Life insurance articles
Here's where you'll find useful information and guidance on how to look after your loved ones with life insurance.
Our articles offer tips and guidance on all things life insurance - whether you're looking for ways to keep your premiums low, or you're starting a family and considering getting cover.
All about life insurance
Our articles tell you everything you need to know about life insurance, including how it works, and how to identify the type of cover that’s right for you.
Paying out when you need it
In 2020 we paid out over £1bn in protection claims to help over 50,000 people and their families.
Find out more
What happens to a life insurance policy when someone dies?
If a loved one dies, and you’re not sure if they had a life insurance policy, or how to make a claim if they did, find out some of the steps you can take here.
Life insurance after death
Renting? Here’s why life insurance isn’t just for homeowners
Discover more about life insurance
Discover more about life insurance
How does life insurance work?
From how much life insurance costs to who gets the money if you die during the policy term, here’s a simple guide to life insurance and how it works.
Understand life insurance
Mortgage protection when you're buying a home
Whether you’re a first-time buyer, moving up the property ladder or securing a buy-to-let, here’s why you might want to get that financial protection in place.
Life insurance for home movers
Think you can't afford life insurance? This might help
Read our 4 top tips on how to make the cost of life insurance more manageable.
Affordable life insurance
Want to switch your life insurance policy?
You might regularly review or change your car or home insurance policy. But is it worth doing the same with your life insurance?
Want to switch your life insurance policy?
What is mortgage protection insurance?
Mortgage protection insurance is a type of term life insurance. Find out more about how mortgage protection insurance works, and how it can help you here.
Learn more
What's the difference between life insurance and life assurance?
Life insurance and life assurance are terms that are often used interchangeably – but is there a difference?
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The difference between a death in service policy and life insurance
Understand the difference and why you might need both.
Know the difference
Understanding life insurance
Explore our different types of cover.
Watch our video
Should I buy a single or joint life insurance policy?
Understand the difference between both policies.
Single or joint?
What is term life insurance?
There are 3 different types of term life insurance.
Explore term life insurance
Your life insurance policy
What happens when you actually need to use a policy, or if you need to make changes to your policy because of life events like divorce, marriage, or starting a family? These articles tell you how to navigate using your policy or make changes to it.
Do you need a medical to get life insurance?
If you’re avoiding taking out life insurance because you think the application will involve a medical, you might be surprised to hear it’s not always needed.
Discover more
Can you get life insurance with a pre-existing condition?
From the application process to premiums, here’s what you need to know.
Find the answer
Cancer support beyond claims
Here’s how we’re working with Macmillan Cancer Support to be there for you if you’re living with cancer and have a protection policy with us.
More about our Macmillan partnership
Different types of life insurance for your family
Explore the different types of life insurance for your family
Explore life insurance
Safeguarding the family home when you’re gone
Having life insurance can help reduce the financial impact on those left behind. Find out more about safeguarding your home with life insurance here.
How life insurance can help
Six important reasons to get life insurance
We regularly see the difference having life insurance can make to families, find out how having cover could make a big difference, when it really matters here.
Discover the benefits
What happens to debt when someone dies?
Our guide to how finances are managed and debts are dealt with after a loved one passes away.
Settling debts after death
What happens to life insurance after divorce?
A simple guide to separating your life insurance policies if your relationship breaks down.
Life cover after divorce
What is common law marriage?
See our top tips to help you protect your family's finances if you choose not to marry.
Finances for couples
Critical illness cover
Read our article to discover the benefits of having critical illness cover, how it differs from life insurance and how it can help protect you when you become critically ill.
How much critical illness cover do you need?
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Children’s critical illness benefit
The last thing you’ll want to think about is your child being critically ill, but it’s worth considering how you’d manage financially. Find out more here.
Discover how it works
Life insurance and critical illness cover: how are they different, and do you need both?
Although similar, life insurance and critical illness policies provide different kinds of cover to help in challenging times. Find out more here.
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The difference between income protection insurance and critical illness cover
For a lifeline that’s right for you and your family, we look at the difference between critical illness cover and income protection, find out more here.
Read more
What does our critical illness insurance cover?
Understanding exactly what your critical illness cover policy covers you for can give you peace of mind, when you need it most.
Find out more
What is critical illness cover?
Critical illness cover pays out a lump sum to help cover costs should you fall ill. Find out how it could benefit you and your loved ones.
Learn about this cover
On The Aviva Edit
Browse related articles about life insurance in our magazine, The Edit.
More than half struggle financially after the death of a loved one, survey reveals
Failing to prepare financially for prolonged sickness and death can leave those closest to you in the lurch.
How to cope
What to do after someone dies – a checklist
It can be difficult to know what to do following the death of a loved one, and in what order. Find out what you need to do first and what you can leave for later.
What to do
5 things to put on your family protection 'to do' list
From writing a will to arranging life insurance, here’s how to protect the people you love most.
Family protection to-do list
Get a life insurance quote
Got 5 minutes? That’s how fast most customers get a quote and a decision. Remember, you can add critical illness cover when you apply for life insurance.