GUIDE TO GUIDE TO LIFESTYLE PROTECTION

Individual lifestyle factorsdetermine the costThe price you pay for a life insurancepolicy depends on a number of things.These include the amount of money youwant to cover and the length of the policy,but also your age, your health, your lifestyleand whether you smoke.Replacing at least someof your incomeIf you have a spouse, partner or children,you should have sufficient protection to payTwo basic life insurance types What are your family expenses and howwould they change if you died? How much would the family expenditureincrease on requirements such aschildcare if you were to die? How much would your family incomedrop if you were to die? How much cover do you receive fromyour employer or company pensionscheme and for how long? What existing policies do you havealready and how far do they go tomeeting your needs? How long would your existingsavings last? What state benefits are there that couldprovide extra support to meet yourfamily’s needs? How would the return of inflation to theeconomy affect the amount of your coverover time? lThere are two basic types of lifeinsurance, ‘term life’ and ‘whole-of-life’,but within those categories there aredifferent variations.The cheapest, simplest form of lifeinsurance is term life insurance. It isstraightforward protection, there is noinvestment element and it pays out a lumpsum if you die within a specified period.There are several types of term insurance.The other type of protection available isa whole-of-life insurance policy designedto provide you with cover throughout yourentire lifetime. The policy only pays outonce the policyholder dies, providing thepolicyholder’s dependants with a lumpsum, usually tax-free. Depending on theindividual policy, policyholders may haveto continue contributing right up until theydie, or they may be able to stop paying inonce they reach a stated age, even thoughthe cover continues until they die.Remove the burden of any debtsGenerally speaking, the amount of lifeinsurance you may need should providea lump sum that is sufficient to removethe burden of any debts and, ideally, leaveenough over to invest in order to providean income to support your dependants forthe required period of time.The first consideration is to clarify whatyou want the life insurance to protect. Ifyou simply want to cover your mortgage,To prevent your family from beingfinancially disadvantaged by yourpremature death and to provide enoughfinancial support to maintain theircurrent lifestyle, there are a few morevariables you should consider:GUIDE TO LIFESTYLE PROTECTIONThese are some events when youshould consider reviewing your lifeinsurance requirements: Buying your first home with a partner Covering loans Getting married or entering into aregistered civil partnership Starting a family Becoming a stay-at-home parent Having more children Moving to a bigger property Salary increases Changing your job Reaching retirement Relying on someone else to support you Personal guarantee for business loansthen an amount equal to the outstandingmortgage debt can achieve that. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and theamount of cover – as well as how long it lastsfor – will vary from person to person.off your mortgage and any other liabilities.After that, you may need life insurance toreplace at least some of your income. Howmuch money a family needs will vary fromhousehold to household so, ultimately, it'sup to you to decide how much money youwould like to leave your family that wouldenable them to maintain their currentstandard of living.07partner, children, brother, sisteror parents? What kind of financial support does yourfamily have now? What kind financial support will yourfamily need in the future? What kind of costs will need to becovered, such as household bills, livingexpenses, mortgage payments, educationcosts, debts or loans, funeral costs?

DIFFERENT TYPESOF LIFE INSURANCEWhen it comes to life insurance, you've got options‘Single life’ policies cover just one person. A ‘joint life’policy covers two people and when one person on thepolicy dies, the money is paid out and the policy ends.You will need to decide whether the joint policy pays outon first or second death, as this will determine when thepolicy ends.When choosing between these options think about:08 GUIDE TO LIFESTYLE PROTECTION Affordability – a joint life policy is usually moreaffordable than two separate single policies Cover needs – do you both have the same life insuranceneeds, or would separate policies with different levels ofcover be more appropriate? Work benefits – if one of you has work ‘death in service’benefit, you might only need one plan. Health – if your joint policy is with someone in poorhealth, this may increase your monthly payments. l

TERMLIFEINSURANCEA good option for family protectionWith a decreasing-term policy, theamount you're covered for decreases overthe term of the policy. These policies areoften used to cover a debt that reducesover time, such as a repayment mortgage.A level-term policy pays out a lump sumif you die within the specified term. Theamount you're covered for remains levelthroughout the term – hence the name.Family income benefit policiesFamily income benefit life assurance is atype of decreasing term policy. Instead ofa lump sum, though, it pays out a regularincome to your beneficiaries until thepolicy's expiry date if you die.You can arrange for the same amountas your take-home income to be paid outto your family if you die. lGUIDE TO LIFESTYLE PROTECTIONLevel-term life insurance policiesDecreasing-termlife insurance policiesPremiums are usually cheaper than forlevel-term cover as the amount insuredreduces as time goes on. Decreasingterm assurance policies can also be usedfor Inheritance Tax planning purposes. The monthly or annual premiums youpay usually stay the same too.Level-term policies can be a goodoption for family protection, whereyou want to leave a lump sum that yourfamily can invest to live on after you'vegone. It can also be a good option if youneed a specified amount of cover for acertain length of time, for example, tocover an interest-only mortgage that'snot covered by an endowment policy.09With term life insurance policyyou choose the amount youwant to be insured for andthe period for which you want cover. Thisis the most basic type of life insurance. Ifyou die within the term, the policy paysout to your beneficiaries. If you don't dieduring the term, the policy doesn't payout and the premiums you've paid are notreturned to you.There are two main types of term lifeinsurance to consider – level-term anddecreasing-term life insurance.

WHOLE-OF-LIFEINSURANCEGuaranteed tax-free payment whenever you dieAwhole-of-life insurance policy is designed to giveyou a specified amount of cover for the whole ofyour life and pays out when you die, wheneverthat is. Because it's guaranteed that you'll die at some point(and therefore that the policy will have to pay out), thesepolicies are more expensive than term insurance policies,which only pay out if you die within a certain time frame.Paying Inheritance TaxWhole-of-life insurance policies can be a useful way tocover a future Inheritance Tax bill. If you think your estatewill have to pay Inheritance Tax when you die, you couldset up a whole-of-life insurance policy to cover the taxdue, meaning that more is passed to your beneficiaries.To ensure the proceeds of the life insurance policy arenot included in your estate, though, it is vital that thepolicy be written in an appropriate trust. This is a verycomplicated area of estate planning and you shouldobtain professional financial advice.A whole-of-life insurance policy has a double benefit not only are the proceeds of the policy outside your estatefor Inheritance Tax purposes, the premium paid for thepolicy will reduce the value of your estate while you're alive,further reducing your estate's future Inheritance Tax bill.10 GUIDE TO LIFESTYLE PROTECTIONDifferent types of policyThere are different types of whole-of-life insurancepolicy – some offer a set payout from the outset, othersare linked to investments and the payout will depend onperformance. Investment-linked policies are either unitlinked policies, linked to funds, or with-profits policies,which offer bonuses.Some whole-of-life policies require that premiums arepaid all the way up to your death. Others become paid-up ata certain age and waive premiums from that point onwards.Whole-of-life policies (but not all) have an investmentelement and therefore a surrender value. If, however, youcancel the policy and cash it in, you will lose your cover.Where there is an investment element, your premiums areusually reviewed after ten years and then every five years.Whole-of-life policies are also available without aninvestment element and with guaranteed or investmentlinked premiums from some providers.ReviewsThe level of protection selected will normally beguaranteed for the first ten years, at which point it willbe reviewed to see how much protection can be providedin the future. If the review shows that the same level ofprotection can be carried on, it will be guaranteed to thenext review date.If the review reveals that the same level of protectioncan’t continue, you’ll have two choices: Increase your payments Keep your payments the same and reduceyour level of protectionMaximum coverMaximum cover offers a high initial level of cover fora lower premium, until the first plan review, which isnormally after ten years. The low premium is achievedbecause very little of your premium is kept back forinvestment, as most of it is used to pay for thelife insurance.After a review you may have to increase your premiumssignificantly to keep the same level of cover, as this dependson how well the cash in the investment reserve (underlyingfund) has performed.Standard coverThis cover balances the level of life insurance withadequate investment to support the policy in lateryears. This maintains the original premium throughoutthe life of the policy. However, it relies on the valueof units invested in the underlying fund growing ata certain level each year. Increased charges or poorperformance of the fund could mean you’ll have toincrease your monthly premium to keep the samelevel of cover. l

LIFEINSURANCECOVID-19: What you need to knowWhat questions should I expectto be asked on coronavirus whenapplying for life insurance?Life insurance companies have developedspecific questions to assess the risk aroundcoronavirus for new applications. This issimply to make sure that they have the fullpicture when they assess your health andmedical circumstances.What happens if I miss a payment?Does my life policy become nulland void?Will some companies accepta payment holiday and if so,under what conditions?If you are experiencing financialdifficulty, you should contact yourinsurer or professional financial adviseras soon as possible to discuss the options,such as payment deferrals or holidays.Circumstances in which a paymentholiday is accepted, according to theterms and conditions of a policy, willbe down to individual insurers. lLife insurance policies typically have aperiod of grace after a non-payment ofpremiums before they lapse. However,GUIDE TO LIFESTYLE PROTECTIONMany insurers are still accepting lifeinsurance applications and some have nowincluded a coronavirus-related question.There are insurers delaying applicationsif you are currently testing positive forcoronavirus and need to provide medicalevidence, but this does not mean youcannot apply again in the future.If you answer ‘yes’ to some of thesequestions, your decision may be delayeduntil you have recovered. The decisionsmay vary between insurers.If you’re classed as being high-riskbecause of your medical condition, forexample, if you have severe diabetes,asthma, a heart condition, an auto-immunedisease or a number of other conditions,then you won’t be classed as ‘self-isolating’unless you’ve got symptoms.People who are being advised to stay athome to keep themselves safe will just beclassed as a standard low-risk individual.each insurer will have a different ruleand you should contact your insurer assoon as possible if you miss a payment.The reason for a missed paymentcould also have an impact on how itis treated by an insurer, for example,if you are seriously ill or experiencingfinancial difficulty.If you can’t make a payment and planto cancel your direct debit, speak to yourprofessional financial adviser to discussyour options. Can I still buy life insurance?Coronavirus questions may include: Have you tested positive for coronavirus? Are you currently in self-isolation? Have you had any symptomsof coronavirus? Have you been in direct contact withanyone who has been diagnosed orsuspected of having a coronavirus?11The coronavirus (COVID-19)pandemic has led to concernsand questions about how best toprotect our loved ones in times like this.If you or a loved one has to make aclaim on a life insurance policy as a resultof the coronavirus pandemic, it would behandled like any other life insurance claimand be paid subject to the usual policyterms and conditions.

CRITICALILLNESS COVERA helping hand for you and your loved onesIf you were diagnosed with acritical illness, would you be ableto cope financially? It’s easy tothink ‘I’d cope, that’ll never happento me’ but most of us know someoneeither directly or through friends andfamily that has been affected.As we’ve seen from the coronavirus(COVID-19) pandemic, any of uscan become ill at any age. CriticalIllness cover can help to minimisethe financial impact on you andyour loved ones. For example, if youneeded to give up work to recover orif you passed away during the lengthof the policy, the money could beused to help fund the mortgage orrent, everyday bills or even simplethings like the weekly food shop –giving you and/or your family somepeace of mind when you need it most.Surviving financial hardship12 GUIDE TO LIFESTYLE PROTECTIONAfter surviving a critical illness,you may not be able to return towork straight away (or ever), or youmay need home modifications orprivate therapeutic care. It is sadto contemplate a situation wheresomeone survives a serious illness butfails to survive the ensuing financialhardship. Preparing for the worstis not something we want to thinkabout when feeling fit and healthy, butyou never know what life is going tothrow at you next.Tax-free lump sumCritical illness cover, either on itsown or as part of a life assurancepolicy is designed to pay you atax-free lump sum on the diagnosisof certain specified life-threateningor debilitating (but not necessarilyfatal) conditions, such as a heartattack, stroke, certain types/stagesof cancer and multiple sclerosis.Comprehensive policyA more comprehensive policy willcover many more serious conditions,including loss of sight, permanentloss of hearing and a total andpermanent disability that stopsyou from working. Some policiesalso provide cover against the lossof limbs. But not all conditionsare necessarily covered, whichis why you should always obtainprofessional financial advice.Much-needed financial supportIf you are single with no dependants,critical illness cover can be used topay off your mortgage, which meansthat you would have fewer bills or alump sum to use if you became veryunwell. And if you are part of a couple,it can provide much-needed financialsupport at a time of emotional stress.Exclusions and limitationsThe illnesses covered arespecified in the policy along withany exclusions and limitations,which may differ between insurers.Critical illness policies usuallyonly pay out once, so are nota replacement for income.Some policies offer combinedlife and critical illness cover. Thesepay out if you are diagnosed with acritical illness, or you die, whicheverhappens first.

Some policies allow you to increaseyour cover, particularly after lifestylechanges such as marriage, movinghome or having children. If youcannot increase the cover under yourexisting policy, you could considertaking out a new policy just to 'topup' your existing cover.Defined conditionsA policy will provide cover onlyfor conditions defined in the policydocument. For a condition to becovered, your condition must meetVery few policies will pay out as soonas you receive a diagnosis of any of theconditions listed in the policy and mostpay out only after a ‘survival period’,which means that if you die within thisperiod, even if you meet the definitionof the critical illness given in the policy,the cover would not pay out.Range of factorsHow much you pay for criticalillness cover will depend on a rangeof factors including what sort ofpolicy you have chosen, your age, theamount you want the policy to payout and whether or not you smoke.Activities of Daily Living include: Bathing Dressing and undressing Eating Transferring from bed to chairand back againMake sure you’re fully coveredThe good news is that medicaladvances mean more people thanever are surviving conditions thatmight have killed earlier generations.Critical illness cover can provide cashto allow you to pursue a less stressfullifestyle while you recover fromillness, or you can use it for any otherpurpose. Don’t leave it to chance –make sure you’re fully covered. lGUIDE TO LIFESTYLE PROTECTIONLifestyle changesSurvival periodPermanent, total disability is usuallyincluded in the policy. Some insurersdefine ‘permanent total disability’ asbeing unable to work as you normallywould as a result of sickness, whileothers see it as being unable toindependently perform three ormore ‘Activities of Daily Living’ asa result of sickness or accident. If you already have an existingcritical illness policy, you might findthat by replacing a policy you wouldlose some of the benefits if you havedeveloped any illnesses since you tookout the first policy. It is importantto seek professional financial advicebefore considering replacing orswitching your policy, as pre-existingconditions may not be covered undera new policy.the policy definition exactly. Thiscan mean that some conditions,such as some forms of cancer, won'tbe covered if deemed insufficientlysevere. Similarly, some conditionsmay not be covered if you suffer fromthem after reaching a certain age, forexample, many policies will not coverAlzheimer's disease if diagnosed afterthe age of 60.13Pre-existing conditions

CRITICALILLNESS COVERCOVID-19: What you need to knowC14 GUIDE TO LIFESTYLE PROTECTIONritical illness insurance offers you and your lovedones financial support should you unexpectedlyfall ill with a specified illness.Critical illnesses are identified under a specificset of criteria and coronavirus (COVID-19) is nota specified critical illness under the Association ofBritish Insurers (ABI) ‘Guide to Minimum Standardsfor Critical Illness Cover’.In the unfortunate event that you were to develop acritical illness that is addressed in the “ABI Guide toMinimum Standards for Critical Illness” as a resultof coronavirus, the majority of insurers would beexpected to approach this claim in the same wayas they would usually.Most people will still be able to get critical illnessinsurance at this difficult time. In a minority of cases,such as if you are experiencing coronavirus symptomsor have tested positive for coronavirus and are stillexperiencing symptoms, there could be a delay to thedecision as some insurers have temporarily postponednew applications until you have tested neg

06 LIFE INSURANCE Peace of mind knowing that your family is protected 08 DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIFE INSURANCE When it comes to life insurance, you've got options 09 TERM LIFE INSURANCE A good option for family protection 10 WHOLE-OF-LIFE INSURANCE Guaranteed tax-free payment whenever you di