Can I add critical illness cover to my life insurance?

Some insurers allow you to add critical illness cover to your life insurance policy, which provides a lump sum if you're diagnosed with a serious illness. But adding this to a policy after age 60 may be more expensive, and not all insurers offer it for older age groups.

What happens if I stop paying my premiums?

For most life insurance providers, if you stop paying your premiums, your policy may be cancelled. This means your loved ones wouldn’t receive a payout. Post Office Over 50s Life Cover includes a protected benefit. This means if you stop paying your premiums, we’ll still pay out at least half of the cover amount upon your death, as long as you’ve paid at least halfway through your policy term. The halfway point is calculated from the policy start date and the policy anniversary after your 95th birthday.

Can I still get life insurance if I have health issues?

Yes, many life insurance policies for over 60s don’t need a medical exam. Insurers might ask some health and lifestyle questions, but acceptance is often guaranteed with whole life policies like over 50s life cover.

Will my premiums increase as I get older?

For most whole life policies like over 50s life cover, your premiums will stay the same. But if you choose term insurance or increasing term insurance, your premiums might go up each year.

How much life insurance cover do I need?

The amount of cover you need depends on your personal circumstances. These include funeral costs, unpaid debts, or any financial support your family might need. A life insurance calculator can help you work out the right amount.

Over 60s Life Insurance │ Life Insurance│ Post Office

a group of over 60s smiling and drinking a hot beverage

In this article

Is there specific over 60s life insurance?
Why should I get over 60s life insurance?
Key features of Post Office Over 50s Life Cover
Can I use an over 60s life insurance policy to pay inheritance tax?
Do I need a medical to qualify for over 60s life insurance?
What about fixed term life insurance?
Key takeaways
Common questions about life cover for over 60s

Is there specific over 60s life insurance?

Yes, there are life insurance options which are designed for people in the second half of their life. However, this is usually referred to as ‘Over 50s Life Insurance ’ or ‘Over 50s Life Cover’. If you see those terms when researching options, you’re in the right place.

Over 50s Life Cover is a type of whole of life insurance. Its key features include:

You don’t need to provide any medical information to be approved
If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, they won’t affect your eligibility to get cover
Your cover lasts for the rest of your life
There’s a guaranteed payout for your family when you pass away.

This is different from term life insurance, which only covers you for a certain amount of time, like 10 or 20 years for example. Any health conditions you have will also impact your premiums . If you’re 60, you can still apply for term life insurance, but it’s likely to cost more because of your age and health.

Over 50s policies are designed for people who definitely want to leave something behind. The payout limits are much smaller than term life insurance, but it doesn’t matter how long you live. As long as you keep paying your premiums, your loved ones will receive the payout.

Why should I get over 60s life insurance?

In your 60s, you might still be working or preparing for retirement. An Over 50s Life Cover policy could be a simple, affordable way to cover important expenses when you’re no longer around. This could include:

Funeral costs
Small debts, such as bills, credit cards or personal loans
Leaving a financial gift for loved ones

Key features of Post Office Over 50s Life Cover

Our over 50s life cover is a simple way to provide your loved ones with a cash sum when you pass away. Here’s what else you need to know:

If you're aged 50 to 80 and a UK resident, you can get cover in place straight away
You can get up to £10,000 of cover, depending on your age
You’ll stop paying premiums when you turn 95 The cover lasts for life, even when you stop paying premiums after your 95th birthday

Funeral benefit option

Most people use their policy payout to help cover funeral costs. With our over 50s life cover, you can add a funeral benefit option to your policy, for free, when you apply or at any time.

Here’s how it works:

Your policy payout can be made directly to Co-op Funeralcare to arrange and help pay for your chosen funeral
You can get up to £250* off the final cost
Co-op Funeralcare will support your loved ones through the process at a difficult time

*The discount you get depends on the type of funeral you choose: £250 for Tailored, £100 for Essential, and £50 for Direct to Cremation.

Protected benefit

Our over 50s life cover also includes a protected benefit. When you take out a policy, we count the amount of monthly premiums until your 95th birthday. As long as you pay the first half of those premiums, we guarantee a payout of at least half of the cover amount, even if you stop paying premiums after that.

If you need to halt your payments in later life, you’re safe in the knowledge that your loved ones will still receive some money.

Whatever your reason for choosing our over 50s life cover, it offers peace of mind by ensuring your loved ones are protected after you’re gone. You can’t outlive your policy, and as long as you pay your premiums, you’ll know exactly what your loved ones will receive.

Can I use an over 60s life insurance policy to pay inheritance tax?

While it’s possible, it’s unlikely that an over 60s life insurance policy will cover your entire inheritance tax bill.

As of January 2026, according to HMRC rules, inheritance tax is only charged on estates worth more than £325,000. The maximum payout for a Post Office Over 50s Life Cover policy is £10,000, depending on your age.

If your estate is slightly over £325,000, your Over 50s Life Cover payout could pay some or all of your inheritance tax, but there are other variables which also need to be considered. You can read another article of ours for more information about inheritance tax, but it’s best to speak to a specialist so you know exactly what to prepare for.

Please note: These figures are examples and shouldn’t be used to make financial decisions. We aim to keep our content up to date, but tax rules may change before we can update our pages.

Do I need a medical to qualify for over 60s life insurance?

In most cases, you don’t need a medical exam to qualify for an over 50s policy. But this depends on the insurer, their policies, and your health and lifestyle. You might still be asked a few health questions.

If you take out over 50s life cover with Post Office, there are no medical checks. You’re guaranteed to be accepted if you’re a UK resident between the ages of 50 and 80.

What about fixed term life insurance?

If Over 50s Life Cover doesn’t meet your needs, you might want to explore fixed term cover. With term cover, you can structure your policy in a variety of ways:

Type of life insurance	Best for	Features
Decreasing term	Paying off a mortgage or large debt	The payout reduces over time as the debt is paid off
Level term	Providing a fixed payout over a set period	The payout remains the same throughout the policy
Increasing term	Protecting against inflation	The payout increases yearly to keep up with inflation but premiums rise each year too

These are all fixed-term policies, which means they cover you for a set time. They usually offer more cover compared to over 50s policies and can meet different needs.

However, if you’re looking for a larger payout, be advised that premiums will be higher due to your age. Eligibility for these policies will also depend on medical information, and they only cover you for a set period. If you outlive your policy, your loved ones won’t get a payout.

Take time to do your research, compare what different providers offer and speak to an independent financial advisor to help you make the best choice.

Key takeaways

If you’re over 60 and looking for life insurance, Over 50s Life Cover might be a good choice
It lasts for the rest of your life and can help cover funeral costs, pay off small debts, or leave a small gift for family
You don’t need any medical checks for an over 50s policy. You pay premiums until you turn 95, and after that, you’re covered for life without paying any more
Term life insurance is also an option if you’re looking to leave a higher sum behind

Safeguard your loved ones' future with life insurance

Life cover options

Common questions about life insurance over 60

Some insurers allow you to add critical illness cover to your life insurance policy, which provides a lump sum if you're diagnosed with a serious illness. But adding this to a policy after age 60 may be more expensive, and not all insurers offer it for older age groups.
Our over 50s insurance policy lasts for the rest of your life, while term life insurance only lasts for a set number of years, such as 10 or 20 years.
Our over 50s life cover includes a protected benefit, so if you stop paying your premiums after you’ve already paid at least half of the cover amount, you are guaranteed a matching payout. If you stop paying premiums before this point, your policy will be cancelled.

Please note, many other life insurance providers don’t include a protected benefit and may cancel your policy if you stop paying your premiums at any point. This means your loved ones wouldn’t receive a payout.
Yes, many life insurance policies for over 60s don’t need a medical exam. Insurers might ask some health and lifestyle questions, but acceptance is often guaranteed with whole life policies like over 50s life cover.
For most whole life policies like over 50s life cover, your premiums will stay the same. But if you choose term insurance or increasing term insurance, your premiums might go up each year.
Finding the best policy and amount of cover you need depends on your personal circumstances. These include funeral costs, unpaid debts, any financial support your family might need, and how long you want your protection to last.

Our life cover products

Over 50s life cover

If you're aged between 50 and 80, we could help you leave a cash sum for your family or towards your funeral costs.

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Choose between level, decreasing or increasing term insurance, each designed to offer you peace of mind based on your circumstances.

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