Can you have more than one life insurance policy? (2024)

When you took out your first life insurance policy, it may have provided enough cover – for a mortgage, perhaps. But things can change over time.

You may have taken a bigger mortgage to move home or make home improvements. Perhaps you’ve got a growing family you’d like to protect should the unexpected happen.

Whatever the situation, if you can’t make changes to your original cover, you can usually purchase additional policies to meet your evolving needs.

If you can make changes to your existing policy, it could be worth exploring that option, keeping everything in one place. You may also benefit from better terms – your insurer knows you, after all.

There’s no limit on how many policies you can have, but it could be expensive to maintain premiums on policies you don’t really need. So, it’s worth doing some sums to work out how much cover would afford you the reassurance you’re looking for.

Be aware that policies have no cash-in value at any time. If you get to the end of the policy and no claim has been made, it will end, and you’ll get nothing back. Also, if you don’t pay your premiums the policy will end, and you’ll get nothing back.

Can couples have more than one life insurance?

Yes, couples or business partners can also take out multiple joint life insurancepolicies. Each will pay out just once in the event of a claim, either upon the death of one or both policy holders.

Whether the claimant is your life or business partner, a payout could help to relieve any financial pressures they’ll face alone in future.

Can you have more than one life insurance policy? (2024)

FAQs

Can you have more than one life insurance policy? ›

The answer is yes: You can have multiple life insurance policies, and some people choose to keep more than one policy to provide additional financial security in the event of an unexpected death. Of course, there are both pros and cons to having more than one life insurance policy.

Can you have more than one insurance policy for the same thing? ›

It's also possible to have two separate policies covering the same thing. This often happens with breakdown cover. Some insurance providers offer comprehensive car insurance that includes roadside breakdown assistance.

What not to say when applying for life insurance? ›

LYING ABOUT DRUG USE OR TOBACCO & ALCOHOL USE

An applicant for life insurance must disclose lifestyle habits, good and bad, including use of alcohol or use of tobacco.

Can you increase the amount of a whole life insurance policy? ›

How Can You Increase the Death Benefit for a Whole Life Policy? Many whole life policies earn dividends based on the insurance company's financial performance. You can use these annual dividends to buy paid-up additions: additional coverage that is added to your face amount.

How many life insurance policies can be taken out on one person? ›

Insurability limits

There are no legal limits as to how many life insurance policies you can own. However, be certain that the benefits you are applying for are no more than what would be reasonable for a person with your expected income level and assets.

Can you borrow against life insurance? ›

The limit for borrowing money from life insurance is set by the insurer, and it's typically no more than 90% of the policy's cash value. When your policy has enough cash value (minimums vary by insurer), you can use it as collateral to request a loan from your insurance company.

What are 3 reasons you may be denied from having life insurance? ›

They can include engaging in risky hobbies and behaviors like skydiving; having a history of DUIs or speeding tickets; having a dangerous job like roofing; having a criminal record or a less than ideal financial history; being a smoker; and failing a drug test.

What will disqualify you from term life insurance? ›

Due to the added risk health problems create for insurers, some pre-existing conditions can raise your premium or even disqualify you entirely from certain types of life insurance. A few common examples of pre-existing conditions include high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and asthma.

How long does it take to get approved for life insurance? ›

Typically, it takes four to eight weeks for traditionally underwritten policies to be approved and issued. For instant life insurance policies that use accelerated underwriting, it's possible for coverage to go into effect on the same day.

How long do you have to pay life insurance before it pays out? ›

How term life insurance works: The basics. A term life insurance policy is the simplest, purest form of life insurance : You pay a premium for a period of time – typically between 10 and 30 years – and if you die during that time a cash benefit is paid to your family (or anyone else you name as your beneficiary).

What is the best life insurance? ›

Top life insurance companies
CompanyBest forAM Best Financial Strength Rating
GuardianLife insurance coverage without a medical examA++ (Superior)
Mass MutualWhole life insuranceA++ (Superior)
Mutual of OmahaDigital accessibilityA+ (Superior)
NationwideCustomer satisfactionA (Excellent)
3 more rows

What are two disadvantages of whole life insurance? ›

A more complex product than term life insurance. Higher premiums than term life insurance. Could be costly if coverage lapses early.

Is it worth having two life insurance policies? ›

You might consider buying multiple policies from different insurers if you need cover that exceeds a single insurer's maximum payout threshold. You can set one or more policies up 'in trust'. That means your loved ones will avoid or reduce the amount of inheritance tax due on any payouts.

What is the maximum amount of life insurance I can get? ›

Most people can qualify for a maximum amount between 10 and 30 times their annual income, depending on their age. Because your life circ*mstances and financial responsibilities can change over the course of your lifetime, one life insurance policy might not be the best way to set up your life insurance coverage.

Can I have 2 over 50 life insurance? ›

But can you take out more than over 50s life insurance plan? Yes, you can. There is no law stopping you having multiple over 50's life insurance plans with different providers. That means, in theory, you can take out as many as you like.

Can I insure my life twice? ›

How many life insurance policies can I have? There's no limit on the number of life insurance policies you can have, but insurance providers will look at your total cover amount. As a rule of thumb, your cover typically can't exceed 15 to 30 times your annual income, depending on your age.

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