Whole Life Insurance: Everything you need to know
Finding the right life insurance policy can feel like a challenge.
You might find that your quote is higher than these estimates.
Finding the right life insurance policy can feel like a challenge.
You might find that your quote is higher than these estimates.
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Finding the right life insurance policy can feel like a challenge. There’s so much overwhelming information on the market and various policy types that meet different needs. Here, we delve into everything you need to know about whole life insurance, how it works and whether it’s the right product for you.
Contents
A whole life insurance policy is an insurance product that provides life cover until you pass away. Unlike other types of life insurance, such as term life, it doesn’t matter when you pass away, as you are covered for the rest of your life. This type of product isn’t offered by all insurance companies, so you’ll need to shop around to find a good policy.
A great way to find a good deal on a whole life insurance policy is to employ the services of an insurance broker or price comparison site, which will search the market for the best deal possible.
A whole life insurance policy works like other life insurance types. You pay a monthly premium to an insurance company, which in turn offers you cover for the rest of your life. The insurance company then pays out a lump sum of money to your chosen beneficiaries when you pass away. These funds can be used to cover a variety of things, such as the outstanding amount on your mortgage or your funeral costs.
You should note that since a payout is guaranteed, whole life insurance policies tend to be more expensive.
You should note that since a payout is guaranteed, whole life insurance policies tend to be more expensive. As a result, you need to make sure to find the best deal possible. We provide a series of helpful tips on lowering your insurance premium below.
We compare plans from the leading life insurance providers
Firstly, it’s essential to understand what term life insurance is. Unlike whole life insurance, a term policy will offer you cover for a predetermined period. You usually choose this during the application process. The term life insurance policy will then cover you if you pass away within that predetermined period.
Term life insurance is further divided into two types – level term and decreasing term.
Term life insurance is further divided into two types – level term and decreasing term.
In general, neither is better than the other. Each type of policy has its uses and will suit different requirements. If you’d like to cover your funeral costs, an interest-only mortgage, or leave a lump sum inheritance to a loved one, a whole life insurance policy is best. This is because you have a guaranteed payout when you pass away.
If you wanted to cover your funeral costs and you took out a term life policy, you’d lose out on your payout if you lived beyond the insurance term.
As mentioned earlier, the best policy will depend on your needs. You must take into account what you want to be covered and for how long. This can be your mortgage, your family’s living costs if you pass away, or other debts such as credit cards. A great way to measure this is to use a life insurance calculator. Simply input your requirements, and you’ll get a rough estimate of how much insurance you need.
You can also get in touch with a mortgage company or broker to discuss your options.
Like term life insurance, whole life policies are further divided into two types – investment and non-profit.
This is the type of whole life policy most commonly offered by insurance companies. In this case, you pay a set monthly premium, and your beneficiaries receive the fixed coverage agreed on between you and the company.
Unlike with a non-profit policy, insurance companies will utilise part of your monthly premium and invest it. This means that your beneficiaries might receive more or less than the coverage you agreed on when you pass away.
The right choice for you will depend on the amount of risk you’re willing to put up. Although riskier, an investment policy opens up an opportunity for a much larger payout; however, there’s a possibility that your loved ones might receive less. If you’re unsure which is best for you, discuss your options with an insurance broker or an investment consultant for a second opinion.
The cost of your insurance policy will depend on various factors. Companies will take into account your occupation, health, medical history, job, and smoking status to determine your premium. The coverage amount and period will also influence the cost. A whole life insurance policy tends to be more expensive than term life since there’s a guaranteed payout regardless of when you pass away.
To give you a better idea of how much you might be paying for a whole life policy, we’ve put together a helpful table below.
To give you a better idea of how much you might be paying for a whole life policy, we’ve put together a helpful table below. Note that these estimates are for a non-smoking applicant looking for around £100,000 of cover.
| Age | Approximate monthly cost |
| 30 | £70 |
| 40 | £100 |
| 50 | £150 |
| 60 | £210 |
| 70 | £350 |
You might find that your quote is higher than these estimates. If that’s the case, we’ve provided some helpful tips below on how to reduce your premium.
Like any other life insurance policy, a whole life policy pays out when you pass away. However, unlike term life, your payout is guaranteed and will be made regardless of when you pass away. As evidenced by our cost estimate sheet, this type of policy is more expensive than term life.
There are instances when an insurance company will decline a payout to your beneficiaries. It’s essential to check the small print in your policy to avoid any disappointments. Below, we take a look at some of the most common reasons.
Insurance companies will have specific rules and regulations regarding their life insurance policies. It would be best to discuss these with the insurance provider so that your beneficiaries aren’t faced with a declined claim when you pass away. The good thing is that many of the most common reasons can be avoided:
If you’re thinking of landing a cheaper premium by lying on your application – don’t. If you fail to disclose information that could affect your insurance premium, your beneficiaries could be declined a payout if the insurance company finds out. This includes your smoking status or any pre-existing health conditions you may have. If your insurance company finds out before you pass away, your policy could be terminated, or you could be forced to pay a flat fee for the premium you’ve missed.
Most insurance companies will not pay out in the unfortunate event that someone commits suicide within 12 to 24 months of their policy. This defence mechanism aims to protect insurance companies and vulnerable customers looking for an insurance payout to cover their debt. As a way to screen for these issues, insurance companies require applicants to disclose whether they have or have had mental illness issues.
Another common reason is when the insurance company does not cover the cause of death. An example would be if a policyholder died whilst competing in motorsport or taking part in an extreme sport. Many insurance companies state that in these situations they will not cover the customer. To avoid this issue, policyholders should look to get short-term life insurance for the period in which they are taking part in the hazardous activity.
As discussed earlier, the main benefit of a whole life insurance policy is that your beneficiaries are guaranteed a payout. The reasons for taking out this type of policy include:
Many insurance companies offer Over 50 life insurance policies as their sole whole of life insurance product. Unlike a regular whole of life policy, Over 50s life insurance is mainly used to cover funeral costs. The coverage amount tends to be much lower, but so are the premiums.
There are some differences to taking out an Over 50s policy over a whole of life policy which we cover in the table below:
| Over 50s Policy | Whole Life Policy |
| Rest of life cover | Rest of life cover |
| Guaranteed acceptance if you’re within the specified age range (typically 50-80) | Approval depends on application details and medical condition |
| No medical questions asked | Medical questions required |
| No medical examination | Some companies might require a medical depending on your condition and age |
| Coverage tends to be much lower (typically up to £30,000) | Coverage can be much higher (typically up to £750,000) |
Since the coverage amount of an Over 50s policy is lower, policyholders tend to use it to cover funeral costs or other more minor expenses. This type of policy would not be suitable to cover a mortgage or your family’s living costs when you pass away.
It can be challenging to calculate how much life insurance coverage you need on your own. You should first decide whether you want just your mortgage paid or to cover your family’s living costs. You can then use a life insurance calculator to get an estimate of how much insurance you need.
It’s essential to be thorough in this process since whole life policies aren’t cheap, and you don’t want to be paying for more than you need.
It’s essential to be thorough in this process since whole life policies aren’t cheap, and you don’t want to be paying for more than you need. You should take into account inheritance tax, how much your family needs to maintain the same lifestyle and the cost of your interest-only mortgage. This should give you an indicator of how much you need.
Each insurance company will have different regulations when it comes to cancelling a whole life policy. You should check if you’re able to recover the cash value of your policy before you cancel. This usually depends on how long you’ve had your policy for.
One of the main reasons for cancellations is that whole life insurance policies are more expensive than term policies. To avoid paying more than you can afford, make sure you get multiple quotes and consider the cost implications on your living expenses.
Most insurance companies will have ‘surrender periods’ implemented as defence mechanisms to ensure that they don’t lose money with your policy. This usually means that you’ll pay a fee for cancelling your policy early, or you won’t receive your policy’s cash value.
If you’ve surpassed the surrender period, there are a couple of options you can take:
Note that your options will differ depending on the company you choose, so make sure to discuss these details before taking out a policy.
The best company will depend on your requirements and the products on offer at the time. You’ll find that not all companies offer the same policies, rewards, benefits, and prices, so it’s essential to shop around before settling on a policy.
As with taking out any insurance, you need to make sure to discuss the small print of your policy in detail. You wouldn’t want your beneficiaries to be declined a claim due to a small clause that you failed to realise. Also, make sure to use a life insurance calculator so that you’re getting a good idea of how much coverage you need.
If you and your partner are interested in taking out life insurance, you should consider a joint policy. This is usually available with most insurance companies that offer whole life insurance. The main benefit is that you and your spouse can save up to 40% on the cost of coverage instead of taking out two separate policies.
Usually, the payout is made after the first death of the two, but sometimes it can be after both policyholders pass away. Make sure that you clarify with your insurance provider which one applies to you.
If you’re interested in whole life insurance but you’re feeling priced out due to the high premiums, there are specific measures you can take to help lower your premium. Although there are factors that you can’t help, such as age and pre-existing conditions, there are variables under your control that you should work on.
The first step and best way to reduce your premium is to quit smoking. This will significantly affect your premium since smoking can cause various health implications later in life. It would help if you also made an effort to lead a healthier life and reach an optimal BMI. Insurance companies consider your weight to measure your chances of developing other health complications in the future.
Another fantastic way to lower your premium is to make sure you shop around. The first quote you receive is rarely the cheapest or best one, so make sure to look around. The best way is to go through a price comparison site or insurance broker, both of which will search the market for the best deals.
If you have pre-existing health conditions, you must inform your insurance provider. Failing to do so could result in your beneficiaries being denied a payout. Most insurance providers offer life coverage to customers with a pre-existing condition; however, they will charge you a higher premium.
The increase will depend on the type of condition you have, such as:
If your application is declined, this isn’t to say you can’t get coverage. You must simply shop around. Chances are there are companies on the market that will offer you cover. If possible, you should opt to go with an insurance provider or broker with a history of dealing with customers that suffer from your condition. This can help reduce your premium and increase your chances of finding cover.
Most insurance companies in the UK won’t provide critical illness cover with your whole life insurance policy. Critical illness cover will provide you with an early payout if you are diagnosed with an approved critical illness. The funds can be used to cover the medical bills of your condition, which can often last until you pass away. Usually, with a term policy, you can add this benefit for an extra monthly cost.
The early payout can also help cover your loss of income whilst you are out of work. This is especially important if you are the primary income earner in your household. Without the protection, could your family and loved ones maintain the same quality of life?
If you’re set on getting critical illness cover, you’ll find that most providers will allow you to take it out as a stand-alone policy. However, paying two monthly premiums will be an expensive cost.
Whether you should get whole life insurance or not will depend on your particular requirements. If you’d like to leave a considerable inheritance or cover the inheritance tax costs of your estate, a whole life policy can make things easy for your beneficiaries.
If you’re interested in covering the costs of your funeral, then you could opt for an Over 50s life insurance policy. The premiums are much lower, and you are still guaranteed a payout. On the other hand, if you only need life insurance to cover you over a certain period, such as your mortgage term or the period in which your children are likely to be still financially dependent on you, you should opt for a term life policy.
When it comes to comparing whole life insurance quotes, it can be overwhelming to sift through all of the options available. At Life Cover Quotes, we understand the importance of finding the right coverage to protect you and your loved ones, which is why we offer a convenient platform to compare quotes from multiple providers.
Our platform connects you with experienced brokers who can help you find the best whole life insurance policy to suit your needs and budget. We take into account your age, health, occupation and other factors to provide you with personalized quotes from top insurance providers.
By connecting with our brokers, you can easily compare whole life insurance quotes and find the right policy to suit your needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you find the best coverage for you and your family.
Whole life insurance is designed to provide lifelong coverage, ensuring a guaranteed death benefit payout to your beneficiaries upon your death. This can help protect your family’s financial future, cover funeral expenses, and provide financial support for your loved ones.
Whole life insurance can be suitable for individuals between the ages of 30 and 60, depending on their financial situation, family circumstances, and long-term financial goals.
Yes, if you have a permanent life insurance policy, you can access the cash value before your death. However, withdrawing money or taking a policy loan may reduce the death benefit paid to your beneficiaries when you pass away.
Some factors affecting whole life insurance premiums include your age, health, lifestyle, coverage amount, and the policy’s specific features.
Whole life insurance can be a suitable investment option for some individuals who require permanent coverage and have maxed out their retirement accounts and diversified their investment portfolios. However, it may not be the best choice for everyone, as there are other investment options that could offer higher returns.
When the insured person dies, the insurance company pays the death benefit to the beneficiaries. The cash value of the policy is typically included in the death benefit, and any outstanding loans against the policy are deducted from the payout.
Yes, you can have more than one life insurance policy, including a combination of term and whole life policies. This can help ensure adequate coverage for different financial needs and life stages.
Whole life insurance policies often come with living benefits such as cash value accumulation, which can be accessed during the policyholder’s lifetime for various financial needs. Additionally, some policies offer riders that provide benefits in case of critical illness, disability, or long-term care needs.
Whole life insurance policies build cash value through a combination of premium payments and interest or investment earnings. A portion of your premium goes towards the policy’s cash value, which grows over time and can be accessed during your lifetime for various financial needs.
