Income protection
Income protection for when life interrupts
If illness or injury stops you working, income protection keeps a wage coming in.
Life Insurance
Keep your family steady when you are no longer there to provide.
Life insurance pays your family a tax-free lump sum if you die during the period you are covered, so the mortgage still gets paid, the bills are still met, and the life you built together can carry on. We compare cover across the whole UK market to find the policy that fits your life and your budget, and arranging it through us never costs more.
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot, more than 10,000 reviews. Named Insurance Broker of the Decade at the British Insurance Awards 2024.
We compare life insurance from leading UK insurers:
The value of protection insurance in the UK
£7.84bn
paid in UK protection claims in 2025.
Association of British Insurers (ABI) and Group Risk Development (GRiD)
97.9%
of individual protection claims paid.
Association of British Insurers (ABI) and Group Risk Development (GRiD)
£21.5m
paid out every day.
Association of British Insurers (ABI) and Group Risk Development (GRiD)
Why compare life insurance with Howden?
Comparing life insurance with Howden means one conversation gives you the whole market, not a single insurer's view.
- Whole of market. We compare life insurance from leading UK insurers, so you see how policies really differ, not just one quote.
- Free, independent advice. Our advice costs you nothing, and our price promise means you never pay more for cover by arranging it through us.
- A free will. You are entitled to either a single will worth £80 or a Couples Mirror Will worth £130 funded by Howden Life & Health.
- Rated Excellent on Trustpilot. More than 10,000 reviews from people we have helped.
- A proven team. Named Insurance Broker of the Decade at the British Insurance Awards 2024.
- Health history is not an automatic no. If you have had health problems before, we help you find insurers who take a fair view.
Why choose Howden?
500,000+
protected clients
30+ years
of insuring greatness
Awarded
Insurance broker of the decade
Rated ‘Excellent’
on Trustpilot
What is life insurance?
Life insurance is a policy that pays your family a tax-free lump sum if you die during the period you are covered.
You choose the amount of cover and how long it lasts, then pay a monthly premium to keep it in place. If you die while the policy is active, it pays out to the people you have named, or to your trust, and that money can clear the mortgage, cover everyday living costs, or simply give your family room to breathe. Many policies also pay out early if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness and given a limited time to live, so support can arrive when it is needed most.
We help you decide how much cover makes sense and how long it should run, then we put the policy in place and stay on hand if anything ever needs to change.
Do I need life insurance?
You are likely to need life insurance if someone depends on your income, or if your family would struggle to keep up the mortgage and bills without you.
97.9%
of individual protection claims were paid in 2025, at or above this level for over a decade.
(Association of British Insurers)
45%
of UK adults hold a life insurance policy, leaving most without cover.
(2025 UK life insurance index survey)
Ask yourself one question: if your income stopped tomorrow, who would feel it, and for how long?
It might be a partner, children, or a mortgage in your name alone. Cover through your employer can help, but it usually stops if you change jobs, so many people choose their own policy so the protection stays with them. If you are not sure where you stand, that is exactly the conversation we have with people every day.
How much life insurance do I need?
A common rule of thumb is enough life insurance to clear your mortgage and debts, plus enough on top to support your family's living costs for the years they would need it.
There is no single right number, because it depends on your mortgage, your debts, your income and how long your family would rely on it. Many people start with the mortgage balance, add any loans, then think about the years of living costs or childcare they would want to cover. The length of cover usually matches what is left of your mortgage term, or, if you have children but no mortgage, runs until your youngest is financially independent.
If working that out feels daunting, it is exactly what we do every day. We will help you land on a figure that protects the life your family has built, without paying for cover you do not need.
What does life insurance cover?
Life insurance covers your death during the policy term, paying the agreed lump sum to the people you choose.
| Typically covered | Typically not covered |
|---|---|
| Death during the policy term, paid as the agreed lump sum | Death after a term policy has ended |
| Terminal illness diagnosis with a limited life expectancy, often paid early | Anything you did not disclose honestly when you applied |
| The option to write the policy in trust, so the money can reach your family faster | Specific risks excluded and agreed with you at the outset |
| Optional extras on some policies, such as waiver of premium or children's cover | Death by suicide within the first year of the policy, on most policies |
Life insurance does not pay out if you are diagnosed with a serious illness but survive, and it does not replace your income if you cannot work. Those needs are met by Critical Illness Cover and Income Protection, which we can compare alongside your life insurance so the whole picture fits together.
How does life insurance pay out?
Life insurance pays out as a lump sum to your beneficiaries once a valid claim is made, usually free of income tax.
| Policy type | How it pays | Often used for |
|---|---|---|
| Level term life insurance | A fixed lump sum that stays the same for the whole term | Leaving a set amount for your family |
| Decreasing term life insurance | A lump sum that reduces over time, often tracking a repayment mortgage | Protecting a repayment mortgage |
| Family income benefit | A regular tax-free income to your family rather than one lump sum | Replacing lost income month to month |
| Whole-of-life insurance | A lump sum whenever you die, with no fixed end date | Funeral costs or leaving an inheritance |
Writing your policy in trust can help the payout reach your family more quickly and can keep it outside your estate for inheritance tax. We can explain whether a trust suits your situation when we set the policy up.
Types of life insurance
The main types of life insurance are level term, decreasing term, increasing term, family income benefit and whole of life.
- Level term life insurance keeps the payout the same for the whole term, so your family receives the amount you chose whether the policy pays in year two or year twenty.
- Decreasing term life insurance reduces the payout over time, usually in line with a repayment mortgage, which often makes it the most affordable way to protect a home loan.
- Increasing term life insurance lets the cover rise over time, often in line with inflation, so its real value does not fade across a long term.
- Family income benefit pays your family a regular income rather than a single lump sum, which can be easier to manage than one large payment.
- Whole of life insurance covers you for life and pays out whenever you die, which is why it is often used for funeral costs or leaving an inheritance.
You can hold most of these as a single policy or as a joint life insurance policy covering two people, usually a couple. Over 50s life insurance is a separate type with guaranteed acceptance and no medical questions, and we cover it in full on our dedicated Over 50s page.
Tools to help with your life insurance needs
Understand your own risk and what life might have in store for you.
How much does life insurance cost?
Life insurance often costs less than people expect, and a healthy younger applicant can pay only a few pounds a month for meaningful cover.
- How much cover you want.
- How long you want the cover to run.
- The type of policy, for example level term, decreasing term, family income benefit or whole of life.
- Your age, health and any pre-existing medical conditions.
- Whether you smoke.
Our expert says
Indicative monthly premiums, £250,000 of level term cover over 20 years, no medical conditions affecting price.
| Age | Non-smoker | Smoker |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | £7.20 a month | £11.64 a month |
| 40 | £13.69 a month | £30.00 a month |
| 50 | £36.73 a month | £91.00 a month |
These are the best market quotes at each age for a non-smoker and a smoker.
Is life insurance worth it?
Life insurance is worth it for most people who have someone depending on them, because the monthly cost is usually small next to the financial gap it would fill.
The proportion of individual protection claims paid has remained at or above 97.9% for over a decade, so this is cover that does what it promises when families need it. For a healthy younger applicant the premium can be only a few pounds a month, which is a modest price for knowing the mortgage and everyday costs would be covered.
It is also fair to say when it may not be worth it. If no one relies on you financially and you have no debts to leave behind, you may not need it yet, and if your main aim is to cover a funeral later in life, our Over 50s cover may suit you better. We will tell you honestly either way.
Waiting does not make life insurance cheaper. It makes it dearer.
Every year you put it off, you are a year older, and the price reflects it. Our own figures show the monthly premium for the same cover roughly doubling between age 40 and age 50. And if a health condition has been the thing holding you back, that is not an automatic no. The sooner we look, the more options you tend to have.
Frequently asked questions about life insurance
Here are the questions we are asked most often about life insurance.
Life insurance basics
What is life insurance and how does it work?
Life insurance is a policy that pays your family a lump sum if you die while the cover is in place. For most people it is simply about knowing the people they love would be financially secure if the worst happened.
Do I need life insurance?
You generally need life insurance if someone relies on your income, such as a partner, children, or a mortgage in your name. We talk this through with people every day, and it usually comes down to making sure your family would not suddenly worry about keeping the home or covering everyday costs.
How much life insurance cover do I need?
There is no single right amount of life insurance, but many people choose enough to clear the mortgage and support their family's everyday living costs. If you are not sure where to start, that is something we help with every day, talking through your situation to find a level of cover that fits your life.
How much does life insurance cost?
Life insurance has no single price, because the cost depends on your age, health, lifestyle and how much cover you want. For many people it is more affordable than they expect, and we focus on the balance between meaningful protection and a premium that fits your budget.
What is the difference between level and decreasing life insurance?
Level life insurance keeps the payout the same for the whole policy, while decreasing life insurance reduces the payout over time, often in line with a repayment mortgage. Many people choose decreasing cover to protect a mortgage and level cover to leave a fixed sum for their family.
Cost, eligibility and advice
Is life insurance worth having if I already have cover through work?
Employer life cover is a valuable benefit, but it usually only lasts while you work for that company and often stops if you change employer. Many people choose their own life insurance as well, so the protection stays with them wherever they work.
Can I still get life insurance if I have had health problems before?
Having had health problems before does not automatically mean you cannot get life insurance. Some conditions may affect the price and occasionally something is excluded, but there are often still options, and we take the time to explain how different insurers view medical history.
How long does it take to set up life insurance?
Life insurance can sometimes be arranged the same day, though it can take a few weeks if an insurer needs medical details or a GP report. Either way we handle the conversations with insurers and keep you updated, so you always know what is happening and what comes next.
Should I review my life insurance if I already have a policy?
Reviewing your life insurance is worthwhile, because your cover should still fit your life as your circumstances and priorities change. Quite often people keep their policy exactly as it is, and sometimes we find a way to improve the cover or make it more cost effective.
Should I go direct to an insurer or use a broker like Howden?
Going through Howden means we compare policies across the market rather than showing you one insurer's option, and our advice is free and independent. Using us never costs more thanks to our price promise, and we can arrange practical extras such as a free will when you take out cover.
What do you need to get a life insurance quote?
To get a life insurance quote, we ask for a few details about you, your health and the cover you have in mind.
- Your age and occupation, since the younger you are, the cheaper cover usually is.
- Your health and medical history, and your family medical history.
- Your lifestyle and habits, for example whether you smoke and how much you drink.
- The amount of cover and the term you have in mind, which we can help you work out.
- The same details for your partner if you are arranging joint life insurance.
Health insurance
Helps you get diagnosis and treatment faster when you are unwell.
Provides you and your family with speedy access to private healthcare via UK private medical facilities.
Over 50s life insurance
Guaranteed acceptance with no medical questions, mainly for funeral costs or a small legacy.
Whatever happens, the people who depend on you are looked after.
Unemployment Cover
Allows your finances to be taken care of when you can’t, so your family doesn’t miss out
A short-term income protection policy providing cover for up to 12 months should you be unable to work due to involuntary redundancy.