Life Insurance with Terminal Illness Cover Terminal illness cover built in at no extra cost

Most term life insurance policies include terminal illness cover free — if you're diagnosed with a terminal illness and given less than 12 months to live during the policy, the full lump sum is paid early. A broker will compare leading UK insurers and call you with tailored quotes.

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What Is Terminal Illness Cover?

How terminal illness life insurance protects your family.

An Early Payout

If you're diagnosed with a terminal illness during the policy and given less than 12 months to live, your policy pays the full lump sum early — when you and your family need it most.

Usually Included Free

Most term and mortgage life insurance policies include terminal illness cover at no extra cost. A broker can confirm which insurers include it as standard.

Money When It Matters

An early payout can clear the mortgage, cover everyday bills and care costs, and let you put your affairs in order — easing the pressure on your family.

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How It Works

Getting insurance quotes is simple. Here's how the process works.

Complete the Form

Answer a few simple questions about yourself and the level of cover you're looking for. It only takes a couple of minutes.

Receive a Callback

A specialist broker will call you back to discuss your requirements and answer any questions you may have.

Compare Your Options

The broker will present quotes from leading insurers so you can compare options and choose the cover that's right for you. There's no obligation to proceed.

Terminal Illness Cover vs Critical Illness Cover

Two different protections — one is usually built in free, one is a paid add-on.

Feature	Terminal Illness Cover	Critical Illness Cover
Cost	Usually included free with life insurance	Optional add-on for an extra premium
When it pays	Diagnosed with a terminal illness with less than 12 months to live	Diagnosed with a serious illness listed in the policy, such as cancer, heart attack or stroke
What it pays	Your full life insurance lump sum, paid early	A separate lump sum — designed for serious illnesses you survive

A broker will call to talk through which cover suits your family.

Terminal Illness Cover FAQs

Common questions about life insurance with terminal illness cover.

Insurers generally define it as an advanced illness with no known cure where, in the opinion of your hospital doctors and the insurer's medical officer, life expectancy is less than 12 months. Exact definitions vary between policies — a broker can talk you through how each insurer words it.

Usually, yes. Most term life insurance and mortgage life insurance policies include it at no extra cost. It is less common on whole of life policies and some over 50s plans. A broker compares leading UK insurers and confirms exactly what each policy includes.

Terminal illness cover pays your life insurance lump sum early if you're given less than 12 months to live, and is usually included free. Critical illness cover is a paid add-on that pays a separate lump sum if you're diagnosed with a serious illness listed in the policy, such as cancer, a heart attack or a stroke — it is designed for illnesses you survive.

No. Standard life insurance cannot be taken out after a terminal diagnosis — terminal illness cover is a feature of a policy you take out while in reasonable health, protecting you against a future diagnosis. If you have serious health conditions and are aged 50-85, plans with no health questions may be an option. A broker will call to explain what's available.