Discover the best life insurance for over 50s in the UK. Compare top providers including SunLife, One Family, Shepherds Friendly, Legal & General, and British Seniors. With guaranteed acceptance for ages 50-85, no medical exams required, and policies from just 20p-a-day (£2,000 - £20,000 cover available).
By: Phil Jeynes Protection Industry Expert Updated: 5th January 2026
Compare Life Insurance Quotes »We carefully examined over 50 life insurance policies from UK insurers and picked out the best options available in 2026.
The 'best' over 50s life insurance depends on your individual circumstances, including your age, smoking status, budget, and desired cover amount. However, certain providers consistently stand out for their competitive pricing, strong financial ratings, and comprehensive policy features.
Our top six over 50s life insurance providers for 2026:
All six providers offer guaranteed acceptance for ages 50-85 with no medical exams required. However, premiums can vary significantly between providers for the same level of cover, which is why comparing quotes is essential.
Here's a detailed comparison of the UK's leading over 50s life insurance providers to help you understand what each offers.
| Provider | Age Range | Cover Amount | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| SunLife | 50-80 | £2,000-£15,000 | Guaranteed acceptance, 12-month qualifying period, optional funeral benefit, market leader |
| OneFamily | 50-80 | £1,500-£25,000 | Mutual insurer, potential bonuses, ethical investing, competitive premiums |
| Shepherds Friendly | 50-80 | £2,000-£20,000 | Mutual society since 1826, member dividends, strong financial rating |
| Legal & General | 50-80 | £3,000-£20,000 | AA- financial rating, 24-month qualifying period, terminal illness benefit included |
| Aviva | 50-85 | £2,000-£20,000 | UK's largest insurer, 12-month qualifying period, optional funeral payment service |
| British Seniors | 50-80 | £1,000-£20,000 | Simple application, 24-month qualifying period, immediate accidental death cover |
All providers offer guaranteed acceptance with no medical exams. Premiums vary based on age, smoking status, and cover amount.
1. SunLife - Market Leader
SunLife is one of the most recognised over 50s insurance providers in the UK, having protected families for over 125 years. They're known for straightforward policies and extensive advertising presence.
2. OneFamily - Mutual Insurer
OneFamily is a mutual insurer, meaning they're owned by their members (policyholders) rather than shareholders. This structure often results in better value and potential bonuses for members.
3. Shepherds Friendly - Long-Standing Mutual
Founded in 1826, Shepherds Friendly is one of the UK's oldest mutual societies. Their long history and strong financial position make them a trusted choice for over 50s cover.
4. Legal & General - Financial Strength
Legal & General is one of the UK's largest and most trusted financial services companies with an AA- financial strength rating. They offer robust over 50s policies backed by strong financial reserves.
5. Aviva - Comprehensive Features
As the UK's largest insurer, Aviva provides comprehensive over 50s life insurance with additional policy features and the widest age acceptance (up to 85).
6. British Seniors - Straightforward Policies
British Seniors specialises in insurance for older customers, offering simple, easy-to-understand over 50s life insurance with quick acceptance.
Important: Premiums vary significantly based on your age and smoking status. A 55-year-old non-smoker might pay £15/month with OneFamily but £22/month with Legal & General for the same £5,000 cover. Always compare quotes from multiple providers to find the best price for your circumstances.
Compare Quotes from All Top Providers »Choosing the best over 50s life insurance requires evaluating several factors beyond just the monthly premium. Here's how to make an informed decision.
Best practice: Get quotes from both mutual insurers (OneFamily, Shepherds Friendly) and major commercial insurers (Legal & General, Aviva, SunLife). Compare premiums, qualifying periods, and included features. Choose the provider offering best value for your specific age and circumstances.
Using a broker or comparison service gives you access to whole-of-market quotes from 20+ providers in minutes, ensuring you find the most competitive premiums without needing to contact each insurer individually.
Calculate how much over 50s life insurance you may need using our handy calculator. Simply complete the costs you'd like your policy to cover.
The amount of life insurance you need depends on your financial obligations and what you want to provide for your loved ones. A common rule of thumb is to have cover worth 10 times your annual salary, though your individual circumstances may require more or less.
Consider the following when calculating your life insurance needs:
For example, if you have a £200,000 mortgage, earn £40,000 per year, and want to provide 10 years of income replacement, you might need around £600,000 of cover (£200,000 + (£40,000 × 10)).
Use our free comparison tool to get personalised quotes from 50+ UK insurers, including Best Life Insurance For Over 50s Uk, and find the right level of cover for your needs at the best available price.
Compare Life Insurance Quotes »Premiums for over 50s life insurance typically range from £10-£50 per month, depending on your age, smoking status, and the level of cover you choose. Policies are available with guaranteed acceptance for ages 50-85. For example, a 60-year-old non-smoker might pay £15-25/month for £5,000 cover, while a 70-year-old could pay £30-45/month for the same amount. Mutual insurers like OneFamily and Shepherds Friendly often offer the most competitive premiums, while major brands like Legal & General and Aviva may be slightly more expensive but offer additional features like terminal illness benefit. Always compare quotes from multiple providers, as premium differences of £10-20/month are common for identical cover - which adds up to £2,400-£4,800 saved over 20 years.
No, over 50s life insurance requires no medical exams or health questions. Everyone aged 50-85 is guaranteed acceptance regardless of their health conditions. This makes over 50s policies ideal if you have pre-existing medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer that would make standard life insurance difficult or expensive to obtain. You simply state your age and smoking status - no doctor's appointments, blood tests, or lengthy health questionnaires. The trade-off for this guaranteed acceptance is that premiums are higher than standard life insurance (as insurers accept all health risks) and cover amounts are limited to £20,000-£25,000 maximum.
Most insurers pay out within 7-14 days of receiving the death certificate and completed claim form. This ensures your family can cover funeral expenses and other immediate costs promptly. The claims process is straightforward: your beneficiary contacts the insurer, provides the death certificate and any required paperwork, and the insurer verifies the claim. Once approved, funds are transferred directly to your nominated beneficiary's bank account. Top-rated insurers like Legal & General and Aviva have claims payout ratios above 95%, meaning they approve and pay the vast majority of legitimate claims without issue. Some providers offer optional funeral payment services where funds go directly to the funeral director, removing the burden from grieving family members.
The cheapest provider varies depending on your individual age and smoking status - there's no single 'always cheapest' option. However, mutual insurers OneFamily and Shepherds Friendly consistently offer among the most competitive premiums in the market due to their member-owned structure (no shareholders to pay dividends to). For example, a 65-year-old non-smoker seeking £5,000 cover might find: OneFamily at £18/month, Shepherds Friendly at £20/month, SunLife at £24/month, Legal & General at £26/month. The difference between cheapest and most expensive could be £8-12/month - totaling £1,920-£2,880 over 20 years. Always get quotes from at least 3-5 providers using a comparison site or broker to find your personal cheapest option.
The qualifying period (also called waiting period) is the initial 12-24 months of your policy during which limited cover applies. If you die from natural causes during this period, your beneficiaries receive only a refund of premiums paid (plus interest), not the full cover amount. However, if death is due to an accident, full cover usually pays out immediately. After the qualifying period ends, full cover applies regardless of cause of death. SunLife, OneFamily, and Aviva have 12-month qualifying periods, while Legal & General and British Seniors have 24-month periods. Shorter qualifying periods are better - choose 12 months when possible. The qualifying period exists because insurers assume some people apply when terminally ill, so they limit exposure to immediate claims.
Yes, you can cancel your over 50s life insurance policy at any time. Most policies have a 30-day cooling-off period after purchase where you can cancel and get a full refund of premiums paid. After 30 days, you can still cancel anytime, but you won't get any money back - over 50s policies have no cash surrender value. Once you cancel, cover stops immediately and all premiums paid are lost. This is why it's important to choose affordable premiums you can sustain long-term. Some insurers offer a 'paid-up' option where you can stop paying premiums in exchange for reduced cover amount (rather than losing everything). Before canceling, consider: Have your circumstances changed? Could you reduce cover amount instead? Would switching to a cheaper provider be better than canceling completely?
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