Hi [ not you? ] Your account
Help protect what's most important to you.
Get a whole year of Meerkat Meals & Meerkat Movies*
Worried about what might happen if you become ill or lose your job? Income protection insurance could offer you and your family security. This is our guide on what you need to know.
Ever wonder how you’d pay the bills if sickness, injury or redundancy meant that you or your partner were unable to work? It’s not a nice thing to think about, but it’s important – especially if you have children, or financial commitments like a mortgage or rent. Any savings you might have would quickly disappear if they had to start covering your monthly outgoings, food shopping and travel costs.
There are two main types of income protection policy. The first is called permanent health insurance (PHI) – not to be confused with private health insurance that covers medical costs. PHI means you can protect a portion of your income – often 50% of your gross salary – in the event of illness or an accident. It can pay out until you reach retirement age. The second type is called accident, sickness and unemployment (ASU) cover. In the event of illness, an accident or job loss, this allows you to protect the payments on your mortgage or rent, plus any other debts. You can also access some extra income.
There are a few differences:
PHI:
ASU:
You can, but it probably won’t be the most cost-effective way of getting protection. It’s also important to remember the maximum limits, which may be 50% of your monthly salary, no matter how many policies you have. One way to get full protection is to have both an ASU and a PHI policy. The first covers you after 30 days in the event of illness or an accident, and then (after 90 days) for redundancy for the first 12 months. After that PHI will replace your income for as long as necessary until you retire. Having ASU cover in place for the first 12 months means you can have a 12-month deferred period on your PHI. This will make your premium cheaper.
Not at all. The idea is that the insurance takes over when your sick pay ends. If you fall ill, some employers will still pay your salary for a set period – sometimes for up to 12 months. Check how much your employer will give you and for how long. The longer you receive a salary, the longer you can make your deferment period. Many policies won’t pay out if you’re still receiving a salary. If you’re self-employed, you won’t have employee benefits, so income protection is something you should consider. Not at all. The idea is that the insurance takes over when your sick pay ends. If you fall ill, some employers will still pay your salary for a set period – sometimes for up to 12 months. Check how much your employer will give you and for how long. The longer you receive a salary, the longer you can make your deferment period. Many policies won’t pay out if you’re still receiving a salary. If you’re self-employed, you won’t have employee benefits, so income protection is something you should consider.
It’s easy to compare prices and the different levels of cover with Compare the Market. Just use our income protection comparison service and fill in your details and what cover you’re interested in. It only takes a few minutes to see what quotes are available to you. Make sure you check the details of the policy, not just the price, as they will all offer slightly different cover.