and are often arranged together, because surviving a serious illness can have just as much financial impact on you and/or your family as losing a loved one.

A good starting point is to consider what you want the policy to achieve: pay off your mortgage, replace lost income, cover childcare, or fund education. We help you calculate a realistic figure based on your debts, income, existing savings and future plans.

Life insurance isn't a legal requirement for a mortgage, but most lenders strongly recommend it, and it's almost always sensible if anyone relies on you financially. The right type depends on your mortgage: decreasing term is typically used for repayment mortgages, level term for interest-only. We'll match the cover to the loan rather than the other way around.

Premiums vary widely depending on age, health, lifestyle, the amount of cover and the term. A healthy non-smoker in their thirties can often arrange substantial cover for the price of a coffee or two a week. We'll always quote across the whole of market so you see the real cost for your circumstances.

Premium costs depend on your age, health, lifestyle (such as smoking), occupation, the amount of cover, the policy term and the type of insurance. Critical illness cover costs more than life-only cover. Generally, the younger and healthier you are when you apply, the lower your premiums.

Sometimes, but not always. For straightforward applications the insurer relies on the questions answered during application. For larger sums assured or more complex medical histories, the insurer may request a GP report, always with your written consent. The report is used solely to confirm and clarify your medical history so the insurer can make an accurate underwriting decision.

A loaded premium means an insurer has offered you cover but at a higher premium than the standard rate, reflecting additional risk. This might happen if you have a medical condition, a hazardous occupation, or a lifestyle factor the insurer considers higher risk. A loading from one insurer does not mean every insurer will load your premium, different insurers assess risk differently, and a specialist adviser can often find better terms elsewhere.

Underwriting is the process by which an insurer assesses the risk of insuring you. For straightforward applications it happens instantly through automated questions. For more complex cases, an insurer may ask for additional medical information, including a GP report, before making a decision. The GP report is requested with your consent and used solely to help the insurer understand your medical history in full. We guide clients through this process and help present information in the most favourable way.

Being declined by one insurer, particularly through an online comparison site, does not mean you are uninsurable. Most online declines are triggered by automated underwriting rules rather than a detailed assessment of your individual circumstances. A specialist adviser can review your full picture, approach insurers who are more likely to offer cover, and in many cases secure a policy at standard or near-standard rates. A previous decline must be declared on future applications, which is why working with a specialist before applying again is so important.

In many cases, yes. The outcome depends on the specific condition, how well-managed it is, and how long ago it was diagnosed or treated. Some conditions result in a small premium loading; others may result in an exclusion for that specific condition; and many are accepted at standard rates. We work with specialist insurers who assess medical histories in detail rather than applying blanket rules. The best approach is always to speak to an adviser before applying anywhere.

Yes, and it's arguably more important for self-employed people than for anyone else, because there is no employer sick pay to fall back on. Income protection pays a regular monthly income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury. For self-employed applicants, insurers will typically look at your accounts or tax returns to establish your insurable income. Variable income is not a barrier to getting cover.

A history of anxiety or depression does not automatically mean you will be declined or face significantly higher premiums. Most insurers assess mental health history on a case-by-case basis, looking at the severity, any medication, time off work, and how long ago it was. Many people with a history of anxiety or depression secure life insurance at standard rates. The key is knowing which insurers take a more considered view, and how to present your circumstances to them.

Yes, in many cases. Both high BMI and diabetes are assessed individually by insurers rather than automatically declined. For diabetes, insurers will typically consider the type, how well-controlled it is, and any related complications. For high BMI, they will look at your overall health profile rather than BMI alone. Specialist insurers often offer significantly better terms than mainstream comparison sites for both conditions.

Placing your life insurance in trust means the payout goes directly to your chosen beneficiaries without passing through your estate. This has two main benefits: the money is paid out faster (without waiting for probate), and it falls outside your estate for inheritance tax purposes. Not everyone needs a trust, but for most people with dependants or a mortgage it is worth considering. We can talk you through whether it makes sense for your situation at no extra cost.

Yes, most modern policies include guaranteed insurability options that let you increase cover on certain life events (such as marriage, having a child, or taking on a new mortgage) without further medical underwriting. Outside of those events, changes usually require a new application. If your circumstances change, speak to us before cancelling or replacing a policy.

You or your representatives contact the insurer (or us, and we'll help). The insurer will ask for supporting documentation, typically a death certificate for a life claim, or medical evidence for a critical illness or income protection claim. UK protection insurers paid out on around 98% of claims in recent years. We support clients through the claims process at no extra cost.

By making sure the application is completed accurately and the right product is in place from the start. The vast majority of declined claims happen because of non-disclosure on the original application. Our job is to make sure your application reflects your full medical and lifestyle history, so the insurer underwrites the policy properly and there are no surprises at the claim stage.