Best life insurance UK 2026: how the insurers compare
There’s no single best insurer for everyone. Of the 41 we compare, only Beagle Street, Scottish Widows and Vitality meet all three published measures we track. Each has a 5-star Defaqto rating, 99% or more of claims paid and a Trustpilot score of 4.5 or more.
Which is the best life insurer in the UK?
The best insurer for you is one that covers what you need, fits your budget and pays out when your family claims.
Three published measures show how each company performs: Defaqto product ratings, the share of claims paid and Trustpilot reviews. The sections below take each measure in turn, and our table compares all 41 insurers from A to Z.
Ratings don’t tell you what you’ll pay. Your premium depends on your age, health, lifestyle, smoking, family medical history, job and policy length.
Which life insurers have a 5-star Defaqto rating?
12 of the 41 insurers we compare have at least one level term policy rated 5 stars by Defaqto.
- Aviva
- Beagle Street
- Guardian
- Legal & General
- LV=
- NFU Mutual
- Royal London
- Scottish Widows
- The Exeter
- Virgin Money
- Vitality
- Zurich
Defaqto scores individual products from 1 to 5 stars. A rating belongs to one policy, not the whole insurer. Check the policy on your quote, as a 5-star version may only be sold through advisers.
Over 50s plans are rated in a separate category, so providers that only sell over 50s cover have no level term rating.
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Which life insurers pay out the most claims?
Of the large insurers below, Zurich paid the highest share of life claims in 2025 at 99.8%. Aviva paid the largest total: £861 million across 40,277 life and terminal illness claims.
Most claims are paid. Across the industry, insurers paid 97.9% of individual protection claims in 2025, and ABI members paid over £4 billion across 50,499 life claims in 2024.
| Insurer | Life claims paid | Share paid | What the figure covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aviva | £860.7 million | 98.7% | Individual life and terminal illness claims; the share is for life claims |
| Legal & General | £527 million | 97.5% | Life and over 50s claims |
| LV= | Over £80 million | 98% | Life claims |
| Royal London | £326 million | 94.2% | Term life and terminal illness claims; the share is for term life. Whole of life claims were another £282 million |
| Scottish Widows | £127 million | 99% | Life claims |
| Vitality | £105 million | 99.4% | Life Cover claims |
| Zurich | £228.6 million | 99.8% | Life protection claims |
Each insurer’s own 2025 claims figures. They aren’t all measured the same way, so compare them with care.
The common reasons a claim is turned down are a medical condition that wasn’t disclosed, or a claim that didn’t meet the policy definitions. In 2025, 24 of the 29 claims Guardian couldn’t pay were declined for misrepresentation. At Scottish Widows, 69% of the 229 unpaid claims that year were due to missing or incorrect information.
A small gap between two percentages matters less than how you apply. Insurers must ask all the relevant questions they need. They can’t reject your claim if you took reasonable care to answer honestly and to the best of your knowledge.
Which life insurers have the best customer reviews?
10 insurers score 4.5 or more out of 5 on Trustpilot from over 1,000 reviews.
- Beagle Street (4.5)
- British Seniors (4.9)
- Forester Life (4.6)
- LV= (4.5)
- Octopus Legacy (4.9)
- Royal London (4.6)
- Scottish Widows (4.6)
- Smart Insurance (4.9)
- SunLife (4.8)
- Vitality (4.6)
A Trustpilot profile covers the whole company, not just life insurance. LV=’s includes car, home and pet insurance, while NatWest’s covers its banking customers too.
Compare life insurers
These are the 41 insurers and brands we’ve reviewed, from A to Z: first the insurers that provide their own policies, then the banks, retailers and other brands that sell another insurer’s. It isn’t a ranking. Filter by cover type, sort by a rating, or follow any name to our review.
Many banks and retailers sell cover provided by another insurer. TSB’s policies, for example, are provided by Legal & General.
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| Insurer | Defaqto (level term) | Claims paid | Trustpilot | Age to apply | Terminal illness cover | Free gift now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviva Term, over 50s, whole of life, critical illness, income protection, joint | 5 stars | 98.7% (2025) Life claims | 4.3 / 5 65,316 reviews | 18–77 Life Insurance Plan | Included | Yes Amazon.co.uk gift card, Over 50s plans bought direct |
| Forester Life Term, critical illness, joint | 3 stars | No figure published | 4.6 / 5 1,092 reviews, as Foresters Financial | Under 80 at the start Personal Insurance; Mortgage Protection | Included With Life Benefit | No offer found |
| HSBC Life | 4 stars | 97.53% (2024) Life claims | 2.8 / 5 3 reviews, as Chesnara Life | Closed to new customers | Included HSBC Life Cover | No offer found |
| Legal & General Term, over 50s, whole of life, critical illness, income protection, joint | 5 stars | 97.5% (2025) Life and over 50s claims | 4.3 / 5 34,336 reviews | 18–77 (18–74 decreasing) Life Insurance; Decreasing Life Insurance | Included Terms of two years or more | Yes Gift card |
| LV= Term, critical illness, income protection, joint | 5 stars | 98% (2025) Life claims | 4.5 / 5 86,748 reviews | 17–84 Life Protection | Included | Yes E-gift card, online applications |
| National Friendly Term, over 50s, whole of life, income protection, joint | 3 stars | 100% Over 50s Life Cover claims, no period given | 4.3 / 5 648 reviews | 18–77 Friendly Life Cover (through advisers) | Included Friendly Life Cover | No offer found |
| OneFamily Over 50s, whole of life | No level term rating | 99.5% (2025) Family Assurance’s protection claims | 4.1 / 5 4,538 reviews | 50–80 Over 50s Life Cover | After two years Over 50s Life Cover | Yes E-gift card, phone applications |
| Royal London Term, whole of life, critical illness, income protection, joint | 5 stars | 94.2% (2025) Term life claims | 4.6 / 5 6,847 reviews | 18–88 Personal Menu Plan Life Cover (through advisers) | Included | No offer found |
| Scottish Friendly Over 50s, whole of life | No level term rating | 98.47% (2025) Life claims, as quoted by Post Office | 3.8 / 5 3,192 reviews | 50–74 My Mutual Guaranteed Over 50s Plan | Not stated | Yes Gift voucher |
| Scottish Widows Term, critical illness, income protection, joint | 5 stars | 99% (2025) Life claims | 4.6 / 5 17,404 reviews | 18–79 (Scottish Widows Protect); 18–59 (Plan & Protect) Scottish Widows Protect; Plan & Protect | Included Scottish Widows Protect | Yes 12 months of Disney+ |
| Shepherds Friendly Over 50s, whole of life, income protection | No level term rating | 100% Over 50s claims, no period given | 4.1 / 5 972 reviews | 50–80 Over 50s Life Insurance | Not stated | Yes Love2shop voucher |
| SunLife Over 50s, whole of life | No level term rating | 100% SunLife’s statement, no period given | 4.8 / 5 27,717 reviews | 49–85 Guaranteed Over 50 Plan | Not stated | Yes Gift card |
| The Exeter Term, income protection, joint | 5 stars | 95% (2025) Life claims | 4.0 / 5 1,475 reviews | 18–80 Real Life | Included | No offer found |
| Vitality Term, whole of life, critical illness, income protection, joint | 5 stars | 99.4% (2025) Life claims | 4.6 / 5 68,866 reviews | 16–74 Personal Protection Plan: Term Life Cover | Included | No offer found |
| Zurich Term, whole of life, critical illness, income protection, joint | 5 stars | 99.8% (2025) Life claims | 3.1 / 5 3,472 reviews | 18–83 Zurich Life Protection | Included | Yes Gift vouchers |
| Insurer | Defaqto (level term) | Claims paid | Trustpilot | Age to apply | Terminal illness cover | Free gift now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assura Protect
Provided by OneFamily Term, critical illness |
3 stars | 99.5% (2025) Family Assurance’s protection claims | 4.9 / 5 525 reviews | 18–69 Dividend Term Life | Included Dividend Term Life | No current offer confirmed Amazon voucher terms published; value varies |
| Assurity
Provided by National Friendly Over 50s, whole of life |
No level term rating | No figure published | No Trustpilot profile found | 50–80 (smokers 50–75) Over 50s Whole of Life | Not stated | No offer found |
| Bank of Scotland
Provided by Scottish Widows Term, critical illness, income protection, joint |
2 stars | 99% (2025) Scottish Widows’ life claims | 1.5 / 5 1,101 reviews | 18–59 online Scottish Widows Plan & Protect Life Cover | Included by phone Scottish Widows Protect | Yes 12 months of Disney+ |
| Barclays
Provided by Legal & General Term, critical illness, joint |
3 stars | 97.5% (2025) Legal & General’s life claims | 4.1 / 5 25,717 reviews | 18–74 Simple Life Insurance; Life insurance for mortgage protection | Included Terms of two years or more | Yes Cash reward for Barclays customers |
| Beagle Street
Provided by OneFamily Term, critical illness, joint |
5 stars | 99.5% (2025) Family Assurance’s protection claims | 4.5 / 5 4,734 reviews | 18–77 Life Insurance | Included | Yes Gift card and soft toy |
| Best Insurance
Provided by Shepherds Friendly Term, income protection |
2 stars | No figure published | 3.8 / 5 95 reviews | 18–60 Best Insurance Life Insurance | Included | No offer found |
| Blueberry Life
Provided by Shepherds Friendly Term |
3 stars | No figure published | Unavailable Breach of Trustpilot guidelines | 18–65 Blueberry Life Insurance | Included | Yes Amazon gift card or glucose sensor |
| British Seniors
Provided by Aviva Over 50s, whole of life, joint |
No level term rating | 100% (2025) British Seniors claims, paid by Aviva | 4.9 / 5 38,652 reviews | 50–80 Over 50s Life Insurance | Not stated | Yes Gift card |
| Co-op Insurance
Provided by Legal & General Term, over 50s, whole of life, critical illness, joint |
No level term rating | 97.5% (2025) Legal & General’s life and over 50s claims | 4.4 / 5 4,597 reviews | 18–77 Life Insurance | Included Terms of 2 years or more | Yes Gift card or cheque |
| Guardian
Provided by Scottish Friendly Term, critical illness, income protection |
5 stars | 87% (2025) Life Protection claims | 3.9 / 5 17 reviews | 18–64 Life Protection; Life Essentials | Included | No offer found |
| Halifax
Provided by Scottish Widows Term, critical illness, income protection, joint |
2 stars | 99% (2025) Scottish Widows’ life claims | 1.7 / 5 6,382 reviews | 18–59 online Scottish Widows Plan & Protect Life Cover | Included by phone Scottish Widows Protect | Yes 12 months of Disney+ |
| Lloyds Bank
Provided by Scottish Widows Term, critical illness, income protection, joint |
2 stars | 99% (2025) Scottish Widows’ life claims | 4.0 / 5 12,671 reviews | 18–59 Scottish Widows Plan & Protect Life Cover | Included by phone Scottish Widows Protect | Yes 12 months of Disney+ |
| National Assurance
Provided by National Friendly Over 50s, whole of life, income protection |
No level term rating | No figure published | No Trustpilot profile found | 50–80 (smokers 50–75) Simple Over 50s Life Product | Not stated | Yes Free will |
| Nationwide
Provided by Legal & General Term, critical illness, income protection, joint |
3 stars | 97.5% (2025) Legal & General’s life claims | 3.4 / 5 10,350 reviews | 18–77 (18–74 decreasing) Family life insurance; mortgage life insurance | Included Terms of two years or more | Yes Gift card |
| NatWest
Provided by Aviva Term, over 50s, whole of life, critical illness, joint |
3 stars | 98.7% (2025) Aviva’s life claims | 1.4 / 5 8,599 reviews | 18–77 Life Insurance Plan | Included | Yes Love2shop e-gift card |
| NFU Mutual
Provided by Aviva Term, whole of life, critical illness, income protection, joint |
5 stars | 98.7% (2025) Aviva’s life and terminal illness claims | 4.0 / 5 6,788 reviews | 18–89 Aviva Life Insurance+ | Included Aviva Life Insurance+ | No offer found |
| Octopus Legacy
Provided by Shepherds Friendly Term |
2 stars | No figure published | 4.9 / 5 4,168 reviews | 18–60 Octopus Legacy Life Insurance | Included | No offer found |
| Post Office
Provided by Scottish Friendly Term, over 50s, whole of life, critical illness, joint |
3 stars | 98.47% (2025) Scottish Friendly’s life claims | 1.8 / 5 3,974 reviews | 18–70 Post Office Life Insurance | Included | Yes Gift card or experience |
| Royal Bank of Scotland
Provided by Aviva Term, over 50s, whole of life, critical illness, joint |
3 stars | 98.7% (2025) Aviva’s life claims | 1.3 / 5 396 reviews | 18–77 Life Insurance Plan | Included | Yes Love2shop e-gift card |
| Sainsbury’s
Provided by Legal & General Term, over 50s, whole of life, critical illness, joint |
4 stars | 97.5% (2025) Legal & General’s life claims | 4.2 / 5 17,326 reviews | 18–77 (18–74 decreasing) Life Insurance; Decreasing Life Insurance | Included Terms of two years or more | Yes Nectar points |
| Santander
Provided by Aviva Term, over 50s, whole of life, critical illness, joint |
3 stars | 98.7% (2025) Aviva’s life claims | 3.6 / 5 12,642 reviews | 18–77 Life Insurance Plan | Included | Yes Cashback |
| Smart Insurance
Provided by Scottish Friendly Term, over 50s, whole of life, critical illness, joint |
3 stars | No figure published | 4.9 / 5 10,055 reviews | 18–64 Smart Family Life Insurance (Level option) | Included Smart Family Life Insurance | Yes Gift card |
| Tesco Insurance
Provided by Aviva Term, critical illness, joint |
3 stars | 98.7% (2025) Aviva’s life claims | 4.4 / 5 28,597 reviews | 18–77 Tesco Life Insurance: Family Protection or Mortgage Protection | Included | Yes Tesco e-gift card |
| TSB
Provided by Legal & General Term, over 50s, whole of life, critical illness, joint |
4 stars | 97.5% (2025) Legal & General’s life claims | 3.8 / 5 27,999 reviews | 18–77 (18–74 decreasing) Life Insurance; Decreasing Life Insurance | Included Terms of two years or more | Yes E-gift card |
| Ulster Bank
Provided by Aviva Term, over 50s, whole of life, critical illness, joint |
3 stars | 98.7% (2025) Aviva’s life claims | 1.3 / 5 278 reviews | 18–77 Life Insurance Plan | Included | Yes Love2shop e-gift card |
| Virgin Money
Provided by OneFamily Term, critical illness, joint |
5 stars | 99.5% (2025) Family Assurance’s protection claims | 3.1 / 5 13,362 reviews | 18–77 Family & Lifestyle Life Insurance | Included | Yes Cashback |
Listed alphabetically, not ranked: sorting by a rating only reorders the rows by that measure. Compiled on 3 October 2026 from our insurer reviews; ratings, scores and offers were checked on 24 September 2026, 25 September 2026 and 3 October 2026. A dash means we found no published figure, rating or offer.
How we put the table together
Defaqto. The highest rating any of the insurer’s products has in Defaqto’s level term category.
Claims paid. The latest figure each insurer published, with its year and scope. The scope varies: Aviva includes over 50s, Royal London reports term life and Beagle Street’s underwriter combines all protection claims. Banks and retailers usually show their underwriter’s figure, as Santander does with Aviva.
Ages, terminal illness and gifts. Entry ages and terminal illness cover apply to the policy named in the cell. Gift offers change often, and many apply only if you buy direct: Legal & General’s isn’t available through a financial adviser or a comparison site. Not every broker works with every insurer listed; see our insurer reviews for full details.
Start with the type of cover
Life insurance pays a lump sum or regular payments when you pass away to support your dependants, so it usually makes sense for couples and parents. Term life insurance lasts for a fixed period: choose level term for a fixed payout, or decreasing term, designed for a repayment mortgage (see mortgage life insurance).
Whole of life insurance pays out whenever you pass away if you keep paying the premiums. If you’re over 50, see over 50s life insurance and life insurance for over 60s.
Couples can look at joint life insurance and parents at family life insurance. For cover while you’re alive, see critical illness cover and income protection.
What to compare between policies
Once you know the type of cover you want, compare quotes on the same basis and look past the monthly price.
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Amount and termThe cover you need depends on your debts, mortgage or rent, dependants and income. Our life insurance calculator gives a starting figure.
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Guaranteed or reviewable premiumsGuaranteed premiums stay fixed. Reviewable premiums can change when the insurer reviews them, although reviewable policies tend to be cheaper to buy.
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Terminal illness coverMany policies let you claim early if you’re expected to live less than 12 months. Check the rules: Legal & General includes it on terms of two years or more.
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Definitions and exclusionsDefinitions and exclusions vary between insurers, so check what is and isn’t covered before you buy.
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Optional extrasCritical illness cover is often combined with life insurance. Waiver of premium costs extra and pays your premiums if illness or injury stops you working.
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Who receives the moneyA policy written in trust stays outside your estate, helping the payout avoid probate and inheritance tax. See life insurance in trust.
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One joint policy or two single onesA joint policy usually costs less than two single policies, but it pays out only once, on the first death.
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Free giftsSome insurers use gift cards to attract new customers, though Aviva notes its offer can be withdrawn at any time. See life insurance with a free gift.
How to choose a policy, step by step
Compare quotes for the same cover amount and term, and take reasonable care to answer every question truthfully: if you don’t, the insurer might not pay out. Once your policy starts, give your executor the account numbers and contact details, and remember you have 30 days to cancel for a full refund.
You can get quotes from specialist brokers or go direct, though not all insurers sell through comparison sites. Nearly all financial services in the UK must be authorised or registered by the FCA, and you can check any firm on the FCA’s Financial Services Register.
Which life insurer is the cheapest?
None is cheapest for everyone. Each insurer prices your policy on your own details, and decreasing term usually costs less than level term.
A lower quote is only better value if it gives the same cover amount, term and premium type. If you smoke or vape, see life insurance for smokers. For guaranteed acceptance cover at ages 50 to 85, see guaranteed life insurance, or check our guide to the average cost of life insurance.
From £10 per month for up to £280,000*
Example cover amounts by age, for level term cover.
- Age 30 · 20 yrs
- £289,847
- Age 35 · 20 yrs
- £173,440
- Age 40 · 15 yrs
- £123,428
- Age 45 · 15 yrs
- £81,616
- Age 50 · 10 yrs
- £59,917
- Age 55 · 10 yrs
- £34,029
- Age 60 · 10 yrs
- £18,089
- Age 65 · 10 yrs
- £11,689
- Age 70 · 10 yrs
- £7,068
*From £10 per month for up to £280,000 is an example based on the following pricing illustrations. £10 per month Life Insurance quoted rates are based on level term life cover for non-smokers with no pre-existing medical conditions or other high risk factors. Individual factors and medical underwriting will be assessed which may vary the premium and sum assured you are eligible for or may result in you being declined. Correct as on 2nd February 2026.
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From £5 per month for up to £90,000*
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Best life insurance questions
There isn’t one that’s best for everyone. Of the insurers we compare, only Beagle Street, Scottish Widows and Vitality have a 5-star Defaqto rating, 99% or more of claims paid and a Trustpilot score of 4.5 or more. The right insurer for you still depends on the cover you need, your health and the price you’re offered.
Aviva says it’s the UK’s largest life insurance provider, based on its analysis of 2025 company reporting. It paid £861 million across 40,277 life and terminal illness claims in 2025, more than any other insurer in our claims table. Legal & General paid £527 million in life and over 50s claims.
It depends on what the money is for. Level term pays a fixed sum during the term, decreasing term suits a repayment mortgage, and whole of life is often used for inheritance tax planning. Over 50s plans guarantee to pay out, but they aren’t always good value, as you could pay in more than you get out.
Compare quotes on the same basis: the same cover amount, term, policy type and premium type. Check what each policy includes, such as terminal illness cover, and compare the exclusions, which vary between insurers. Because premiums vary, it’s worth getting more than one quote.
Yes, insurers paid 97.9% of individual protection claims in 2025, though they check your medical history when you claim. Common reasons for a declined claim are undisclosed medical conditions and claims that don’t meet the policy definitions.
Not necessarily, so compare the cover and premium first. Gifts have conditions: Aviva’s Over 50s gift card is only available when you buy directly from Aviva. See over 50 life insurance with a free gift for over 50s offers.
Either works: you can get quotes from specialist brokers or buy direct, though not all insurers use comparison sites. Before buying, check the firm on the FCA’s Financial Services Register, which also lists firms the FCA has been told are working without authorisation or running scams.
Yes, and if you’re young or in good health it may be worth seeing if you can get a better deal elsewhere. As you get older or develop health conditions, keeping your existing policy may be cheaper. Never cancel your old policy until the new one is active and the first payment is made, as cancellation is final.
If the insurer was regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme pays accepted term, whole of life and critical illness claims in full. Full protection for term life and critical illness cover applies where the firm failed on or after 3 July 2015.
Yes, there’s no legal limit on how many policies you can have, and a claim can be made on each one. Insurers may still cap the total cover they’ll offer you. Our guide to having more than one life insurance policy explains when two policies make sense.
This page is for general information only and should not be considered financial advice. The right cover depends on your personal circumstances.
Sources
The facts on this page come from these sources.
- Defaqto: Defaqto Star Ratings (Life & Protection) (opens in a new tab) · defaqto.com, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Trustpilot: pages on 39 insurers, each listed in our review of that insurer · uk.trustpilot.com, accessed between 24 September 2026 and 3 October 2026.
- MoneyHelper: What is life insurance? (opens in a new tab); Why providers might reject your insurance claim – and what to do if this happens (opens in a new tab); How to know what kind of protection insurance you need (opens in a new tab); What is critical illness cover? (opens in a new tab); How to get your finances in order before you die (opens in a new tab) · moneyhelper.org.uk, accessed 26 September 2026.
- Association of British Insurers: Protection insurers pay out £7.84 billion to help customers safeguard their finances (2025 claims) (opens in a new tab); Guest opinion: From loss to lifeline - Speeding up bereavement claims (26 June 2026) (opens in a new tab); Record £8bn paid out in vital protection claims during 2024 (opens in a new tab); Term insurance (opens in a new tab) · abi.org.uk, accessed 26 September 2026.
- Citizens Advice: Your insurer refuses your claim when you don’t give relevant information (opens in a new tab) · citizensadvice.org.uk, accessed 26 September 2026.
- Companies House: pages on 3 insurers, each listed in our review of that insurer · find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk, accessed between 25 September 2026 and 3 October 2026.
- Financial Conduct Authority: FCA Financial Services Register - Guardian Financial Services Limited (FRN 798072), appointed representative of Scottish Friendly (opens in a new tab); FCA Financial Services Register - Legal and General Assurance Society Limited (FRN 117659), the insurer that provides Nationwide life insurance (opens in a new tab); FCA Financial Services Register - Family Assurance Friendly Society Limited (FRN 110067, mutual society number 939F), underwriter of Virgin Money Life Insurance (opens in a new tab); FCA Mutuals Public Register - Family Assurance Friendly Society Limited (registration number 939F), registered 14 May 1975 (opens in a new tab); MS24/1.3: Structure of the UK pure protection market for retail customers (September 2025) (opens in a new tab); Financial Services Register (opens in a new tab) · register.fca.org.uk, mutuals.fca.org.uk, fca.org.uk, accessed 25 September 2026; 26 September 2026.
- legislation.gov.uk: Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012, section 2: Disclosure and representations before contract or variation (opens in a new tab) · legislation.gov.uk, accessed 26 September 2026.
- Financial Services Compensation Scheme: Insurance (what FSCS covers) (opens in a new tab) · fscs.org.uk, accessed 26 September 2026.
- Aviva: Can you have more than one life insurance policy? (opens in a new tab) · aviva.co.uk, accessed 26 September 2026.
- Legal & General: Can you have more than one life insurance policy? (opens in a new tab) · legalandgeneral.com, accessed 26 September 2026.
- Insurer documents: Assura Protect, Assurity, Aviva, Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Beagle Street, Best Insurance, Blueberry Life, British Seniors, Co-op Insurance, Forester Life, Guardian, Halifax, HSBC Life, Legal & General, Lloyds Bank, LV=, National Assurance, National Friendly, Nationwide, NatWest, NFU Mutual, Octopus Legacy, OneFamily, Post Office, Royal Bank of Scotland, Royal London, Sainsbury’s, Santander, Scottish Friendly, Scottish Widows, Shepherds Friendly, Smart Insurance, SunLife, Tesco Insurance, The Exeter, TSB, Ulster Bank, Virgin Money, Vitality, Zurich. Each insurer’s policy documents, claims figures and announcements are listed in our review of that insurer.
Guides in this topic
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How life insurance works
How life insurance works: premiums, payouts, outliving the policy, answering questions honestly, cooling-off rights, FSCS protection and trusts.
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Life assurance vs life insurance
What life assurance and life insurance mean, and how the words are used for whole of life, term and workplace cover.
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Is life insurance worth it?
When life insurance is worth having, when it may not be, and how to weigh it up for your own situation.
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Life insurance brokers
How life insurance brokers work, how they are paid and how to check one on the FCA register.
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More than one life insurance policy
How many life insurance policies you can have, how they pay out and why insurers ask about your existing cover.
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Death in service benefit
How death in service works, who gets the money, how it is taxed and what happens when you leave your job.
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Life insurance for the self-employed
How life cover works when you work for yourself: tax on premiums, relevant life cover for directors, proving your income and sick pay.
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Military life insurance
What insurers ask service personnel, war and deployment exclusions, what the forces already pay and how reservists and veterans fit in.
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Life insurance for teachers
What the Teachers' Pension Scheme pays your family, and when your own life cover or income protection may still help.