Protecting your loved ones

Not all insurance is mandatory, but as you get older and potentially get married, build a family or start a business, having adequate insurance becomes a fundamental part of having a sound financial plan to protect you and your loved ones.

The length of term you select for your life insurance cover can often depend on how many years you have left on the mortgage or how many years until all your children have reached independence (typically 21).

The length of term you select for your life insurance cover depends on your circumstances. You can think about how many years you have left on the mortgage, or how many years until all your children have reached independence.

How much your policy will cost will depend on the level of cover that you require, the length of your policy and typically your health. The healthier you are, the lower your premium is likely to be. Other factors can include your age, medical history (and your family’s), salary and lifestyle. It’s important not to put off buying a policy to help ensure it remains affordable.

Yes, you can change your policy if your circumstances change. This may be because you took out a policy in your early 20's or had one through your employer, and now you need additional cover due to buying a house, having kids or getting married.

Some policies are flexible, meaning you could update your existing policy. Otherwise, you could apply for a new policy.

You may be required to provide medical evidence to increase the level of cover or term. Some policies have a Guaranteed Insurability option that allows you to amend the cover or term length within three months of having a child, moving house or getting married. You will have to let your provider know if your circumstances change.

If you claim your life insurance policy, you shouldn't have to pay any tax unless it's subject to inheritance tax. If you have any questions, your selected adviser will talk you through all your options.

• Additional cover policies are when you buy critical illness insurance alongside your life insurance policy. Therefore, you'll receive a lump sum if you're diagnosed with a critical illness and when you pass away at a later date.
• Combined cover policies are when your critical illness insurance is included in your life insurance policy, and therefore, they tend to pay out only once. This means you'll receive your chosen cover amount in full if you're diagnosed with a critical illness or when you pass away, not both.

What's covered by critical illness insurance will vary slightly between providers. However, conditions typically include:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Non-terminal cancer
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Parkinson's
• Organ transplants

Critical illness insurance means you will receive your payout if you're diagnosed with a qualifying condition detailed in your policy. It's often an optional extra on many life insurance policies, or can be bought as a stand-alone product.

Terminal illness insurance offers the option to pay out if the insured person is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Many life insurance policies include this type of cover as standard, but do check your terms and conditions to be sure.

There are a few things you’ll need to consider when deciding how much cover you need:

• Your home
  Have peace of mind that your mortgage or rent is covered. You could benefit from a policy that pays out until your mortgage is cleared.

• Living expenses
  Think about any household bills or family expenses your loved ones may struggle to pay if you're not around.

• Income replacement
  Not ready to retire? You could calculate how many years you need to keep earning to help support your loved ones.

• A funeral
  Funeral expenses are something your policy could help cover. If you don't have an existing funeral plan, you could factor in this cost.

• Childcare costs
  You may want to consider covering childcare and your loved one's education expenses, giving them invaluable financial protection.

• Outstanding debts
  It's important to think of any outstanding debts that you may have such as credit cards, loans or car repayments.