Level term life insurance

Get life cover with a stable pay-out


Get level term life insurance quotes

Independent, impartial, and FCA regulated.

Independent, impartial, and FCA regulated.

92% of users gave an 'excellent' or 'great' rating*

92% of users gave an 'excellent' or 'great' rating*

Apply in minutes to get quotes.

Apply in minutes to get quotes.

One of the most popular life insurance policy types is level term cover. These policies will offer you protection in the event that you die within a certain set period, provided you have continued to pay into your policy during this time. The amount paid out will not change over the course of the policy term unlike with decreasing term insurance.

In This Guide:

How does level term life insurance work?

When you take out a level term life insurance policy, you’ll be asked to decide on a policy term (usually between 10-30 years), and on the value of the pay-out. Based on this, and on certain other factors the cost of your monthly premium will be calculated.

You’ll then pay that premium each month for the duration of the policy. If you die during the policy term, your dependents will receive the pay-out. If you outlive the policy term, you’ll simply stop paying you premiums and will need to take out a new policy if you feel that you still require cover.

In this way, level term is different to decreasing term life insurance, for which the pay-out decreases over the course of the policy, and whole of life assurance, which doesn’t have a set term and pays out upon your death, regardless as to when that is.

What are the benefits of level term life insurance?

When you take out a level term life insurance policy, you’ll set a term at the beginning as well as a pay-out amount. This pay-out will be the same whether you die at the beginning or end of the policy term.

The stability and predictability of the pay-out make level term cover attractive, particularly if your insurance is going to cover day-to-day living costs, or if you have an interest-only mortgage.

Costs of level term life insurance

The price of your premiums will be based on various things. This may include your age, your health, your family medical history and the general riskiness of your lifestyle – this includes whether or not you smoke.

Beyond this, the length of the term you choose and the size of the pay-out you want will be determining factors of the amount you pay for your premiums.

Generally, level term life insurance policies offer guaranteed premiums, meaning that they will stay the same throughout the course of the policy’s term. This is as opposed the reviewable premiums, which are subject to change according to various factors including general changes in the insurance market and inflation.

Level term insurance with critical illness cover

Critical illness cover is an optional extra that can be added on to many level term life insurance policies. It is designed to pay out a lump sum in the event that you’re affected by one of a list of pre-determined conditions (critical illnesses).

This pay-out can be a great help if you're unable to work due to your condition, allowing you to still keep up with day-to-day living costs and maintain your standard of life.

Frequently asked questions

Do I get my money back if I cancel level term life insurance?

This will depend on who you take out insurance with, and when you cancel. Typically protection policies do not offer refunds, unless you are still in the ‘grace’ or ‘cooling off’ period  the initial period of 30 days after you take out the policy during which time if you cancel your policy, you’ll get back what you’d put in so far. Every insurance policy is different so make sure to check your T&Cs for the terms surrounding cancellation. 

What term should I choose for my life insurance?

This will depend entirely on what it is you want to get out of the policy. Most people will pick a period that they absolutely need to be covered for. An example would be a young parent who takes out a policy to ensure that she is covered until the children have grown up. This ensures that she knows that her family will be provided for while it's most important.

Can I cancel level term life insurance at any time?

While there is nothing to stop you cancelling your insurance, it will, of course, mean that you will no longer be able to make a claim. If you do cancel mid-contract, you may also be liable to pay certain admin fees. In some instances, it’s better just to let your policy lapse rather than cancel, depending on how long you have left. One thing you will need to be aware of is that many policies will auto-renew, so if you want to end it when the contract is up it’s important to make your provider aware.

Related guides

We endeavour to keep our users fully informed when it comes to making a purchasing decision. Please read through our handy guides to find the information you need.

Last reviewed: 1 March 2024

Next review: 1 April 2024