Zurich life insurance review

Life insurance can keep your family afloat should the worst happen to you or your partner, or it can help you repay your mortgage if you’re diagnosed with a serious illness. In other words, it can be a vital safety-net.

Yet there are so many different policies out there it can be hard to work out which type of deal you should go for, and which provider you should buy from.

Maybe you’ve been taking a look at Zurich’s life insurance options? Well this guide will help you decide whether Zurich is the provider for you and your family.

• What's in this review?

  What's in this review?

  1. Who is Zurich?
  2. What types of life insurance does Zurich offer?
  3. Compare Zurich policies
  4. Benefits of Zurich life insurance
  5. Drawbacks of Zurich life insurance
  6. Zurich life insurance exclusions
  7. What is the claims process for Zurich’s life insurance?

Who is Zurich?

Zurich Insurance Group is one of the biggest global insurers, with around 55,000 employees in more than 170 countries worldwide.

In 2018 it paid out 96% of its life insurance claims in the UK and, as a company, aspires to be the leading provider of financial services in the UK by offering high quality customer service.

What types of life insurance does Zurich offer?

Zurich has a few types of “term life insurance” deals, which will pay out a lump sum if you die, or are diagnosed with a terminal illness and only have 12 months to live.

That is if you die during your agreed term of cover, which could be as little as a year or as long as 50 years.

With all of its products, you’ll have to choose between level, increasing or decreasing cover.

• Level cover. Your monthly payments and the cover amount stays the same over time.
• Increasing cover. Zurich will increase your cover amount by 3%, 5% or in line with inflation (RPI), up to a maximum of 10% per year. Your premium will rise by up to 1.5% for every 1% your protection increases, reflecting the fact your risk of dying goes up as you get older.
• Decreasing cover. Your payments stay the same but the level of cover decreases over time.

By paying extra you can get critical illness cover as an add-on policy too, which could offer your family a vital safety-net if you can’t work due to ill health.

Other optional extras include cover for broken bones or ligament damage, which will potentially pay out thousands of pounds for an injury. If you’re a tough-tackling footballer or you cycle into work this might give you some peace of mind.

Meanwhile, you can get protection for your children too, which can offer you a vital financial safety net should they develop a serious condition.

Zurich term life insurance

Zurich term life insurance covers you for a set amount of time, from 1 to 50 years. So it can offer you peace of mind while you pay off a mortgage. Or it can make sure your family is covered while your children grow up.

You can buy it as a standalone policy or add Zurich’s critical illness cover, which will offer financial support should you suffer from a serious illness or injury.

Zurich income protection insurance

Zurich also offers income protection insurance, which will plug the gap in your income if you can’t work due to injury or illness.

While this might seem similar to critical illness cover, there are some differences.

One main one is that it might not protect the same injuries and illnesses. Plus income protection insurance offers you regular payments in a steady drip.

Critical illness, on the other hand, provides a lump sum – and then no more cash thereafter.

Zurich optional add-ons

With a Zurich life insurance and critical illness policy you can also get serious illness cover for your children. This could help pay for medical fees or to substitute your income if you need to take time off to look after your child.

A Zurich policy can pay out thousands of pounds for broken bones, dislocations and ligament damage too, which might be useful if you are quite active and prone to injuries.

Compare Zurich policies

Sort by:

Name	Product	Age range at application	Cover range	Term	Pays out	Joint cover	Link
Zurich Term Life Insurance		16-83	£1,000 to £40m	1 to 50 years	If you die or get a terminal illness and aren’t expected to live longer than 12 months	Yes – only pays out for the first member of a couple to become terminally ill or die.	Compare quotes	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Zurich Term Life Insurance and Critical Illness		16-69	£1,000 to £40m	5 to 40 years	If you die or get a terminal illness and aren’t expected to live longer than 12 months	Yes – only pays out in full once	Go to site	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Benefits of Zurich life insurance

• Zurich promises to plant a tree for every policy it sells.
• You could receive up to £100 in vouchers to spend with Love2Shop.
• Its life insurance policies are generally rated as 4 or even 5 stars by Defaqto.
• Offers additional protection for broken bones, dislocations and damaged ligaments.
• You can cover your partner and children on your policy too.
• Protection for up to £40 million.

Drawbacks of Zurich life insurance

• No whole of life insurance options.
• Cover stops once you’re in your 70s or 80s.
• As with most life insurance policies, if you stop paying your premiums, you won’t get any money back and your cover is likely to stop.

Zurich life insurance exclusions

The specific reasons Zurich may refuse to pay out will depend on the type of policy you have, so you’ll need to go through your Zurich policy document with a fine-tooth comb. However, some general exclusions include:

• If you don’t answer questions honestly and accurately when signing up.
• If you develop a condition and start showing symptoms before the policy start date.
• If your condition isn’t covered by the policy.
• If you fail to pay your premiums on time.
• If you commit suicide or suffer a self-inflicted injury.

What is the claims process for Zurich’s life insurance?

You can claim by calling 0370 243 0827 or by emailing Bereavements.Zurich@uk.zurich.com, or by filling out its online claim form, which you can find on the Zurich life insurance claims page.

Having any relevant information such as a policy number, doctors’ contact details or proof of death will help speed up the claims process.

Frequently asked questions

• How much does Zurich life insurance cost?

  The price of your Zurich life insurance premiums will depend on a whole host of factors, including what level of cover you opt for, as well as your personal circumstances.

  When deciding, it will look at your age, health, job and whether you smoke, for instance. However, each insurer has its own set of algorithms – in other words, their own methods for deciding your costs.

  So shop around and get several quotes before deciding which insurer to go for.

• Can I make changes to my Zurich policy?

  You can’t change from a life insurance policy to a life and critical illness insurance policy and vise versa.

  However, you can adjust your level of cover, and thus the amount you pay in premiums. So if you have another baby or you move into a bigger house, you can increase your level of protection and ask Zurich to make your term longer.

  Likewise, you can ask Zurich to reduce your level of cover or shorten the number of years you are protected for.

  You should also contact Zurich if you make lifestyle changes that might lower your premium, such as giving up smoking.

• Is the lump sum payment taxable?

  Life insurance payments are currently free from income and capital gains tax for UK residents but may be subject to inheritance tax, depending on the value of your estate. It’s also worth noting that tax rules could change in the future, which might affect the tax implications on your payout.

• What if I can't afford to pay my premiums?

  If you stop paying for your life insurance Zurich will stop your cover and won’t refund any premiums you’ve already paid, unfortunately.