31 Oct 2024

Life insurance over 70

With life expectancy rising over the years, hitting the grand old age of 70 isn’t what it used to be. And while it’s great that many of us are living longer, how can you put some money towards your funeral or your family’s financial future if you live to 80, 90, or even 100? Read our guide to life insurance for over 70s.

Senior couples walking on the beach

Learn more about our life cover options

Yes, while ‘over 70s life insurance’ isn’t advertised as such, you can apply for our Life Insurance up to and (including) the age of 77, or our Decreasing Life Insurance up to and (including) the age of 74. If you were to take out a Legal & General life insurance policy, the term must end before your 90th birthday. Alternatively, Over 50 Life Insurance can be taken out up to the age of 80 and can continue for the rest of your life, even though you stop paying premiums at age 90.

We’ll explore these policies in greater detail later in this guide. 

On the face of it, retirement should be a time to put your feet up and not have to think about money. But there are still plenty of costs that can arise if you were to pass away in your 70s.

Even when you reach your 70s, life insurance could help ease the financial burden on your loved ones. From leaving a cash gift to covering a mortgage, we offer a choice of policies. Make sure you read about all the options so you choose the right one for you. But remember, your life insurance will be cancelled if you stop making payments when due, and you won’t be able to recover your money paid.

What over 70s life insurance can I get?

Everyone’s circumstances are different, and fortunately, there are various life insurance policies that can provide peace of mind for the over 70s.

Over 50 Life Insurance

Our Over 50 Life Insurance is worth considering. It’s available for UK residents aged 50 to 80 and comes with guaranteed acceptance – with full cover payable after one year and fixed monthly premiums. Your payout could help pay some of your funeral costs, outstanding bills or provide a small gift for your loved ones. It’s worth noting that depending on how long you live, you could pay in more than the policy pays out.

Life insurance

The following life insurance policies are underwritten. That means we will ask some health and lifestyle questions so we can give you a personalised price. While there is no guarantee of acceptance, they could potentially give you the higher level of cover you need. That means they can be used for mortgage or family protection. 

Life Insurance

Legal & General's life insurance calculator is a good way to estimate how much cover you might need.

With Life Insurance, you can choose how much cover you need and if you die or you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness with a life expectancy of less than 12 months during the length of the policy, it could pay out a cash sum. You can take out the policy up to and (including) the age of 77, and it must end before you're 90. The minimum length of the policy is 1 year, and the maximum length is 50 years.

Decreasing Life Insurance

If you still have a repayment mortgage to pay, taking out Decreasing Life Insurance means your cover decreases roughly in line with the way a repayment mortgage decreases. Due to the amount of cover reducing, it generally costs less than Life Insurance. Similarly, this policy must end before you turn 90. However, you can take out the policy up to and (including) the age of 74. The minumum length of the policy is 5 years, and the maximum length is 50 years.

Remember that these policies have no cash value unless a valid claim is made. And if you stop paying the premiums, the cover will end. 

We've got a choice of policies for customers over 70. All things being equal, the price you pay for the same level of protection is different for each type. We offer a range because our customers want protection for different reasons. So really, the best life insurance for seniors over 70 depends on personal circumstances.

When it comes to how much your can afford to pay, think ahead. These are long term policies, are you expecting your income to change in retirement? Make sure you're comfortable that you can cover the cost for as long as you need it to last. The cost (and availability) of some life insurance options for the over 70s depends on a number of factors. 

Over 50s Life Insurance Life Insurance
Guaranteed acceptance with no medical required. When you apply for life insurance we ask questions about your health and lifestyle, and based on this - and the amount of cover requested - we will decide if a medical is required or not. If you're in good health your family medical history is unlikely to affect the amount you pay each month. It can be more affordable if you're happy to answer medical questions.
Up to £10,000 maximum cash sum (across all Legal & General Over 50s plans). Larger cash sum payout - designed to protect larger outgoings, such as the mortgage, childcare or everyday expenses.
Covered for life (even though you stop paying your premiums at 90). Covers a fixed term (must end before 90th birthday).

 

If you'd like to find out how much your policy could cost, you can get a quote in two minutes.Take a look at our dedicated pages for Over 50s Life Insurance and Life Insurance.

Age is a factor when considering the cost of life insurance. That's because all else being equal, each day we live brings us closer to the date of our death. And of course,  life insurance policies pay out upon death if a valid claim is made. The general rule of thumb is the cost of cover is likely to be less when you're younger. That applies whichever type of policy you choose.

Yes, if you want ‘over 70s life insurance’ without undertaking a medical, our Over 50s Fixed Life Insurance is an option. You just need to be aged between 50 and 80, and a UK resident, meaning you reside in the UK for at least 183 days a year.

The best life insurance for seniors over 70 ultimately depends on the needs of each individual. If you’re looking for life insurance with no medical – for example, because of long-term health complications – then the guaranteed acceptance of Over 50s Fixed Life Insurance could provide the peace of mind you need. This policy can also be suitable if you need cover over the long-term to leave something for your loved ones.

Additionally, your premiums will be fixed – they’ll never go up – and range from £8 to £75 per month depending on your age, smoker status and the cash sum you need.

Alternatively, you could consider a Life Insurance policy. This could be an option if you’re in relatively good health and if you need a higher level of protection for a fixed term because others are still dependent on you financially. Or there is Decreasing Life Insurance if you are looking to cover a repayment mortgage. 

Some couples in their 70s decide that joint life insurance is their best option. With a joint life insurance policy, two lives are covered, but only pays out once. Read more about the differences between single and joint life insurance

We also offer Over 50s Fixed Life Insurance, but this can only be taken out as a single policy.

Yes, if you want ‘over 70s life insurance’ without undertaking a medical, our Over 50s Fixed Life Insurance is an option. You just need to be aged between 50 and 80, and a UK resident, meaning you reside in the UK for at least 183 days a year.

The best life insurance for seniors over 70 ultimately depends on the needs of each individual. If you’re looking for life insurance with no medical – for example, because of long-term health complications – then the guaranteed acceptance of Over 50s Fixed Life Insurance could provide the peace of mind you need. This policy can also be suitable if you need cover over the long-term to leave something for your loved ones.

Additionally, your premiums will be fixed – they’ll never go up – and range from £8 to £75 per month depending on your age, smoker status and the cash sum you need.

Alternatively, you could consider a Life Insurance policy. This could be an option if you’re in relatively good health and if you need a higher level of protection for a fixed term because others are still dependent on you financially. Or there is Decreasing Life Insurance if you are looking to cover a repayment mortgage. 

Ready to get an over 70s life insurance quote?

Ultimately, having the right protection is better than no protection, regardless of age. Explore our different life insurance policies, which include options for the over 70s.

Meet our expert
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

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