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How to get instant life insurance

Through Reassured there are two easy and convenient ways to get instant life insurance. Simply choose the best option for you:

Fee-free

1. Buy online

Our buy online service is the fastest way to get term life insurance quotes and apply for a policy.

It’s a great option if you’re in good health and know exactly what you’re looking for.

  • Get quick and easy cover at your own leisure
  • Fee-free quote comparison
  • Complete the application at your own pace using a phone, tablet or laptop
  • Our team are on hand to help if you need assistance at any point
  • Instant cover as soon as you’re accepted
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2. Talk to an expert

Speak to one of our UK-based experts to get personalised life insurance quotes over the phone, as well as support throughout the application.

This is a good option for those who may need extra help choosing the right policy.

  • Discuss your needs and budget
  • Get more information about your options
  • Fee-free quote comparison
  • Ask as many questions as you need to
  • Instant cover as soon as you’re accepted
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Reassured summary icon

What is instant life insurance? [Key points]

  • Instant life insurance means you can apply for a policy, get an immediate decision and be covered right away
  • Typically, instant policies are purchased online (usually within minutes) but you could also receive an immediate decision over the phone
  • As a decision is given instantly, often a medical exam isn’t required
  • Not everyone will be eligible for an instant life insurance. It’s best suited to those in good health, with no other high-risk lifestyle factors, and without complex cover needs
  • Getting an instant decision helps to give you peace of mind that your loved ones are covered immediately after you’ve taken a policy out

How does instant life insurance work?

Fee-free

Buy life insurance online

When choosing our buy online method, you’ll fill in an initial form where you’ll be asked to give details about yourself and your cover needs.

You’ll then be provided with suitable quotes based on these details, allowing you to choose the one that’s right for your needs.

Once you’ve chosen, you can then complete the full application form online.

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Buy life insurance over the phone

When choosing to buy a policy over the phone, you’ll fill in an initial form with some basic information about yourself and your cover needs.

We'll then be in touch to talk this through in more detail and provide you with suitable options from our panel of insurers.

Once you’ve chosen your policy, we can support you through the application process.

Get Quotes and Speak with an Advisor »

Instant life insurance is an option that’s best for those who are in good health, don’t have any other health/lifestyle factors that could be considered as ‘high-risk’ and don’t have complex cover needs.

If anything is flagged as ‘high-risk’ on your application or you’re applying for a large amount of cover, it’s possible that insurers won’t be able to make an instant decision as they may need further information from you.

For example, they could ask additional questions to get a better idea of your circumstances, request a medical report from your GP or schedule a medical exam.

How much instant life insurance do I need?

If you’re looking for instant quotes, it’s wise to have an idea of how much cover you need.

Life insurance can help to cover your current living costs to allow your family to continue with their current lifestyle, as well as any costs that could arise as a result of your passing.

You might want to consider:

  • Your remaining mortgage balance and whether your partner could afford to make payments on their own
  • Any unpaid debts (particularly if you have co-signed a debt or have a guarantor)
  • How much your family typically spend on essentials and leisure, things such as the weekly food shop, after school activities and days out (it’s estimated that the cost of raising a child to the age of 18 is £260,000 for a couple and £290,000 for a lone parent)[1]
  • Childcare costs and whether your family would need to factor in an additional hours if you were no longer around
  • The cost of your funeral. Research shows that a simple attended funeral costs £3,828 on average[2]
Calculator

Instant life insurance calculator

Fill in the costs you’d like your policy to cover and get an instant calculation of how much life insurance you may need.

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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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Your total cover estimate

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Why Reassured icon

Why use Reassured for instant life insurance?

  • We’re the UK’s largest life insurance broker* with over 15 years of experience
  • Over 1 million customers have chosen us to help them protect their loved ones
  • Our customers rate us as ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot with over 100,000 reviews
  • Fee-free instant quotes from some of the UK’s leading insurers (including Aviva, Legal & General and LV=)
  • We offer both an online and over the phone service
  • We’re authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority)
  • We have a team of experts on hand to support you through the application process
  • We offer a free digital trust writing process to help you avoid/minimise inheritance tax for your loved ones

How to choose the best instant life insurance policy

Term life insurance is the most common option for instant policies. This is because term life insurance is often the most affordable cover type and underwriting can be simple.

The right term life insurance option for you will depend on your personal circumstances, such as what you want to protect.

The term options we have available are:

Level term icon

Level term life insurance

  • Cover for a specified period (the term)
  • Sum assured (cover amount) remains the same
  • Maximum pay out up to £1,000,000
  • Requires medical information during the application
  • Free terminal illness cover

Level term life insurance provides cover for an agreed period (for example, 40 years) and pays out if you pass away during this time.

Your cover amount remains the same (level) throughout the policy term. For this reason, it’s a popular choice for covering large costs such as an interest only mortgage and family living expenses.

Decreasing term icon

Decreasing term life insurance

  • Cover for a specified period (the term)
  • Sum assured (cover amount) decreases overtime
  • Maximum pay out up to £1,000,000
  • Requires medical information during the application
  • Free terminal illness cover

Decreasing term life insurance provides cover for an agreed period and pays out if you pass away during this time.

Your cover amount will reduce throughout the policy term, usually in line with a repayment mortgage. It’s most commonly used to protect this cost as you can mirror your policy term with your mortgage term and your cover amount with your remaining balance.

Critical illness cover icon

Life insurance with critical illness cover

  • Cover for a specified period (the term)
  • Adds an extra layer of protection
  • A pay out is made for critical illness or death
  • Requires medical information during the application

You can add critical illness cover to both level and decreasing term life insurance for an additional fee.

By adding critical illness cover it means you can make a claim on your policy if you’re diagnosed with a specific serious illness or pass away during the term.

It helps to add an extra layer of protection for you and your loved ones. A critical illness pay out could help you replace lost income while you’re unable to work or cover any private medical treatments to aid your recovery.

What is the cost of instant life insurance?

Life insurance starts from 20p a day through Reassured†.

However, the exact amount you’ll pay is calculated based on your personal circumstances and policy details. This includes:

Insurers use this information to work out your level of risk. Your eligibility is then assessed and the price you’ll pay is calculated accordingly.

Below are some example quotes to give you an idea of how much life insurance costs. Quotes are based on a non-smoker, in good health, with a policy term of 20 years and a sum assured of £150,000.

AgeDecreasing term life insuranceLevel term life insurance
20£3.90£4.26
25£4.38£5.14
30£5.09£6.41
35£5.98£9.20
40£7.90£12.74
45£11.34£18.33
50£18.39£29.94

Please note that the above pricing illustrations are based on our over the phone service. Online pricing could vary.

How does instant life insurance work for seniors?

Seniors may be able to get an instant decision for standard life insurance depending on health and lifestyle factors.

However, for seniors with pre-existing conditions, the likelihood of an instant decision for life insurance is lower. In some cases, an over 50s plan may be more suitable.

Over 50 life insurance icon

Over 50s life insurance 

  • Guaranteed acceptance for UK residents aged 50 – 85
  • Cover lasts for life
  • No medical questions or exam
  • Maximum pay out up to £20,000
  • Immediate accidental death cover

Over 50s plans offer guaranteed acceptance to UK residents aged 50 – 85, without asking any medical questions.

Once a policy is in place, you’ll be covered for the rest of your life.

However, full cover doesn’t start instantly. A 12 or 24 month waiting period is typically added at the start of the policy. If you pass away due to natural causes during this time, a pay out won’t be made.

Most insurers cover accidental death during this time. Once the waiting period has come to an end, full cover commences.

Compare instant life insurance quotes

If you’re looking for instant life insurance quotes and cover that starts immediately, why not use our fee-free services?

Whether you want quick quotes or you need more information, we’ve got a journey to suit everyone.

Fee-free

Use our buy online service

To get instant online quotes.

Using this journey you can apply for a policy at your own leisure from the convenience of your mobile, tablet or laptop.

Get Life Insurance Quotes in Minutes »
Claim

Speak with one of our experts

Over the phone to find out more about what options are available to you.

We can provide you with quotes and help you through the application.

Get Support Throughout the Application »

We’re the UK’s largest life insurance broker and we work with a panel of leading UK insurers so whichever option you choose, we can find you a fantastic deal.

Over 1 million customers have trusted us to protect their loved ones so why not let us save you time and money today?

Instant life insurance FAQs

Can you get life insurance with no waiting period?

Yes, most standard life insurance policies start straight away without a waiting period at the start of the policy.

This is because you’ll give health and lifestyle information during the application, so insurers have a clear picture of your circumstances.

A waiting period is typically added to cover 50s life insurance as medical information isn’t provided during the application process. This means that death due to natural causes isn’t covered during the first 12 or 24 months of the policy (but accidental death is usually covered).

If you’re looking for life insurance with no waiting period, you may consider term life insurance or whole of life insurance which both provide immediate cover once a policy is in place.

Can you get instant whole of life insurance?

Whole of life insurance is a more complex policy type as cover lasts for life and a pay out is made when you pass away (rather than if you pass away during a set term).

For this reason, it’s not always possible to get an instant decision when applying for a policy.

However, once you have been accepted, your cover will start right away.

If you’re considering whole of life insurance then it’s important to bear in mind that you’ll need to pay premiums for the rest of your life.

We have a term vs whole of life insurance guide if you’d like more information on the differences between these life cover options.

Can I get free instant life insurance?

Yes, some insurers offer free instant cover if they can’t give you an immediate decision during the application:

  • Aviva – Aviva offer the ‘protection promise’. This means that they’ll provide free cover until they have made a decision about your application up to a maximum of 90 days. If a claim is paid the amount you’ve applied for will be paid out up to a maximum of £500,000.
  • Legal & General – Legal & General offer accidental death cover while they make a decision about your application up to a maximum of 90 days. If a claim is made the amount you applied for will be paid out up to a maximum of £300,000.
  • Zurich – Zurich could offer free instant temporary cover while they make a decision about your application.

Some insurers (such as Aviva) also offer free life cover for parents. This is available to parents with children under 4 and provides a maximum cover amount of £15,000 per parent. Cover will start immediately and will last for 12 months.

Sources:

[1] https://cpag.org.uk/policy-and-research/policy-briefings-reports/cost-child-reports

[2] https://www.sunlife.co.uk/over-50-life-insurance/funeral-costs/

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