Once you’re accepted, you'll start paying your monthly payments. If you die during the policy term, your policy should pay out to the people you named as your beneficiaries, who can use this money how they want.
Mortgages are usually the biggest financial burden, so this payout could be used to clear that outstanding debt.
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According to the Association of British Insurers, 98% of all life insurance claims are accepted. So your policy should pay out in the majority of circumstances.
Most policies cover you if you die due to an accident or an illness, including terminal conditions diagnosed after you took out the policy.
Generally, an illness is terminal when it can't be cured, or limits your life expectancy to 12 months or less.
Some insurers might have a different definition of what a terminal illness is, so it’s worth checking before you buy a policy.
If your policy covers a terminal condition, you could claim the full payout while you’re still alive. You can then use it to pay off your mortgage before you die, making your remaining time a little easier for you and your family.
Terminal illness cover is free of charge. This is different to critical illness cover, which is a life insurance policy add-on that comes at an extra cost. Critical illness cover pays out if you’re diagnosed with a life-changing illness or injury.
There are also a few situations where your mortgage life cover might not pay out. These can include death as result of:
Failing to pay your insurance costs could also affect your cover. Miss too many, and your policy could be terminated. You would then lose everything you’d paid so far and are unlikely to get a payout if you died.
Most policies have a grace period, though. So if you do miss a payment, you might be able to make up that balance and keep your cover. If you’re struggling to meet your monthly payments, it’s best to contact your life insurance provider before things get that far.
To get a quote we just need a few details from you, like:
If you’re applying for a joint policy, we’ll also need the joint applicant’s details. Some insurers might ask you to have a medical examination before they offer you cover, depending on your age, health and lifestyle.
If you’re a fit, non-smoking 30-year-old with no pre-existing medical conditions, you’re unlikely to be asked to have a medical. Whereas someone older with a more complicated medical history, or who’s smoked their whole adult life might be required to have a medical.
The amount of cover you get should match the amount you owe on your mortgage. As everyone’s mortgage is different, the amount you need is specific to you. You can check your latest mortgage statement or speak to your lender to get your most recent mortgage balance.
The amount your policy pays out reduces over time, so you should check that it decreases at the same rate as your mortgage. Get too little cover, and your payout might not be enough to clear your mortgage if you die. Get too much cover and you could be paying more each month than you need to.
If you extend your mortgage or increase the amount you borrow, contact your insurer to update your policy to be sure it covers your new mortgage.
Try our life insurance calculator to estimate how much cover you need
Decreasing term is the most common type of mortgage life insurance. But there are other options that might also work for you, depending on your needs.
Level term
Whole life
Family income benefit
The actual cost of your mortgage life insurance varies, as insurers work this out based on a range of factors including:
The average cost of mortgage life insurance1
£18.67
1 Based on Confused.com data June - August 2023. Prices based on monthly payments for average quote offered on a 24 year policy with £230,852 of cover.
In some cases, yes. Your life insurance payout forms part of your estate, which is everything you leave behind after you die.
Generally, your beneficiaries don't pay inheritance tax if:
If your estate is more than £325,000, your beneficiaries have to pay 40% inheritance tax on anything above that amount.
There are legal ways to avoid this. Writing life insurance in trust allows you to keep your payout separate from your estate. So your beneficiaries get the full amount tax free, even if your estate is more than £325,000.
After tax, there might not be enough life insurance to cover your mortgage. So putting your policy into a trust is a smart way to ensure they get the full amount. Read more on inheritance tax and rules on GOV.UK.
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Page last reviewed: 10 October 2023
Reviewed by: Matthew Harwood
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