"If you’re looking for a policy where the payout amount remains fixed throughout the term, level term life insurance could be a suitable option. Life changes quickly, so it’s important to review your policy regularly whether annually or after significant milestones, like welcoming a new family member. This helps ensure your loved ones have the right level of cover when they need it most."
How level term life insurance works
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You choose your cover term: This is how long your policy runs for. Most policies run between 5 and 40 years.
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You choose your cover amount: This is how much you'd like your policy to pay out if you die.
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You pay your premiums: This can usually either be done monthly or annually.
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Your policy pays out if you die: This needs to be in a way that's covered by your policy during your cover term.
If you outlive the term of your policy, your cover ends and you normally don’t get back what you’ve paid. Life insurance is designed to work as a safety net. Your payments guarantee that if you were to die during the policy term, your family would be supported and can use the payout however they see fit.
Level term cover is also available as a joint policy. Here you cover 2 people on one easy-to-manage policy. Joint life insurance policies tend to be cheaper than taking out 2 separate life insurance policies, so they’re a useful option for couples.
The difference here is that the policy ends with the death of one of the policyholders, so if you both need cover, separate policies might be more convenient.
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What our life insurance expert says
How much is level term life insurance?
Level term life insurance costs from £3.50 per month***.
This is just an average, and the exact price you pay for your policy depends on a few things like:
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The amount of cover you get: A larger payout typically means your monthly payments will be higher.
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The length of your cover period: The longer the policy, the more it’s likely to cost.
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Your age: The older you are, the more your cover is likely to cost.
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Your health and medical history: While most level term life insurance policies cover pre-existing conditions, you may have to pay more. It’s worth checking the policy wording on pre-existing conditions – which can be anything from asthma to heart disease – before you buy.
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Your lifestyle: This includes things like your weight, activity levels, if you smoke and how much you drink.
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If you choose to add critical illness cover: This policy add-on pays out if you suffer a severe injury or become seriously unwell during your cover term. It helps ensure that your family is financially secure no matter what life throws at you, but it comes at an additional cost.
On the whole, the younger and healthier you are when you take out life insurance, the cheaper your monthly payments are.
***Dependant on age, cover term and cover amount selected. Example of a 20 year old non-smoker in good health, taking £100,000 level cover over 25 years. Based on data from online sales August 2024..
Help with calculating your cover
Is level term life insurance taxable?
The payout from your level term policy is only taxable if it pushes the total value of your estate to more than £325,000. There are a few exceptions to the rule.
Generally, your beneficiaries don't pay inheritance tax if:
- If you leave your estate to your spouse, civil partner or a charity
- If your estate amounts to less than £325,000, even after your payout
If it’s under £325,000 you pay no tax. You can find out more on inheritance tax on Gov.co.uk.
If you’re worried your life insurance payout may push your estate far above the £325,000 cut off, think about writing your life insurance in trust.
Doing this means your payout is kept separate to your estate and you don’t pay tax on it. This ensures your loved ones get your whole payout, rather than just part of it.
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Life insurance guides
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Page last reviewed: 01 October 2024
Reviewed by: Matthew Harwood
The Confused.com Life Insurance service is arranged by Reassured Ltd, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and entered on the Financial Services Register under reference 616144. Registered Office: 1st Floor, Belvedere House, Bading View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4HG. 06838409 registered in England and Wales.
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