Other types of life cover
As well as level term, Post Office offers two other types of life insurance too: increasing term and decreasing term.
What is level term life insurance?
Level term life insurance is like a promise that your loved ones will get a set amount of money if something happens to you during the term of your policy.
This money, known as a ‘lump sum’, can help them pay off things like loans, a mortgage or cover everyday expenses if you're not there anymore.
What are the benefits of level term cover?
It's like having a safety net. If something happens to you, your family gets a payout to help them out. No need to dip into their own savings.
The premium you pay for your cover stays the same, making it easy to budget for the policy term. The amount your loved ones receive also stays the same. It doesn't change if prices go up over time.
Why should I get level term life cover?
Think of it like giving your family a big gift. If you keep paying for your policy, they'll get up to £750,000 depending on your age, when you're no longer around.
They can use this money to pay off debts, like loans or an interest-only mortgage. Or you can leave them a legacy they can save for the future.
Level term cover option
Here's a quick summary of how the Post Office Life Insurance level term cover option works
| What's it for? | Providing for your loved ones and/or paying off an interest only mortgage if you die |
|---|---|
| Fixed cash sum payout? | Yes |
| What's the maximum payout? | Up to £750,000, depending on age |
| Age limit | Ages 18-70 |
| Are health-related question asked? | Yes |
| Is terminal illness cover included? | Yes |
| Can I add critical illness and children’s cover to my policy? |
Yes, for an additional cost |
What is the right amount of cover?
To make sure you’ve the right amount of cover for your needs, consider the following three questions.
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What do you need to protect?
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How much cover do you need?
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How long do you need the cover for?
Think about whether you have a mortgage, other outstanding debts, or a combination of these. If you have a repayment mortgage, consider how much is outstanding. How long until it’s paid off?
Our life insurance calculator is an easy way to estimate how much cover you may need in your current situation. Simply enter a few details into the calculator to start.
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Increasing term life insurance
Increasing term life insurance can help you leave your loved ones a legacy too. It may also suit if you want your policy to adjust with inflation, and to retain its real-terms value. It considers the rising cost of living, so the payout value increases over time. The premiums you pay increase too. They’re often higher than for level and decreasing cover.
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Decreasing term life insurance
If you have long-term debts, you may want to consider decreasing term cover. It helps repay ongoing financial commitments, such as a repayment mortgage or scheduled payment loan. You only pay for the cover you need, and your payout decreases in value over time as your debts get smaller. If your mortgage interest rate is 8% or less, decreasing term cover may be right for you. But note that cap on interest rates could differ by provider.
Other points to consider
Here’s what else to think about if you’re considering increasing term life insurance.
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Level term cover provides a fixed lump sum. It doesn’t adjust for inflation, so its value could reduce over time
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For short-term policies, this difference in value could be minor. But, if your policy spans 30 or 40 years, its value later could be less then than today
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Payouts from level term life cover may be subject to inheritance tax. It’s important to factor this in when deciding how much cover you need
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Some insurers allow level and increasing term policies to be placed into trust. This means they won’t be counted in your estate for inheritance tax calculations, under certain conditions
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Estate and tax planning is complex. It's worth talking to an independent financial advisor or solicitor about your specific circumstances
Get life cover and an offer of your choice by getting a quote online or by phone
When you buy Post Office Life Insurance, you’ll also get a special reward. Choose a gift card from a choice of retailers or an unforgettable experience by getting a quote online or by phoning 0330 123 3921^.
Quote ‘TREATS’ when applying by phone for the experience offer.
Gift card offer
As a thanks for getting cover with us, select a £100 gift card† from one of these top retailers
- Choose a Tesco, M&S or Amazon.co.uk Gift Card*
- Flexible and easy to use for everyday shopping
- Perfect for shopping, home essentials, or treating yourself
† Qualifying period, minimum premiums and terms and conditions apply
Experience offer
Prefer experiences? Choose one around the UK worth £200†† to celebrate putting peace of mind in place
- Choose a Luxury Night Away or a Family Adventure Day
- Hundreds of experiences available nationwide
- A great way to celebrate peace of mind with a well-deserved break
†† Qualifying period, minimum premiums and terms and conditions apply
Post Office life cover options
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Life insurance
Choose between level, decreasing or increasing term insurance, each designed to offer you peace of mind based on your circumstances.
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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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About our life insurance
Post Office Life Insurance is underwritten and administered by Scottish Friendly Assurance Society Limited. Neilson Financial Services Limited assist in the administration. If you buy Post Office Life Insurance over the telephone or online via the Post Office website, it is arranged and sold by Neilson Financial Services Limited, following an introduction by Post Office Limited. If you buy Post Office Life Insurance online via a price comparison website, it is arranged and sold by the firm that provides the price comparison website services.
Post Office Limited is an appointed representative of Post Office Management Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 630318. Registered in England and Wales. Registered numbers 2154540 and 08459718 respectively. Registered office: 100 Wood Street, London, EC2V 7ER.
Offer terms and conditions
† Gift card offer ends 31 December 2025. Minimum premiums and 180-day qualifying period applies.
†† Experience offer ends 31 December 2025. Minimum premiums and 180-day qualifying period applies.
* Restrictions apply, see amazon.co.uk/gc-legal
Things you need to know
Post Office Life Insurance is for customers who are UK residents aged 18-70 at the start of the policy. The minimum term is 5 years and cover must end before your 90th birthday.
We won’t pay a claim if you don’t keep your payments up to date as you will no longer be covered under the policy. If you don’t tell us something or give us incorrect answers to our application questions that affects your cover, we may reduce the amount we pay for a claim or at worst cancel your cover and not refund your monthly payments.
Footnote
^ Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 9am - 8pm, Saturday: 9am - 5pm, closed on Sundays and bank holidays. Call charges: Calls to 03 numbers will cost no more than calling a standard UK number starting with 01 or 02 from your fixed line or mobile and may be included in your call package. Calls may be monitored or recorded for training and compliance purposes.