Life Insurance
Clear information about life insurance, what to consider and the next steps before requesting a quote.
What is Life Insurance?
Life insurance is designed to pay a benefit when the insured person dies during the period covered, subject to the policy terms. Different types of life cover can work in different ways, including term assurance and whole-of-life policies.
Who might consider this cover?
People may consider life cover where others depend on their income, where there is a mortgage or other financial commitment, or where they want to leave financial provision for their family. The amount and term should reflect the purpose of the cover.
Key things to understand
Check whether the cover is level, decreasing, increasing, renewable or whole of life and how this affects the benefit and premium.
Consider who should receive the proceeds and whether trust arrangements may be appropriate.
Check how long the policy lasts, the insured amount and what happens if the policy ends without a claim.
Insurers may ask about health, occupation, smoking and lifestyle when assessing an application.
What to check before arranging cover
Check the quotation, policy wording, schedule and any endorsements together. Pay particular attention to eligibility, insured events, exclusions, excesses, limits, waiting or deferred periods where applicable, and any conditions you must follow. The exact cover is determined by the insurer’s documents, not by this general website information.
Information we may need for a quote
The details required depend on the product. We may ask about the person, property or business being insured, the cover required, previous insurance and claims, and other information relevant to the insurer’s questions. Please provide complete and accurate information and tell us if relevant circumstances change.
Common questions
Does every policy provide the same cover?+
No. Insurers can use different definitions, limits, exclusions, excesses, eligibility rules and policy conditions. Compare the quotation and policy documents that apply to the cover being considered.
Will everything described on this page be covered?+
Not necessarily. This page gives general information only. The quotation, policy wording, schedule and endorsements confirm the actual cover and conditions.
What information will I need for a quote?+
The information depends on the product and insurer. We will tell you what details are required for the particular enquiry.
What happens after I make an enquiry?+
Tell us the type of cover you are interested in and provide the requested details. We can then explain the next steps and the information relevant to the available quotation.
This page provides general insurance information and is not a policy document. Cover is subject to insurer acceptance, eligibility and the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of the policy offered. Read the relevant product and policy documents before deciding whether to proceed.
Ready to make an enquiry?
Tell us which cover you are interested in and we will explain the information needed for the next step.