13 Dec 2024

Can you have more than one life insurance policy?

On the face of it, having more than one life insurance policy sounds like a good idea. The more protection the better, right? The reality is a little more complicated. In this guide we’ll examine how many life insurance policies you can have, and whether it’s something you should consider.

Image showing two women holding a plant

You might also be interested in...

You can have as many life insurance policies as you like – there is no limit. Equally, there is no right answer as to how many life insurance policies you should have. The most important factor is that you have enough financial cover for your own peace of mind.

Of course, just because you can get multiple life insurance policies doesn’t mean you necessarily should. So why would you need more than one policy?

Here are some circumstances that could see you benefiting from taking out an additional life insurance policy:

  • You don't have enough life insurance in place to cover things like your mortgage or a child’s tuition fees.
  • You've made positive health or lifestyle changes. You want to shop around cheaper cover while keeping your old policy.
  • You wish to take out two single life insurance policies rather than a joint policy.
  • You have more than one protection shortfall. You want decreasing life insurance to protect a repayment mortgage. At the same time, you could also want level cover for family protection.


Legal & General provides life insurance which can be tailored at the outset to suit a variety of needs. So if you’re looking to get additional protection with us, head to our life insurance calculator to estimate how much cover you need.

Yes, you can take out multiple life insurance policies with more than one provider. There is no law to prohibit this, and if the worst happened, it would be possible to claim against each policy. Insurers sometimes have offers for existing customers taking out another policy with them. Read more about our exclusive offers for Legal & General customers.

What to consider before taking out multiple life insurance policies

If you’re thinking about taking out more than one life insurance policy, here are some things to consider.

  • Will it cost more? The cost of life insurance is personalised. Your insurer will take account of your age, health and lifestyle. As such it’s no guarantee that you will pay the same rate with a new additional policy, as you’ll be older than when you took out the first one.
  • Can you make changes to your existing policy? Instead of having two life insurance policies, many customers prefer to adapt their existing policy according to their changing needs. For example, did you know that with Legal & General, you may be able to increase your life insurance cover without the need for further medical information following certain life events? You can also ask to make other policy changes such as the length of the policy term, the amount of cover, switching from joint to single policies or even changing your premium payments from monthly to annually.
  • What does your current policy allow? When making changes to a life insurance policy, terms and conditions apply. You should refer to your original policy documents to check for any exclusions based on your circumstances at the time. Learn more about making changes to your life insurance policy.
  • Why not shop around? Making changes to a policy can affect the cost of your life insurance, so you could compare the cost of life insurance with different providers. And of course there are different types of life insurance you could look into.


Can two people be on a life insurance policy?

Yes – joint life insurance covers two lives. These policies normally pay out upon the death of the first insured person during the policy term, after which the policy ends. Both people for the same amount of protection for the same length of time. So its an option if you need to protect a joint mortgage, for example. While it's true that we won’t pay the cover amount more than once if you have a joint policy, in this scenario the other person could still request to continue their cover in the form of a new single life policy.

As a couple, is it worth having two life insurance policies?

We've explained joint life policies, but can you have more than one life insurance policy with your partner? Yes, and some couples prefer it that way. Taking out two single life insurance policies means the surviving partner will still have cover in place after the first death. It's also for couples who want a different amount of protection or cover for a different length of time.

Read more about the benefits of single versus joint life insurance.

Can I get multiple life insurance policies with Legal & General?

While you can have multiple life insurance policies if you like, our flexible approach means it’s not strictly necessary.

Of course, no one’s circumstances stay the same forever. If you need to make changes to your policy, please talk to us – we’ll consider your request. Our team will decide whether your request is possible and what the new premium would be.

If you make any changes to your life insurance, a new policy may be set up and different terms and conditions could apply.

Want to learn more about Life Insurance?

Lisa Redman

Lisa Redman

Senior Propositions Manager, Retail Protection

Lisa works in UK Retail Protection Proposition Development team and is responsible for identifying and assessing new product and proposition enhancements to meet customer needs, with a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance ensuring all required governance is completed.

More about Lisa

Related Articles

life cover - resources - img - Life insurance and tax - woman on tablet - 730x411

Life insurance and tax

Find out what impact Inheritance Tax could have on life insurance policies, what the thresholds for Inheritance Tax are and how putting your life insurance into trust could help.
life cover - images - health vs life insurance - 730x411

What is the difference between health insurance and life insurance?

There are important differences between health insurance and life insurance. Read our guide to find out what these different types of insurance cover.
life cover - images - BANNER - two generation family - family medical history - 730x411

Will my family medical history affect my life insurance?

Discover what details of your family medical history may be relevant to your life insurance premiums.
changnig-life-insurance

Changing Life Insurance Policy

Re-arranging your life insurance policy with another provider is easier than you may think. Find out about the process with our guide.
Image of family smiling together in the kitchen

Is life insurance worth it?

Life insurance can be worth considering if other people rely on your income or assets. Read our guide on the reasons you might want to get life insurance.