Life insurance explained

Life insurance explained

In a nutshell, you have to pay a premium (usually monthly) to the insurance provider for the duration of your policy, and on your death your beneficiaries will receive a payout (provided you die within the specified term, in the case of term assurance policies; see below). 

The amount of cover you’ll receive, and the premiums you’ll have to pay, will depend entirely on your individual circumstances and the kind of policy you choose. Your life insurance quote will take into account your medical history, age and lifestyle factors, and typically speaking, the younger and healthier you are, the cheaper your quote will be.

There are a whole range of providers offering life insurance these days, from high street banks (such as HSBC Life Insurance) to well-known insurers (Aviva Life Insurance and Legal and General Life Insurance, to name but two) and even more niche providers. All will offer different levels of cover and prices accordingly, so as with anything, make sure to compare quotes to find the best life insurance policy for your needs.

In any of the above broad categories, there are also joint and single life policies to choose from, a decision that any couple will need to carefully consider. Single life policies cover one person only, with any payout going to the estate. Joint policies, however, cover both parties, and will either pay out on the death of the first partner (first-death policies, which are typically used to provide a lump sum to cover the mortgage) or the second (second-death policies, which can be used to cover an inheritance tax bill). First-death policies are usually more common, however, and can mean that the surviving partner is left without insurance (unless they take out a new policy, which could be more expensive as they’ll likely be a lot older than when they first arranged cover).

This is just one reason why many people opt for two single-life policies, rather than a joint one, as this can often provide far better value. Not only that, but single life policies offer more flexibility with any payout distributed to the estate under the terms of the will, rather than going directly to the surviving spouse. Then there’s the fact that if both partners die within the policy term, there’ll be two payouts to loved ones. Premiums need not be any more expensive than having a joint-life policy, either, so it could be worth considering. 

While it isn’t a legal requirement to have a life insurance policy – though it’s likely that a mortgage provider will recommend you have one before they’ll grant you the loan (see more below) – it’s often recommended to invest in a suitable policy, for the simple reason that you’ll have peace of mind that your loved ones’ finances will be protected after your death. 

However, if you’re a mortgage-holder, it’s even more important to have a policy in place. A mortgage will probably be the biggest financial commitment you ever make, with it not uncommon to owe hundreds of thousands of pounds to your lender. Could your family afford to cover that kind of sum if they didn’t have your income? If not, life insurance is essential, as if they couldn’t keep up with the repayments, there’s the chance they’d have to sell the property to repay the debt. Having life insurance for a mortgage prevents this from happening. You can find out more about this kind of policy in our guide 'Do you need life insurance to get a mortgage?'.

That said, if you don’t have a partner, children or any dependents – or if their income wouldn’t be impacted should you die – it may not be worth getting cover. It’s all about your individual circumstances.