The coronavirus pandemic highlighted just how financially vulnerable many of us can be, and how important it is to have the right financial protection in place in the event of a crisis.
If recent years have taught us anything, it's that the unexpected can happen, and being prepared is key to ensuring our loved ones are financially secure.
The importance of life insurance
Data shows that 60% of Brits don't have life insurance, despite a large majority having dependants, a mortgage, or both. Buying life insurance can be easy to put off; after all, no one likes to think about the worst happening to them. However, if you've realised that your family would be financially vulnerable if something happened to you, buying life insurance for as little as £5 a month can be a small price to pay for safeguarding your family's future.
Many life insurance policies will cover you for coronavirus, provided you answer the application questions honestly and don't hide any pre-existing conditions. Most insurers now ask whether you've recently been abroad and whether you've been in contact with someone with COVID-19, tested positive for the virus, or had any symptoms. If any of those apply to you, insurers may postpone accepting your application until they're satisfied you're not at increased risk.
Adding critical illness cover
Many life insurance policies allow you to add critical illness cover, which pays out a lump sum if you're diagnosed with a condition or illness listed on your policy. Coronavirus is not one of the illnesses listed on any critical illness cover, so you wouldn't be covered if you simply tested positive, but that doesn't mean critical illness cover isn't worth having. If you contracted the virus and it led to severe complications such as a heart attack or stroke, you may still be able to make a claim.
Don't forget income protection
It's easy to forget about income protection or assume you don't need it, but as the pandemic showed, loss of income can become a very real problem. Income protection can help replace your salary if you can't work due to an accident, illness or redundancy.
Having this type of cover can prove invaluable if you have bills to pay, a mortgage, and dependants to care for. It's essential to check exactly what you're covered for, though, many policies have a waiting period of at least 30 days before they'll pay out, so if you're only off work for a couple of weeks you may not receive anything. Some policies also now include coronavirus-related exclusions.
Seek advice
If you're not sure which type of cover is most suitable for you and your circumstances, please get in touch and we'll help you ensure you and your family have the right financial protection in place.
As with all insurance policies, conditions and exclusions will apply.