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It depends on who relies on you financially. If your death would leave family unable to cover a mortgage, rent, childcare or everyday bills, life insurance replaces that money with a cash lump sum. People with a mortgage, young children or a partner who shares the bills usually benefit most. If no one depends on your income, you may not need it.

A good starting point is enough to clear your mortgage and any debts, plus a few years of income for your family to live on. Many people choose around 10 times their yearly salary and then add the outstanding mortgage. Think about how long your family would need support, for example until the children leave home. Once you have a figure in mind, comparing quotes shows you what it costs.

Your price depends on your age, health, whether you smoke, the amount of cover and the length of the policy. Term life insurance, which runs for a set number of years, is usually the cheapest type. The younger and healthier you are when you start, the lower the price tends to be, and it is normally fixed for the life of the policy.

The main types are term life, whole of life and over 50s plans. Term cover pays out if you die within a set period, such as 25 years, and is the most popular choice for families and mortgages. Whole of life cover lasts for life and is designed to pay out when you die, provided the policy remains in force and its terms are met, so it costs more. Over 50s plans accept you without health questions but usually pay smaller amounts.

Most policies pay a cash lump sum to the people you choose if you die while you are covered. Term policies pay out only if you die within the term, while whole of life and over 50s plans are designed to pay out whenever you die, provided the policy remains in force and its terms are met. Many policies also pay out early if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness and expected to live less than 12 months.

Yes. Insurers look at your age, health, weight, family medical history and whether you smoke. Smokers usually pay more, and you count as a smoker if you have used any tobacco or vaping product in the last 12 months. Answering honestly matters, because wrong or missing information can stop a claim being paid.

Often yes. Many people with conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or anxiety can still get cover, though the price may be higher or a related cause may be excluded. Some insurers are more flexible than others, which is why it pays to compare. Always declare your full medical history, as leaving anything out can stop a claim being paid.

Whether a trust suits you depends on your circumstances, and it is usually free to set up. Putting a policy in trust means the payout goes straight to the people you choose, rather than into your estate, so it normally avoids inheritance tax and reaches your family faster without waiting for probate, the legal process of sorting out someone’s estate. Your insurer or a solicitor can help you set one up.

A single policy covers one person. A joint policy covers two people, usually a couple, but it pays out only once, normally on the first death, and then ends. Two single policies cost a little more but pay out twice and stay in place if you split up. Many couples compare both before deciding.

Yes. Most cover is monthly with no fixed contract, so you can stop at any time and the cover simply ends. You also get a cooling off period, usually 30 days, to get a full refund if you change your mind early on. If your needs change, it is safer to set up new cover before cancelling the old policy, so you are never left unprotected.

Most claims are paid. Across the industry more than 90% of life insurance claims were paid in 2024, and many insurers pay over 95%, according to the Association of British Insurers. Claims are usually declined only when something important was not declared at the start, such as a health condition or smoking. If a claim is refused and you feel it is unfair, you can complain to the insurer and then to the free Financial Ombudsman Service.

You answer a few quick questions about you and the cover you want. Life Adviser does not itself compare or recommend insurance policies. We may introduce you to one FCA-authorised adviser firm, or one of its appointed representatives. That firm can compare life insurance products and quotes from the insurers available to it and provide any advice or arrange any cover. The range of insurers considered depends on the adviser firm’s panel and may not include the whole market. It is free to use and there is no obligation to buy.