• Why take out life cover ?
• Why should I buy cover throughUKInsurances.com ?
• What is the difference between the Standard Premium and our Premium ?
• How does UKInsurances.com work ?
• How can I contact you ?
• Who can apply ?
• How does life insurance work ?
• What is 'term insurance' ?
• How many insurance companies are represented on the site ?
• How do I choose the right policy for me ?
• How much cover do I need ?
• How long do I need cover for ?
• Can I alter the amount of cover at a later date ?
• Will I need to undertake a medical examination ?
• What if I smoke ?
• Will I have to pay anything to set up a life insurance plan ?
• When does the policy take effect ?
• How do I pay for the life insurance plan ?
• What happens if I die during the term of the policy ?
• Can I take out more than one term life cover plan ?
• Does term life cover insure only one person ?
• Can I change who receives the payout after I have taken out the plan ?
• Can I write the plan in 'trust' ?
• What are my cancellation rights ?
• What happens if I stop making payments ?
• Will I get any money back at the end of the policy's term, or if I cancel it or stop payments early ?
• What happens when the policy ends ?
• Who can I complain to if I have a problem ?
• Are there any tax implications upon receipt of a lump sum of money from an insurance plan ?
• How can I be satisfied that personal details entered on your site remain confidential ?
  

Why take out life cover ?

Life insurance provides financial protection for your family in the event of your death. If you have financial commitments, such as a mortgage, that depend on your earnings, life insurance can cover those commitments after your death. It can also help cover funeral expenses and the day-to-day living expenses of your family.

Some mortgage providers insist you take out life insurance before they will grant you the mortgage.

Why should I buy cover through UKInsurances?

UKInsurances is a quick and simple way to find insurance on the Net. The straightforward quote and application process will help you to find the right insurance cover, at the best price, with the minimum hassle.

You enter your details at our website and we use our innovative software to go out and look for insurance plans that suit your circumstances. Based on the information we get back from the insurers, we present details of the insurance policies available to you, including the premiums to pay and the sum assured.

You can then examine those policies in your own time, without the pressure of dealing with a sales pitch from the insurer, before you sign anything.

What is the difference between the Standard Premium and our Premium ?

The Standard Premium shows the monthly cost of a policy before we have rebated any commission payment.

It is our intention to rebate any commission payments that we would have received back into the policy, to make the premium lower for the benefit of our customers.

Our premium, therefore, is the result of this rebate and is the premium that you could pay, subject to underwriting and formal acceptance from the insurance company, if you arranged the policy through our site.

In some instances you will notice that there is no difference between the 2 premiums. This is because we either have no influence or arrangement with that provider so that we cannot rebate commission, or that currently their own computer systems are unable to provide us with a quote whereby all the commission is ploughed back into the policy for the benefit of the consumer.

How does UKInsurances work ?

To search for a competitive life insurance product, you can use UKInsurances's quote service, free of charge. You will need to enter certain personal details, such as your name, age, sex and whether you smoke or not, and we will use those details to search the websites of a number of insurers.

As the information comes back from the insurers, we will present it to you with details of the insurers, the premiums you will have to pay, the premium type and the sum assured. If you are interested in a policy, you can click on the Apply button.

We will provide you with specific details of your policy on two forms - the key features document and the client-specific illustration. When you have read and indicated your acceptance of the terms of these documents, you will be asked to read and accept our terms and conditions. You will then be able to download the application form from our website.

You then apply directly to the insurer. You should not send us any money, as we are not authorised to take payments from you for the policies on offer.

How can I contact you ?

You can contact us on FreePhone 0800 092 0800 or apply for Life Cover here. Please note we are only able to provide general information and are NOT able to give advice on the suitability of the products on our website.

Who can apply ?

The life insurance providers will have minimum and maximum ages for those applying for cover. These will vary from insurer to insurer. Typically, you will have to be over 18 years of age and under 85 years, but if you fall outside these limits, you may still be able to find an insurance. By using UKInsurances.com's Quote search you can find a list of insurers that will meet your particular circumstances.

You must be resident in the UK to buy through the UKInsurances.com website.

How does life insurance work ?

You pay a regular sum of money (a premium) to an insurance company and in return, the insurance company agrees to pay out a lump sum should you die during the period of time specified in your policy (the term).

What is 'term insurance' ?

Term insurance is a type of life insurance that pays out an agreed sum of money should you die during the term over which the policy runs. You choose how long you wish the policy to run (the term) - which may be based on your mortgage commitments. You also choose the amount you wish to have paid out (the level of cover), and your premiums will vary according to the levels you chose.

The Association of British Insurers says term insurance is often the most appropriate for those on a limited income, as it is generally the cheapest form of life insurance, but high levels of cover can still be obtained.

If you do not wish to specify a term, you may prefer to take out whole life insurance, which will pay out on your death, whenever that might be. We do not currently offer these policies through our site.

How many insurance companies are represented on the site ?

We currently display quotes from the following insurance companies:

• Bright Grey
• BUPA
• Eagle Star
• Friends Provident
• Health-On-line
• Legal & General
• Liverpool Victoria
• NDF Administration
• Norwich Union
• Prudential
• Scottish Equitable
• Scottish Mutual
• Scottish Provident
• Scottish Widows
• Skandia
• Standard Life
• Sterling
• Zurich

If your search does not return results from any of these companies, it may be because they do not cover your particular circumstances or because we did not receive a response from them in the time. We request details from all the companies in real time, to ensure you are getting accurate, up-to-the-minute results. However, if you want to check whether a company timed out or not, you can click on the Back button to go back to the previous page and Click on the Next button again, to re-send your request.

How do I choose the right policy for me ?

There are a number of different types of term life insurance available in the UK, such as level term, renewable term, convertible term, decreasing term (commonly know as mortgage protection) and increasing term. UKInsurances.com is currently only providing details of level term insurance or mortgage protection (decreasing term) insurance policies on its website. For an explanation of term insurance, please see the Glossary.

Despite the huge number of providers that exist, choosing a term life insurance policy has actually become easier in recent years, as the differences between the products on offer have become less marked. Now, the biggest difference may be the price.

How much cover do I need ?

This depends on what you want the cover for. Many people choose to cover all of their loan commitments and to set aside an additional lump sum to provide some income for their dependants. Others may only want to cover a mortgage.

When calculating the amount of cover you want, you should look carefully at your current financial commitments and think about any future commitments you might have. Consider how much you pay out each month on your mortgage, rates and bills, any childcare or school fees, other loan commitments and hire purchase agreements.

You then need to think about how that figure will increase over the years as the cost of living increases. Choose a realistic interest rate, considering the current rate of inflation.

How long do I need cover for ?

This decision is down to you and will depend on what you want the protection for. Many people, for instance, want cover for the length of their mortgage, or until their children are of working age. The amount and timing of any pension income may also be a factor in your choice.

Can I alter the amount of cover at a later date ?

Yes. Since your lifestyle and commitments can change, it may be important to adjust your level of life cover accordingly. If you want to alter your cover, you can use theUKInsurances.com site to look for the best premium for an entirely new plan. Alternatively, you could contact your insurer to increase the level of protection.

Will I need to undertake a medical examination ?

Maybe. Your chosen insurer may contact you should it require you to undertake a medical examination. If this happens, the cost of the medical will be met by the insurer.

The insurer may alternatively ask your doctor to provide information on your health.

What if I smoke ?

The insurers generally require you to state whether you smoke or not. If you do, the premium may be higher.

However, remember that if you do not tell the truth on your application form, you run the risk that your policy will be considered void.

Will I have to pay anything to set up a life insurance plan ?

UKInsurances.com makes no charge for its service. However, the individual insurance providers may charge you to set up a policy. Please see the client-specific illustration and key features document sent to you by your chosen insurance company for full details of pricing.

When does the policy take effect ?

It can begin any time after your chosen insurance company has accepted your application. It is your responsibility to advise the insurer of your desired start date.

It can take some time to arrange and attend a medical examination and for the application to be processed by the insurer, so it may be three to four weeks for all the paperwork to be completed.

How do I pay for the life insurance plan ?

You may have a choice of payment options, allowing you to pay your premiums on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis. However, some insurers may insist that you pay monthly and they may require that you pay by direct debit. See Direct Debit in the Jargon section for further details.

What happens if I die during the term of the policy ?

The sum assured will be paid into your estate, to be distributed as you set out in your will if you have one, or to your chosen beneficiary if the plan is arranged in a trust. Please see the Jargon section for more information on trusts, or consult an independent financial adviser.

Can I take out more than one term life cover plan ?

Yes. In some circumstances, you may want to take out more than one policy. For example, you may want to take out different policies to cover your different financial commitments, each with a different term.

Does term life cover insure only one person ?

Term life cover can apply to only one person: you, the policyholder. However, if you choose, you can set up a joint life policy with another individual, such as your spouse. The policy may pay out when the first of the two policyholders dies or when both have died. See First Death/Last Death in the Jargon section for further details.

Can I change who receives the payout after I have taken out the plan ?

Unless you set up a trust, the payout from your insurance policy will be paid into your estate and the money will be distributed as you set out in your will. If you wish to change who receives the money, you need to change your will.

If the policy is put in trust, you must make changes to the terms of the trust if you wish to change who the beneficiary will be.

Can I write the plan in 'trust' ?

Yes. See Trust in the Jargon section for further details.

What are my cancellation rights ?

When you receive the notification from your insurer that the life cover has started, you will also be sent a notice of your right to cancel the policy. You then have 14 days during which you can cancel the insurance and receive a refund for any premiums paid. After this period, you can still cancel - but you will not receive a refund for any premiums paid.

What happens if I stop making payments ?

The cover provided under the policy will cease.

Will I get any money back at the end of the policy's term, or if I cancel it or stop payments early ?

To keep premiums to a minimum, the plans compared on theUKInsurances.com site have no surrender value - that is, no cash-back provision - either during or at the end of the policy term.

What happens when the policy ends ?

You stop making payments and your cover comes to an end. There is no cash-in value for term life policies.

Who can I complain to if I have a problem ?

If you have a problem with an insurance policy arranged through us, you should contact us initialy on FreePhone 0800 092 0800. If it is an issue for the insurer, we may refer you on to the insurer.

Are there any tax implications upon receipt of a lump sum of money from an insurance plan ?

Under current tax legislation, there is no liability for capital gains or income tax on the payouts from term life policies, whatever the rate of income tax you pay. However, you should watch carefully for changes to legislation.

There could, however, be an issue with inheritance tax depending on your overall circumstances, but the use of trusts can often reduce potential liability.

How can I be satisfied that personal details entered on your site remain confidential ?

The UKInsurances.com site is secure. No information you provide will be revealed to a third party without your consent. Please see our privacy statement for further details.

You should also read the privacy statement and terms and conditions of your chosen insurer carefully.