Frequently asked questions

General questions about Bupa Life Cover

See all questions

Questions about making a claim

See all questions

General questions about Bupa Life Cover

What is Bupa Life Cover? Hide

Bupa Life Cover provides a one-off lump sum benefit if a person covered dies or an annual benefit if family income benefit has been selected. When family income benefit cover is selected, Bupa Life Cover pays a regular income for the remaining term of the scheme.

Who can apply? Hide

Anyone aged between18-74 who lives in the UK can apply.

Will I need to have a medical? Hide

No, it’s not always necessary to have a medical. However, we will need to ask some questions about:

your age, sex and medical history
whether you smoke
your current state of health
your occupation

How much cover should I apply for? Hide

As a starting point, think about:

how long you want your cover to last
regular monthly bills and outgoings
your level of income
what your mortgage term is and how long remains on this term
if you have a partner or children, consider how much your family would need to survive financially

Taking all of these factors into account should give you a rough idea of how much cover to apply for. Remember, you can apply for as much or as little cover as you need and can afford, within certain limits, but please discuss your financial circumstances with your financial adviser.

Can I apply for cover even though I'm not in paid employment? Hide

Yes. However, the maximum benefit available will be considered at our sole discretion and our decision will be based on the financial evidence we may ask you to supply.

Can I cover my mortgage payments? Hide

Yes, you can cover your mortgage payments with mortgage protection term cover which runs for a specified number of years to coincide with the period outstanding on your mortgage. Because cover reduces over time, it is not suitable for people with interest-only mortgages.

Can I make changes to my policy? Hide

Yes, you can request to increase your cover or make changes to your membership. Reasons for changing your level of cover could include:

promotion at your current place of work or a new job with a higher salary
you get married or have a civil partnership
you have a child, adopt a child or become the legal guardian of a child
you take out a larger mortgage due to moving house or undertaking home improvements
you become solely responsible for a previously joint mortgage following a separation

How long will cover last? Hide

Bupa Life Cover is a straightforward insurance protection scheme. You decide how long you want the cover for and who you want to cover. Bupa Life Cover will continue until:

you stop paying premiums
you die
you’re diagnosed (other than in the last 12 months of the scheme) with a terminal illness

Can I cash in my plan if I don't make a claim? Hide

No, your plan has no surrender value at any time.

Questions about making a claim

How do my family make a claim? Hide

Although it will be a difficult time for them, your family must make a claim as soon as reasonably possible. They should contact us by writing to Bupa Health Assurance Limited, The Core, 40 St Thomas Street, Bristol BS1 6JX. Alternatively, they can call us on 0845 600 3122. Whoever calls will need to have your Bupa membership number handy so that we can deal with their claim efficiently and sensitively.

How much does the scheme pay out? Hide

How much your family receives will depend on your level of cover. The amount the scheme pays out in total will reduce during the term of your scheme if you choose the mortgage protection term, family income benefit or decreasing term cover. It will increase if you choose one of the indexation options. Otherwise, the amount is fixed.

The chosen level of benefit is payable once, after which your cover will end, unless you have chosen family income benefit which will be paid regularly until your scheme is due to end.

How long will benefit payments last if I choose family income benefit? Hide

We’ll continue to make benefit payments until the expiry date as given on your registration certificate

Are benefits taxable? Hide

No, not under current legislation and Inland Revenue practice, but it may be taxable in the future if the legislation or practice changes.

What's not covered? Hide

We will not pay a claim:

if your dependants do not tell us about a claim as soon as is reasonably possible
if we reasonably consider that you, or another member named on the policy, has misled us (intentionally or carelessly) by either giving us false information or by keeping relevant information from us relating to your membership or claim
if the cause of the claim is specifically excluded by any specific terms we apply to your cover when we accept your application. If applicable, we will show any specific terms in your proposed terms and the registration certificate
where a claim for total permanent disability or premium waiver results from or relates to the following: AIDS/HIV, failure to seek medical advice, self-inflicted injury
if the claim relates to a terminal illness and is made within the last 12 months of the scheme