Can you get life insurance if you’re disabled?

Yes, it's possible to secure life insurance if you have a disability.

Around 16 million people are registered as disabled in the UK[1] and, as a result, insurers often deal with applications from those with an impairment.

Various factors such as the type of disability you have and whether it affects your overall health will be assessed during the application process.

In some cases, it’s possible to secure life insurance at the standard rate (from 20p-a-day through Reassured + ), particularly if you’re in good health.

Using our broker service can help you identify which of the insurers from our panel can offer you the right cover at the right price.

Even if you’ve previously been declined or struggled to find affordable life insurance in the past due to your impairment, there could be options available.

Get in touch for your free, no-obligation quotes.

In this guide:

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Life insurance for disabled adults UK [Quick summary]

  • It’s possible to secure affordable life insurance if you’re disabled, but your specific circumstances will determine if you’re eligible for a policy and the cost of your premiums
  • Applying for standard types of life insurance will involve additional questions about your disability, such as the type of disability you have and how it affects your day-to-day life. It’s important to be honest when answering these questions to ensure that your policy is valid
  • Insurers may request to see a medical report from your GP, or that you attend a medical exam so they can understand more about your health and better assess your application
  • If you’re aged 50 - 85, you may consider taking out an over 50s plan. This is because the application doesn’t require any information about your disability or medical history and won’t affect how much you pay
  • Using a broker, such as Reassured, can help you to compare policies and prices from various different insurers to help you find the right cover to suit your needs

How does having a disability affect life insurance?

Having a disability could potentially affect the life insurance cover you can get, including how much you pay and the cover amount.

This is because a disability is considered a pre-existing medical condition by insurers which could impact your life expectancy (and increase the likelihood of a claim on your policy).

Insurers will consider various factors to determine the level of risk you pose and decide the outcome of your application. These factors may include:

  • The type and severity of your disability
  • How your disability affects your daily life
  • Any other pre-existing medical conditions
  • Your age, lifestyle and family medical history

Depending on the risk involved, they may choose to:

  • Accept your application at the standard price (particularly if your disability is minor and has minimal effect on your overall health or ability to live an active life)
  • Accept your application but increase the cost of your premium
  • Accept your application but limit your cover amount
  • Decline your application altogether (if your disability is severe and effects your daily life or overall health)

Applying for life insurance with a disability

Whether you’re registered as disabled or not, every one of us is unique. This means life insurance applications must be assessed on an individual basis.

Disability can take many different forms:

  • Neurological impairment
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Hearing impairment
  • Visual impairment
  • Musculoskeletal impairment
  • Mental impairment

Reassured can support you with your application and help identify which insurers may be most likely to offer you cover based on your personal circumstances.

We have a dedicated in-house impaired risk life insurance, team who work tirelessly to find non-standard applicants some form of cover (even those who’ve been declined in the past).

Will I need to have a medical exam?

A medical exam isn’t always required when applying for life insurance with a disability.

However, depending on your health, an insurer may request that you provide further medical evidence, which could be in the form of:

  • A medical report from your GP. With your permission, an insurer can ask to see a summary of your medical history that’s relevant to your application
  • A medical exam with a healthcare professional. This would take place at your local doctor’s surgery or pharmacy, paid for by the insurance company

Providing further information about your health can allow the insurer to better assess your application and ensure that you’re offered the right cover based on your circumstances.

If you choose not to give your consent in either scenario, the insurer may refuse your application as they won’t have access to the information they need.

Do I need life insurance?

You'll probably require life insurance for the same reason anyone else does.

This need is generally heightened if you've children who rely on you and/or have a mortgage.

Life insurance can help to provide financial stability for your family if you pass away during the specified term. A pay out can help to cover a range of costs, for example:

  • Mortgage or rental payments
  • Family living costs such as childcare & household bills
  • Unpaid debts or personal loan
  • Inheritance
  • Funeral costs

The total amount that’s paid out and the length of your policy term will depend on the policy you choose and your personal circumstances.

You can tailor your life insurance to suit your needs and protect what matters to you.

Finding the right policy can be more difficult if you’re living with a disability, but it could be possible to secure some form of protection for your family and have peace of mind.

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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The affordability of life insurance for disabled people

On average, living costs are a staggering £975 more each month[1] if you're disabled.

When you also consider that many disabled people are unable to work, and with some having their government funding cut, it’s easy to see why many don’t think they can afford life insurance.

The good news is that by comparing policies and quotes through Reassured, you can find out about your available options and find the best quotes we can offer you.

Life insurance can be more affordable than you think, so get in touch we’ll work hard to find you our cheapest cover.

What’s the best life insurance for disabled adults?

There are different types of life insurance to suit varying needs.

The best life insurance for you will depend on what you would like to protect, as well as your personal circumstances and budget.

  • Term-based life insurance (such as level or decreasing term) tends to be the cheapest, and the most practical, making it popular among families and young adults looking for protection
  • Whole of life insurance is less popular but can provide a guaranteed pay out when you pass away, whenever that may happen. It’s usually more expensive that term-based cover

We describe each policy type in more detail below:

Level term life insurance

Level term provides protection for a specified period of time (the term), if you pass way during this time, a fixed lump sum pay out will be made to your loved ones.

This type of cover is ideal for helping protect an interest-only mortgage, or your children until they become financially independent.

The application includes medical questions, which means you’ll need to declare your disability and any health conditions.

Decreasing term life insurance

Decreasing term provides protection for a specified period of time, if you pass way during this time, a lump sum pay out will be made to your loved ones.

However, unlike level term life insurance, the lump sum decreases throughout the term until it reaches zero. This makes it ideal for helping to protect a repayment mortgage which also reduces over time.

The application also includes medical questions, so you’ll need to declare your disability.

Family income benefit

Family income benefit provides your loved ones with ongoing monthly, tax-free payments if you pass away during a specified term. The payments can be up to £5,000 a month depending on your circumstances.

It’s ideal for helping to cover a lost income and managing daily living costs.

You can compare family income benefit quotes through Reassured. The application also includes medical questions.

Whole of life insurance

Whole of life cover provides protection for the rest of your life, guaranteeing a pay out when you pass away.

However, due to being more expensive, it's possible to pay more into the policy than the total pay out amount.

As a result, whole of life is usually more suitable to those in later life who have good health as the application includes medical questions.

It’s important to compare quotes for different policies to find out which option is the most cost-effective for you.

Get in touch with Reassured for your free, personalised quotes.

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What’s the best life insurance for disabled seniors?

Disabled seniors may find it more difficult to secure standard types of life insurance, but if you’re aged 50 - 85 then you could take out an over 50s plan.

An over 50s plan offers guaranteed acceptance to all UK residents within this age range, with no medical questions during the application process.

This means you won’t have to declare your disability or any pre-existing medical conditions.

Cover can be arranged up to £20,000 (depending on your age, smoking status and budget), making an over 50s plan ideal for helping to cover funeral costs and/or leaving an inheritance.

It's worth noting, most over 50s plans employ a waiting period of either 12 or 24 months, during which you won't be covered for death due to natural causes.

Simply get in touch with our team today to discover if an over 50s plan is the right option for you. Quotes start from just £5 a month.

Compare Free Over 50s Plan Quotes »

Does life insurance pay out for disability?

No. Unfortunately, life insurance doesn’t pay out if you become disabled. It usually only pays out if you pass away.

However, there are other types of insurance that could pay out if you become disabled or seriously ill during the policy term.

These are as follows:

Critical illness cover

If you have critical illness cover (either as a standalone policy or part of your life insurance policy) and you become totally permanently disabled as the result of a serious accident or illness, then you can make a claim (so long as the circumstances are included within your policy).

The policy provides a lump sum pay out, which could be used as you wish. For example, to help cover mortgage payments, future living costs and private medical treatment.

It’s possible to add critical illness cover for an additional cost to term life policies arranged through Reassured.

Reassured don't currently offer standalone critical illness cover.

Terminal illness cover

This type of cover is usually only available as part of a life insurance policy. It allows you to make an early claim on your policy if you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness and given less than 12 months to live.

This early payment can be used to help settle your finances, pay for private medical treatment or simply to spend with your loved ones during your final days.

All term life insurance policies arranged through Reassured come with terminal illness cover as standard, providing you with additional protection during the specified term.

Disability insurance/income protection insurance

If you have income protection (also known as ‘disability insurance’), this type of cover will pay out if you become permanently disabled due to an accident or illness and unable to work.

It will provide a percentage of your income in regular tax-free payments to help you maintain your current lifestyle. The payments can last for a short or long term period, depending on your circumstances.

Income protection is available through Reassured, get in touch if you’d like to learn more.

Disability UK key statistics

  • 16 million people are registered as disabled in the UK[1]
  • 23% of working age adults are disabled
  • 45% of pension age adults are disabled
  • 1 in 5 of us will be affected by disability at some point in our lives[4]
  • £975 more a month on living costs if you're disabled

Information & support for disabled people

There are a number of UK charities and support groups accessible for those living with disabilities. Here you can find helpful guides and information:

Life insurance for disabled FAQs

Can you get life insurance for a disabled child?

Many parents look to insure the lives of their children, although this may not be the most beneficial use of cover.

Losing a child, as devastating as it may be, doesn’t tend to bring with it a financial loss. Therefore, the need for life insurance is less necessary.

As a result, it's usually recommended to protect parents’ lives instead.

However, critical illness cover can include protection for your children, helping you to cover lost income if you have to take time off work to care for a seriously ill child.

Some providers include this as standard whilst others treat this as an optional benefit and charge an additional cost.

Simply contact our team today to discuss your policy options.

Should disabled parents get life insurance?

Becoming a parent is one of the primary reasons many people take out life insurance, as a means of providing financial protection for their children.

Especially when the average cost of raising a child to the age of 18 is £220,000 for a single parent[2], and the average cost of full-time childcare is £285.31 a week[3].

In this instance, you may look to arrange term life insurance cover with a policy term that lasts until your children reach financial independence.

Read our life insurance for parents article for further information or contact our team today for a free quote.

What about life insurance for veterans on disability?

If you're a former member of our Armed Services and have been injured in action, it's still possible to secure life insurance.

However, again, the severity of your disability will determine how easy it is to secure cover and how much your premiums will cost.

Our in-house impaired team have a proud history of working with military veterans and helping them to secure some form of cover.

Get in touch to make the most of our fee-free and no-obligation comparison service.

Disability life insurance quotes

As with all types of life insurance, it's imperative that you compare multiple quotes, as prices vary between different insurers.

Our dedicated impaired life insurance team could help you find some form of cover that’s within your budget, even if you've previously been declined.

We're here to help you secure the financial future of your loved ones and can search major insurers as well as smaller specialists.

And the best part is our award-winning broker service is completely fee-free.

Why not challenge us to find you our best life insurance quotes today?

Compare Life Insurance » Find Our Best Quotes

Sources:

[1] https://www.scope.org.uk/media/disability-facts-figures

[2] https://cpag.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-02/Cost_of_a_child_2023_full.pdf

[3] https://www.daynurseries.co.uk/advice/childcare-costs-how-much-do-you-pay-in-the-uk

[4] https://www.leonardcheshire.org/about-us/what-we-do/facts-and-figures

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