Can you still get income protection during/after COVID-19?

Yes, you can absolutely still get income protection insurance during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. All major UK insurers continue to accept applications and offer full coverage, including for COVID-19 related conditions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted just how vulnerable many people are financially if they're unable to work:

• 1 in 4 adults left financially vulnerable due to COVID-19 fallout
• 14.2 million people now have low savings or erratic earnings
• Many lost income during lockdowns and business closures
• Self-employed workers particularly affected with no sick pay safety net
• Long COVID has left thousands unable to work for extended periods
• Financial stress and mental health issues increased significantly

The pandemic has prompted many to reconsider their financial protection. Income protection insurance provides:

• Monthly payments (up to 60-70% of salary) if unable to work due to ANY illness or injury
• Coverage for COVID-19, long COVID, and future pandemics
• Protection against the financial impact of prolonged illness
• Peace of mind that bills, mortgage, and living costs are covered
• Support to maintain your standard of living during recovery

How the application process works post-COVID:

1. Medical questions: You'll be asked about current health and any past COVID-19 infections. Honesty is essential - undeclared conditions can invalidate claims later.
2. COVID-19 history: If you've had COVID-19, you'll need to declare: when you were infected, severity of illness, whether you were hospitalised, any ongoing symptoms (long COVID), and when you fully recovered.
3. Assessment: Insurers assess based on your current health status. Fully recovered = standard cover. Ongoing long COVID = possible exclusions or deferred application until symptoms resolve.
4. Cover starts: Once approved, your cover starts immediately. You're protected against future COVID-19 infections, long COVID complications, and all other illnesses/injuries.

Important considerations when applying:

Does income protection cover COVID-19 and long COVID?

Yes, income protection policies cover COVID-19 and long COVID, provided you meet the standard policy conditions for making a claim.

Here's how coverage works for different COVID-related scenarios:

Real-world long COVID claim scenarios:

Will income protection pay out?

What counts as 'unable to work' for long COVID claims:

• Severe fatigue preventing completion of full working day
• Breathlessness making physical tasks impossible
• Brain fog/cognitive impairment affecting job performance
• Inability to concentrate for required periods
• Physical weakness preventing job duties
• Symptoms preventing you from doing YOUR specific job (own occupation definition)

Evidence required for long COVID claims:

• GP medical records showing long COVID diagnosis
• Specialist reports (respiratory, cardiology, neurology if relevant)
• Occupational health assessments
• Evidence of how symptoms prevent you doing your job
• Treatment plans and medication records
• Employer statements confirming absence from work

Most income protection insurers have paid long COVID claims where policyholders genuinely cannot work. Industry data shows claim acceptance rates for long COVID similar to other chronic fatigue conditions (around 85-90%).

Applying for income protection with previous COVID-19

If you've had COVID-19 in the past, you can still get income protection insurance. The outcome depends on your current health status and whether you've fully recovered.

How insurers treat previous COVID-19 infections:

Underwriting outcomes based on COVID history

Questions insurers will ask about COVID-19 history:

• Have you ever tested positive for COVID-19? (If yes, when?)
• Were you hospitalised due to COVID-19?
• Did you require ICU treatment or ventilation?
• Do you have any ongoing symptoms? (Long COVID)
• What symptoms do you currently experience?
• Have you been signed off work due to long COVID?
• Are you currently receiving treatment for long COVID?
• When did you last experience COVID symptoms?

Tips for getting the best outcome:

1. Wait until fully recovered: If you currently have long COVID symptoms, wait until you're symptom-free for at least 3-6 months before applying. This avoids exclusions and gets you full coverage.
2. Gather medical evidence: If asked for evidence of recovery, obtain a letter from your GP confirming you've recovered and have no ongoing symptoms. This can help secure standard terms.
3. Be specific about recovery: If fully recovered, make this clear in your application. 'Had COVID-19 in January 2022, fully recovered within 2 weeks, no ongoing symptoms' is much better than just 'Had COVID-19'.
4. Use a broker: Brokers like LifePro know which insurers are most lenient with previous COVID infections. Some insurers are stricter than others - a broker can match you to the best provider.
5. Consider timing: If you had severe COVID requiring hospitalization, wait 12+ months after full recovery before applying. This shows the illness is truly behind you.

What happens if you get a COVID exclusion:

If an insurer applies a COVID-related exclusion to your policy, it means:

• You won't be able to claim for COVID-19 or long COVID complications
• All other illnesses and injuries are still covered (back pain, mental health, accidents, cancer, etc.)
• The exclusion is typically temporary (1-3 years), after which you can ask for it to be removed
• Your premiums are slightly lower than standard (10-20% reduction due to exclusion)
• You're still better protected than having no cover at all

Insurers known to be reasonable with previous COVID:

Based on industry reports, these insurers have been fair in assessing previous COVID-19 infections:

• Aviva - Standard terms if fully recovered over 6 months
• Legal & General - Reasonable assessment of long COVID cases
• Scottish Widows - Flexible underwriting for past infections
• Vitality - Standard terms for mild previous infections
• Royal London - Case-by-case assessment, generally fair

However, underwriting can vary case-by-case, so it's worth comparing quotes from multiple providers through a broker.

How the pandemic changed income protection

The COVID-19 pandemic has permanently changed how people view income protection insurance and prompted several industry developments.

Key changes since the pandemic:

Before vs After COVID-19

How insurers responded to COVID-19:

• Continued to accept new applications throughout pandemic
• Paid out on long COVID claims where policyholders couldn't work
• Adapted definitions of 'own occupation' for home working scenarios
• Improved mental health support services (counselling, CBT)
• Accelerated digital transformation for applications and claims
• Enhanced financial advice services to help customers during crisis
• No pandemic exclusions added to new policies

Industry-wide improvements since COVID:

1. Mental health parity: Mental health conditions now treated equally to physical conditions. Pre-pandemic, some insurers excluded or limited mental health claims. Post-pandemic, almost all insurers cover mental health fully, recognising the impact of stress, anxiety, and burnout.
2. Faster claims processing: Average claim decision time reduced from 4-6 weeks to 2-3 weeks. Digital evidence submission (emails, video calls with doctors) speeds up process significantly.
3. Enhanced rehab support: Insurers expanded rehabilitation services: cognitive behavioural therapy for long COVID, fatigue management programs, phased return-to-work support, and occupational therapy.
4. Flexible working definitions: Insurers adapted to recognise that many jobs are now remote. If you can't work from home due to illness (brain fog preventing computer work), you're covered, even if office attendance isn't required.

Changes that benefited policyholders:

What hasn't changed:

• Core policy structure - still pays monthly income if unable to work
• Coverage of all illnesses and injuries (not limited to pandemic)
• Own occupation definition still available (gold standard)
• Tax-free benefits (income protection payments remain untaxed)
• Portability (policy stays with you if you change jobs)
• No pandemic exclusions (COVID covered like any other illness)

The pandemic ultimately strengthened income protection insurance by proving its value. Thousands of policies paid out to people unable to work due to long COVID, demonstrating that income protection works when you need it most.

Why income protection is more important post-COVID

The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the UK's financial landscape, making income protection insurance more essential than ever before.

Key reasons why income protection matters more now:

Financial vulnerability increased:

• Savings depleted - Many used emergency funds during lockdowns and haven't rebuilt them
• Employer sick pay reduced - Some companies cut benefits and haven't restored them
• Job security decreased - More zero-hours contracts and gig economy work
• Cost of living crisis - Higher bills leave less room for emergency spending
• Self-employment increased - Millions now self-employed with no sick pay safety net
• Mental health crisis - Stress, anxiety, and burnout at record levels

Long COVID creates unique risks:

Long COVID has introduced a new category of long-term illness that income protection covers:

• 1.9 million people in UK have long COVID symptoms (ONS data)
• 400,000+ people say long COVID limits their daily activities
• Average long COVID absence from work: 6-12 months
• Symptoms can fluctuate (good days and bad days)
• Many people struggle with cognitive tasks (brain fog)
• Fatigue can be debilitating and prevent full-time work

Income protection covers long COVID exactly as it should - if you're unable to work due to symptoms, payments replace your lost earnings. This has proven invaluable for thousands of claimants.

Lessons learned from the pandemic:

1. Anyone can become unable to work: The pandemic showed that previously healthy people can suddenly face long-term illness. Young, fit people developed long COVID. It's not just 'other people' at risk - it could be you.
2. Illness doesn't follow a timeline: Many expected to recover from COVID in weeks. Instead, long COVID persists for months or years. Income protection provides ongoing support, not just short-term help.
3. Mental health matters: Pandemic-related stress, anxiety, and burnout left many unable to work. Income protection covers mental health conditions fully, providing crucial support.
4. Savings run out quickly: Even those with savings found them depleted within months. Income protection ensures you don't burn through life savings during illness.
5. Government support is limited: Statutory Sick Pay (£116.75/week) and Universal Credit are minimal. Income protection provides realistic income replacement (60-70% of salary).

Who needs income protection most in the post-COVID world:

Priority groups for income protection

The cost of not having income protection:

With income protection (£30/month cost), you receive: £12,000-£24,000 income replacement over 6 months, maintained standard of living, protected savings, peace of mind for recovery, and support to rebuild your life.

Post-pandemic mindset shift:

Before COVID-19, many people thought 'it won't happen to me.' The pandemic changed that mindset:

• Millions directly experienced income loss during illness or lockdown
• People saw colleagues, friends, and family affected by long COVID
• The reality of sudden illness became impossible to ignore
• Financial vulnerability became a mainstream conversation
• Protection insurance is now seen as essential, not optional

Applications for income protection increased 40-60% post-pandemic, showing people learned the hard way about the importance of financial protection.

Take action now:

The pandemic proved that income protection works. Insurers paid out millions in long COVID claims, supporting families during the toughest times. Now is the time to protect yourself against whatever health challenges the future holds.

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