Zurich life insurance UK review 2024

Zurich are one of the world’s leading insurers, selling a variety of protection products, including personal insurance, pensions, savings/investments and life insurance.

Zurich logo

Their headquarters are based in Zurich, Switzerland. Zurich life insurance is part of the wider Zurich Insurance Group, serving customers in more than 200 countries and territories.

In 2022, Zurich paid out 98% of life insurance claims[1].

Here at Reassured, we can provide quotes for Zurich’s whole of life insurance policies (to those 18 years and over), as well as compare quotes from other leading insurers for a range of policy options.

Zurich are highly rated by both customers and experts on their life insurance options. But does this mean they are the right insurer for you?

In this in-depth review by Reassured, we explore what Zurich life insurance offers, including these key topics:

Keep reading this 2024 review to discover what Zurich life insurance has to offer…

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Zurich life insurance highlights

  • Zurich Whole of life insurance is rated 4 stars
  • Zurich life insurance starts from £5 a month †
  • Zurich sell whole of life, term life insurance and critical illness cover (Reassured only offer Zurich Whole of life)
  • You can take out a life insurance policy with Zurich if you are aged 16 - 83 (Reassured only offer policies to customers over 18)
  • Up to £100 Love 2 Shop gift vouchers for new customers
  • Zurich paid out 98% of claims in 2022

Zurich life insurance reviews

Reading customer reviews and checking independent expert ratings is a good way to get an insight into how good an insurer is.

Overall, Zurich insurance is rated ‘Great’ with 4/5 stars on Trustpilot from over 2,000 reviews. However, this is a reflection of all their insurance products.

Expert rating websites, such as Defaqto and Fairer Finance, provide genuine ratings by evaluating all key factors of individual policies sold by insurers.

The table below shows the ratings for Zurich life insurance policies from Defaqto, Trustpilot, Google and Smart Money People:

Review sourceProductStar rating (out of 5 stars)
5 star defaqto rating Whole of life
Level term
Decreasing		4
5
4
Trustpilot logo All life protection4
Google logo All life protection3.9
Smartmoneypeople All life protection4.46

All ratings taken directly from review site websites and correct as of 03/01/24

Fairer Finance also produce a more in-depth review of customer experience regarding Zurich life insurance:

Claims scoreComplaints performanceTransparency rating Fairer Finance logo
81.50%73.25%48.34%68%


Reassured is rated Excellent on Trustpilot with over 75,000 reviews. Our award-winning service can help you arrange Zurich whole of life insurance or other types of life insurance from top UK insurers.

Life Insurance Calculator

Calculate how much life insurance you may need by filling in the costs you’d like your policy to cover.

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£137,934 is the estimated mortgage debt per household in the UK.

The purchase of a home is likely to be the largest financial commitment any of us will make in our lifetime. Your life insurance should cover your remaining mortgage balance to allow your loved ones to stay in the family home should anything happen to you.

Source: Moneynerd.co.uk
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The average monthly household budget in the UK is £2,548 (that’s £30,576 per year), which is spent on transport, food & drink, utilities (gas, electricity, water etc), clothing, council tax and leisure activities.

With energy prices hitting a record high and the cost of living rising sharply in the UK, you may wish to factor in utility bills and family living expenses into your cover.

Source: Nimblefins.co.uk
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The average personal debt of UK adults has risen to £34,566 (not including mortgage debt), with credit cards, personal loans and overdrafts being the most common forms of debt.

Factoring in any debts into your life insurance cover means that, if they need to be paid back from your estate after your passing, your loved ones won’t miss out financially.

Source: Money.co.uk
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According to SunLife, the average cost of a funeral in the UK is £3,953 (with the overall cost of dying at £9,200).

Funeral costs have increased by 116% since 2004 and are a significant cost which should be factored into the amount of life insurance you secure.

Source: SunLife.co.uk
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When factoring in cover for your children, you may wish to calculate the amount based on how long it is until they reach financial independence.

This could include childcare (£7,000 per year for part-time care), school expenses (£1,519 per school year for uniforms, lunches, stationary etc), as well as an additional sum for further education (this could be a contribution of up to £5,000 per year).

Sources: Daynurseries.co.uk, Primarytimes.co.uk & Savethestudent.org
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2 in 5 adults say they are relying on an inheritance to fund their retirement.

Factoring in an inheritance to your sum assured could allow loved ones to live a more financially comfortable life. Alternatively, you could leave a cash gift to a charity of your choosing.

Source: Moneyage.co.uk
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If you’re lucky enough to have your own savings or are part of the 30% of UK residents who already have a life insurance policy in place, this can provide financial protection for loved ones.

By entering your current cover, savings or death in service amount you can reduce the sum assured you require.

Source: Scottishbusinessnews.net
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Why do I need life insurance?

You may need life insurance if you have a family who rely on you financially.

Life insurance can provide a cash pay out if you pass away, helping them to manage financial commitments without your income.

Your policy could help to cover:

  • Lost income
  • Debts
  • Mortgage / rent payments
  • Funeral costs
  • Future living costs
  • An inheritance
  • Childcare and future education costs

There are different types of life insurance available so you can choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.

Speak to one of our friendly professionals at Reassured if you need help choosing the right policy.

What life insurance does Zurich offer?

Zurich sells a variety of life insurance policies catering to a variety of needs, ranging from term life cover to whole of life insurance.

The right policy type for you will depend on what aspects within your life you're looking to protect.

Below are the types of life insurance offered by Zurich:

  1. Whole of life insurance
  2. Level term life insurance
  3. Decreasing term life insurance
  4. Increasing term life insurance
  5. Critical illness cover

Term life insurance by Zurich can be taken out to cover one person or two people at the same time (such as you and your partner, so that you’re both protected).

Keep reading this article to find out detailed information on each life insurance policy sold by Zurich…

Zurich whole of life insurance

Whole of life insurance offers protection for the rest of your life, guaranteeing a pay out after you're gone.

You’ll make monthly payments for your entire life, with no age limit to when a claim can be made.

However, this can create the risk of paying more into a whole of life insurance policy than the overall sum assured (pay out amount).

Whole of life insurance is perhaps a best suited to those later on in life who are still in good health, who require a larger sum assured.

This can help with things like funeral costs, inheritance tax if your estate is liable or an inheritance for loved ones.

Zurich whole of life insurance key factors:

  • Provides cover for the rest of your life
  • Guaranteed pay out
  • Pay out remains the same for the entire policy term
  • Must be aged between 16 - 83 to apply
  • Medical information required
  • Free cover during underwriting
  • Terminal illness cover included as standard
  • Critical illness as additional cost

Please note, Reassured only offer life insurance to those aged 18 and over.

Reassured offer Zurich whole of life insurance and can compare whole of life quotes from leading UK insurers.

Compare Zurich Whole of Life Insurance Quotes »

Term life insurance

Term life insurance provides cover for a specific period of time, where you pay premiums monthly, and the policy will pay out if you pass away during the term.

You can get level, decreasing and increasing term policies with Zurich.

Level term

Provides a fixed sum assured and premiums stay the same over the policy term.

As the pay out amount remains the same in value throughout the policy, it's ideal for helping to cover fixed costs such as an interest-only mortgage.

Decreasing term

The sum assured decreases each year and will reduce to zero by the end of the term. Monthly premiums don’t change, your sum assured will simply reduce.

This tends to be a good option for those with a repayment mortgage or loan.

Increasing term

Cover can increase each year by a chosen rate, either by 3%, 5% or in line with Retail Price Index.

This increase will then be reflected within the cost of your monthly premiums (premiums will go up by 1.5% for each 1% increase in cover).

A useful option for those who want to provide loved ones with sufficient funds to maintain their existing lifestyle if the worst were to happen.

Zurich increasing life insurance and Zurich term life insurance isn't something currently offered by Reassured.

At Reassured we can provide Zurich whole of life quotes and term life insurance quotes from other insurance providers, helping you to compare prices and find your ideal policy.

Zurich term life insurance key factors:

  • Option of joint or single policy
  • Minimum premium £5 a month or £50 a year (through Zurich directly)
  • Must be aged between 16 - 83 to apply
  • Term length is 1 - 50 years or must end by the age of 89
  • Medical information required
  • Free cover during underwriting
  • Terminal illness cover included as standard
  • Critical illness cover could be added for an additional cost
  • Please note, Reassured only offer life insurance policies to those over the age of 18

Joint Zurich life insurance

When arranging Zurich life insurance, it's possible for your policy to cover two people simultaneously (for example, you and your partner). This is known as joint life insurance.

Whilst this can help you save money (as it’s cheaper than having two single policies), it does only cover one death during the policy term (pays out only once).

This leaves the surviving partner unprotected and needing to secure new cover at an older age.

Unlike most joint life insurance policies, if you were to separate, Zurich presents you with the opportunity to split your joint policy into two separate policies without the need to provide further personal information. This is called a ‘separation benefit’.

If you have a joint policy and you separate, divorce or have a civil partnership dissolved, you can cancel this policy and start individual policies for one or both of you, without needing to provide any more medical information.

Any Zurich life insurance policy can be made into a joint policy (including critical illness cover).

Zurich life insurance with critical illness cover

It's possible to add critical illness cover to your policy for an additional cost, available on all Zurich term life insurance policies.

This means that if you were diagnosed with a serious, yet non-life-threatening illness, you could make an early claim on your policy.

With Zurich, this covers you for 39 conditions, including cancer, heart attack and suffering with a stroke.

The pay out could then be used to help make necessary adaptations to your home, cover a lost income or simply enjoy with your family. It's important to remember that if you make a claim for a critical illness, your policy will end and no further pay out will be made upon your passing.

A pay out lump sum of up to £25,000 is also offered for one of two additional payment conditions (less advanced breast or prostate cancer), keeping your original policy intact.

Furthermore, Zurich critical illness cover can extend to your children (for an additional cost) for the lump sum pay out of £25,000 if they're diagnosed with a critical illness. They’ll be covered from birth until their 22nd birthday, alternatively, when turning 16, they can take out a policy of their own up to £25,000 free of underwriting with Zurich directly.

Reassured can compare life insurance with critical illness quotes from other leading UK insurers.

How much does Zurich life insurance cost?

Zurich sell life protection starting from £5 a month[1]. However, the cost of your premiums will be calculated by using a variety of factors:

The cost of your life insurance is based on the level of risk you pose to the insurer (the likelihood of a claim on your policy).

Term life insurance with Zurich can start from around £5 a month.

The table below shows example level term life insurance premium prices from Zurich. Quotes are based on a non-smoker in good health, taking out £200,000 cover:

AgeMonthly premium
20£5.79
25£6.29
30£7.56
35£9.76
40£14.54
45£26.90
50£42.28


The table below shows example decreasing term life insurance premium prices. Quotes are based on a non-smoker in good health, taking out £200,000 of cover:

AgeMonthly premium
20£5.00
25£5.11
30£5.80
35£7.07
40£9.74
45£14.46
50£21.83


Reassured can’t provide quotes for Zurich term life insurance, but we can compare quotes from Zurich and AIG for whole of life insurance, with prices starting from just £8 a month ± .

The table below shows example premium prices for whole of life insurance available through us. Quotes are based on a non-smoker in good health with a pay out of £50,000:

Age Zurich logo AIG logo
20£32.76£32.78
25£33.54£34.74
30£37.90£37.95
35£43.20£43.89
40£50.91£51.23
45£57.32£58.79
50£70.39£72.34
55£73.29£75.10
65£106.78£117.43
70£138.88£149.41


By comparing quotes, you can find a suitable life insurance policy that fits your budget.

At Reassured we can help you compare whole of life quotes from some of the UK’s best life insurance companies, including Zurich.

We compare quotes for a variety of other policies (not just whole of life insurance). So why not get in touch today to find our best deal?

Compare Zurich Life Insurance Quotes »

Zurich life insurance benefits

Arranging life insurance with Zurich presents the opportunity for several benefits.

Up to £100 in vouchers

You can receive up to £100 of vouchers for Love2shop, Amazon or John Lewis when you take out any life cover with Zurich directly. The free gift is redeemable after 6th monthly premium has been paid.

If you take out a Zurich policy, the value of your vouchers will be the equivalent to the sum of your first 6 months premiums paid, rounded down to the nearest £5. Ranging from the lowest value of £30 and with a maximum of £100.

This is subject to change and correct as off writing 22/11/23. Please note, you won't receive this gift if purchasing any policy through Reassured.

Zurich support service

Upon your passing, your loved ones will be provided with help from an independent support service working closely with Zurich.

This can be used to overcome emotional issues, such as dealing with grief, or more practical issues, such as financial worries.

The helpline is available 24/7 for Zurich customers with any policy and one-to-one counselling can be offered for up to 6 sessions, (if required).

Protection that plants trees

For every customer who arranges life insurance cover with Zurich, Tree-Nation will plant one new tree to help protect the environment.

Children’s conversion benefit

When having critical illness cover (a lump-sum payment if you're ever diagnosed with a covered disease or condition) added to your Zurich life insurance plan, it allows your children to arrange their own life insurance and critical illness cover between the ages of 16 - 22 without the need for providing any personal information.

Multi-fracture cover

This benefit can only be applied if you don't currently have it in place with an existing Zurich insurance policy.

This cover provides a £2,000, £4,000 or £6,000 a year maximum.

If a fracture, dislocation or ligament tear occur, a pay out will be made unless it recurs as a result of mountain biking, cage fighting or other stated sports.

Other benefits included (as standard) are:

  • Free underwriting cover
  • Free mortgage cover
  • Free terminal illness cover

There's also additional protection options that you can add for an extra cost to your term life insurance, for example: children’s cover, enhanced cover and pregnancy cover.

You can find more in-depth information about all of Zurich’s benefits on their life insurance pages.

Whilst Zurich offers a wide range of benefits, it's important to remember that ultimately what matters most is that you arrange the right cover to meet your needs.

How to cancel Zurich life insurance?

If you wish to cancel your life insurance policy with Zurich, then you must contact Zurich directly via phone or email:

If you have just taken out a policy, within a 30-day window you may cancel your policy and receive a full refund of any premiums paid.

If you are over this time then you will not receive any form of refund.

To enquire or look at further information regarding your policy, then you can log in via the website to see all your policy details.

However, it is important to seek professional advice before making a big decision like cancelling your life insurance.

Reassured Advice offer professional advice involving decisions you are planning on making to your policy. They also offer the guidance of finding a policy with fee-free quotes.

Zurich life insurance in trust

When arranging life insurance with Zurich, it's possible to opt to write your policy in trust.

This means that you sign the rights to your policy over to a trustee upon your passing, who'll manage the pay out on your behalf.

The key benefits of doing this are:

  • Reducing / avoiding 40% inheritance tax
  • Avoiding the probate process
  • Gaining more control over what the pay out is used for

At Reassured, we offer a free trust writing service for customers who arrange Zurich whole of life cover through our broker service.

We can guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have, ensuring you get the most out of your Zurich life insurance.

Zurich life insurance claim statistics

In 2022, Zurich paid out 98% of all life insurance claims[1].

Life insurance pay out rates are on average 96% for all UK insurers.

As long as you pay your premiums and are honest on your application form then your life insurance will pay out during the policy term if you pass away.

At Reassured, we can compare quotes from multiple insurers to provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision.

Zurich life insurance customer service

Zurich life insurance customer services can be reached on 0800 096 6233.

Their offices are open 08:30 - 17:30 Monday - Friday, (excluding bank holidays).

Equally, for any general life insurance enquiries or if you're looking for cover, feel free to get in touch with us.

Compare Zurich life insurance quotes

Life insurance policies can vary in cost between different insurers, depending on the policy type, and your personal circumstances.

Therefore, to ensure you’re getting a good deal, it's important to compare quotes from Zurich against other insurers.

This can be done quickly and easily using our award-winning broker service. We provide free, personalised quotes to help you find a suitable policy.

Our professionals can also help answer all your questions and guide you through the application process.

We can compare Zurich whole of life quotes as well as quotes for other policies from other top UK insurers.

Get in touch to start your journey towards securing your loved one's financial future.

Compare Zurich Life Insurance Quotes »

Sources:

All information regarding Zurich's product offerings is correct as of 22/11/23. This is subject to change by Zurich at any time

[1] https://www.zurich.co.uk/life-insurance

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