Average life insurance cost UK
According to internal data from Reassured, the average cost…
7 min
Guardian 1821 are a UK life insurance company founded in 1821, offering comprehensive financial protection to aid individuals and their families in times of need.
Guardian 1821 has more than 200 years of industry experience and has evolved significantly over time, with currently all their financial products being provided by Scottish Friendly.
Originally focused solely on life insurance in the 19th and 20th century, the company broadened its offerings to include income protection and critical illness coverage.
Through strategic mergers and changes in ownership, Guardian 1821 has strengthened its market presence and is now recognised for its commitment to transparency and simplicity.
They are known to offer policies with flexible policy options and the opportunity to adjust cover if your circumstances were to change.
But is Guardian life insurance actually as simple and flexible as advertised? Find out in this honest 2024 review by Reassured.
Guardian life insurance is rated up to 5 stars on expert rating site Defaqto.
Looking at product ratings provided by experts can help you understand more about the quality of a product compared to other options available.
Guardian 1821 has limited customer reviews available online, so we’ve provided ratings from the sole source we could locate.
Below is a table including what expert rating sight Defaqto have rated Guardian’s financial services based on research:
Product |
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Level term life insurance (Life essentials & Life Protection) |
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Life and critical illness cover (Life essentials & Life protection) |
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Decreasing term life insurance (Life essentials & Life protection) |
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Reassured is rated ‘Excellent’ by customers on Trustpilot with over 80,000 reviews.
Guardian offers life insurance cover provided by Scottish Friendly. Below is a summary of what cover they offer and a brief description:
A form of cover that lasts a set time (up to 72 years depending on your age) with monthly fixed premiums. Suitable for those who want to help protect a mortgage or future family living costs as the sum assured remains fixed throughout the policy term.
This policy could also last up to 72 years with fixed monthly premiums, but the sum assured will decrease over time, making it a suitable option for those with a repayment mortgage.
A form of cover that allows your sum assured to increase each year to help protect your pay out amount from inflation (monthly premiums would also increase).
A type of policy designed to pay out in monthly instalments (instead of a lump sum) to loved ones to help protect family living costs when you pass away (only available if you opt for their life protection plan).
Guardian offer two types of life insurance protection policies:
Policies | Cover | Guaranteed premiums | Pay out | Types of cover | Pay out for suicide | Premium waver included | Terminal illness cover included |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Life Protection | Single and dual |
| Lump sum or monthly pay out | Level cover, increasing cover, decreasing cover (8%), family income benefit |
|
| Will pay out regardless of life expectancy |
Life Essentials | Single and dual |
| Lump sum | Level cover, increasing cover, decreasing cover (8%) | Not within the first 12 months of the policy |
| Within 12 months while the policy is in force |
Both also include:
Whilst Reassured can’t offer Guardian life insurance, we can compare life insurance quotes from some of the top UK insurers and smaller specialist through our advised team.
Simply get in touch to secure life insurance from 20p-a-day † .
Joint life insurance is a type of policy that covers two people simultaneously and typically pays out if either person passes away in the policy term.
Similar to a single life policy, one monthly payment is made with one contract but a joint policy covers both parties. This is a popular option for those looking to financially protect shared finances (like a mortgage).
Guardian doesn’t offer a traditional joint life insurance policy; however, they do offer a shared type of cover where both partners cover is kept separate, this is called a ‘dual’ policy.
If there’s a claim on one partner’s cover, the other partner’s cover remains in place until the end of the policy term.
This type of policy still only requires one single quote application and one direct debit, just like a standard joint policy, but for a similar price, making it an affordable option for couples.
Considering a joint policy for you and your partner? Why not get in touch today and discuss if it’s the right cover for you.
Guardian 1821 offers critical illness cover for both single or dual policies, as well as the option to add children’s critical illness for an additional cost.
Critical illness cover is a type of cover that provides a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a critical (not terminal) illness.
Reassured can’t offer Guardian critical illness cover, but we can offer critical illness cover with life insurance from just cover from 33p-a-day º .
Income protection is a type of cover that typically pays out up to 70% of your monthly income if you’re unable to work due to an illness or injury.
The pay out can be used to help cover costs you’d usually spend your income on or medical bills.
Reassured offer a whole of market income protection comparison service, available through our advised team, to make sure you secure our best price and find suitable cover.
Whether Guardian 1821 life insurance is ‘good’ will depend on your own personal circumstances and needs.
This article explores the benefits included, the various policies available, and feedback from experts, which often serve as key indicators of an insurer's quality and whether they meet your needs.
Below is a pros and cons list of the advantages and disadvantages of taking out a policy with Guardian 1821:
PROs | CONs |
---|---|
If you smoked while applying for a policy but have since quit, Guardian can lower your premiums for your decision to stop smoking | Guardian covers BMI up to 44 which is one the lowest BMI score coverings out of all major insurers |
Offer benefits that not many other insurers offer, including, e.g the flexibility to increase or decrease your existing policy if you’ve adapted your lifestyle, access to ‘Anytime’ their free health and wellbeing services, and HALO, a dedicated claims support service | Cover may not be suitable for everyone as their life products are all term based (won’t last whole of life) |
Enhanced joint life insurance options where both partners are covered under a single quote | Limited online services, Guardian don’t offer the same online services as many other insurers (e.g. buying online) |
100% pay out rate (in 2023) for life claims | |
Simple and easy to understand products |
The amount of life insurance you need is down to your own personal circumstances, it’s important to consider what you’d like to protect when you’re no longer around.
Guardian 1821 offer many benefits to customers to that are unique from other insurers. Listed are some of the key benefits advertised to customers:
Halo claims support
Halo is a free expert claims management service available for Guardian customers.
This can offer advice on many topics related to a claim, including:
Guardian Anytime
A comprehensive package that includes: unlimited 24/7 remote GP services, nurse support and a second medical opinion.
Free waiver of premium
A free waiver of premium is included with Guardian life insurance. This can cover your monthly premiums if you can’t work due to becoming critically ill or injured.
Pay out planner
Allows the customer to nominate up to 9 beneficiaries when securing a life insurance policy, this is used by 68% of Guardian customers[2].
Optional children’s critical illness cover
For an additional cost you can add your child onto your Guardian policy and can select between £10,000 to £100,000 depending on your cover amount.
To contact Guardian 1821 for general queries as a new or existing customer, you can:
If you cancel within the first 30 days of your life insurance policy starting with Guardian, then you’ll receive a refund for any money already paid.
However, if you cancel after the 30-day period you’ll not be refunded any premiums paid.
To cancel a life policy with Guardian 1821, you’ll need to contact them directly. You can do this by emailing a member of their team at: heretohelp@guardian1821.co.uk
Once you have notified the company that you have decided to cancel, you’ll need to cancel your direct debit set up with your bank.
It’s important to think about your decision first and explore what other options you may have before cancelling as this means you may not be covered if the worst were to happen.
Whilst Reassured can’t compare life insurance quotes from Guardian 1821, we can help you compare quotes from a variety of leading UK insurers.
Deciding what policy suits you can depend on a variety of factors, including cost, which makes it essential to explore the market before settling.
If you’re looking to financially protect your income, Reassured also offer a whole of market (through our advised team) comparison service for income protection polices which includes Guardian 1821, so why not compare today.
Get in touch to begin your life insurance journey and become a step closer to safeguarding yours and your loved one’s financial futures.
[1] https://guardian1821.co.uk/about-us/news/guardian-paid-over-15-million-of-claims-in-2023/
[2] https://guardian821.co.uk/about-us/news/68-of-guardian-life-insurance-policies-have-used-beneficiary-nomination/