Over 50s life insurance
Guaranteed acceptance with no medical and a guaranteed cash payout for loved ones
What is over 50s life insurance?
Over 50s life insurance guarantees a cash payout for your loved ones when you die. You make an affordable payment each month that never rises, and the money can be used to cover funeral costs, or anything you wish.
There's no medical, and you can choose a monthly payment and payout that suits you.
How over 50s life insurance works
It's very simple – just one monthly payment that never rises, and a cash lump sum when you die. And it’s affordable life insurance, too. When you get a quote you can choose how much you want to pay, starting from just £3.70 a month. And you'll be able to see exactly how much your payout will be.
It's quick and simple to set up your plan online or over the phone. Our friendly team can have everything sorted for you in minutes.
Once your over 50s life policy is in place, your payout is guaranteed as long as you keep up with your monthly payments. When the time comes, the money is guaranteed to be paid to your loved ones. They'll be supported throughout the claims process and they'll receive their money fast – usually in 1-3 days.
Prefer to speak to someone? Give our friendly UK-based team a call on 0800 904 7674 (Mon-Fri: 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun: 9am-5pm)
Why choose SunLife for over 50s insurance?
SunLife's over 50s plan is the most trusted in the UK – more people choose our plan than every other provider put together.
We like to keep things simple – just easy, affordable over 50s life cover and the friendliest service we can give. Our customers like the lifelong peace of mind that comes from knowing we pay every single claim, guaranteed. And we pay out fast too – usually within 3 days.
What’s more, SunLife has been supporting families around the UK for over 200 years. No wonder we’re the nation’s favourite over 50s life insurance company.
Important to know
- You're only fully covered after you've had the plan for one year. If you die after the first year of your plan, the full cash sum will be paid to your loved ones.
- If you stop paying your premiums, your insurance will end, and you won't get anything back.
- Depending on how long you live for, you could pay in more than is paid out.
- Because the cash sum is fixed, inflation will reduce its buying power over time.
- Terms and Conditions apply.
Compare over 50s life insurance
See how SunLife's Guaranteed Over 50 Plan – the UK's favourite – compares with the over 50s plans of less popular providers.
Over 50s plan comparison table
Use the comparison table below to see how SunLife’s Guaranteed Over 50 Plan compares with the over 50 plans currently offered by less popular providers:
Comparing over 50s plans from other popular providers
| Over 50s plan provider | The UK’s most popular over 50s plan  |
The UK’s second most popular provider | The UK’s third most popular provider | The UK's fourth most popular provider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed acceptance up to age 85: |  |
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| Opportunity to stop paying before age 90 (with full payout): | |
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| Guaranteed cash payout can be over £10,000: | |
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| Funeral Benefit Option – free contribution towards your funeral: | |
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| Chance to win £10,000 every other month: | |
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Information correct as at September 2023. Checked every 3 months. Provider rankings from Swiss Re Term & Health Watch 2023. The top 4 list has been amended to only show the top 4 active providers.
For full details about all the providers in our comparison table, compare over 50s plans here.
Prefer to speak to someone? Give our friendly UK-based team a call on 0800 904 7674 (Mon-Fri: 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun: 9am-5pm)
Your exclusive SunLife welcome gifts
Take out a plan by 26th December and you'll get a FREE £110 gift card to spend on the high street at hundreds of shops, plus our famous SunLife pen. You'll also get double entry into our next Big Cash Draw, meaning an extra chance to win. Just opt in!
How much could you leave for your loved ones?
Calculate your cover online or speak to our friendly team on 0800 904 7674
Over 50s life insurance calculator
The payout your loved ones will get depends on your age at the time you take out your over 50s life insurance plan, and on what monthly payment you choose. As a guide, here are the payouts at various ages a non-smoker can get for £19.99 a month:
| Age: | 50 | 55 | 60 | 65 | 70 | 75 | 80 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payout: | £5,993 | £5,252 | £4,668 | £3,862 | £2,923 | £2,072 | £1,491 |
| Age | Payout |
|---|---|
| 50 | £5,993 |
| 55 | £5,252 |
| 60 | £4,668 |
| 65 | £3,862 |
| 70 | £2,923 |
| 75 | £2,072 |
| 80 | £1,491 |
Payouts for new customers who are non-smokers. Correct as at October 2022. For a premium of £19.99 call free on 0800 904 7674.
Prefer to speak to someone? Give our friendly UK-based team a call on 0800 904 7674 (Mon-Fri: 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun: 9am-5pm)
How much cover do I need?
Most people take out around £4,000 of coverage, but it may help to know that the average cost of a funeral in the UK is £3,953.
Choosing the right amount of cover.
How much life cover you need when you're over 50 depends on what you would like your payout to be used for.
The average cash payout chosen by SunLife customers is around £4,000. Some intend for their payout to go towards their funeral expenses, but others just want their loved ones to have a lump sum when they're gone. The great thing is, the money can be used for anything.
Using your payout to cover funeral costs
If you'd like your plan to take care of your funeral costs, it's helpful to know that the average cost of a funeral in the UK is £3,953. This is based on leading research we run every year on the cost of dying, when we use the cost of both burials and cremations from across the UK to get an accurate figure.
You can find out more about burial and cremation costs where you live in our Cost of Dying report.
Your free over 50s life insurance guide
Our free guide explains how over 50s life cover works, so you can decide if this kind of insurance plan could be right for you.
Watch Carol explain over 50s life cover
Carol explains over 50s life cover in under two minutes. Or you can read the transcript.
To help protect your family from funeral costs or leave them a cash gift when you die, you may be thinking about over 50s life cover.
SunLife is a name you know, not a newcomer with no track record.
SunLife pays every single claim. No wonder SunLife is the market leader.
Choose SunLife today and as a thank you, you’ll also get a welcome gift card.
More on over 50s plan features and options
How you're protected with Accidental Death Benefit
What is Accidental Death Benefit
Accidental Death Benefit means that if you die from an accident or as a result of your injuries within the first year of your policy, you’re still covered, and we’ll give your loved ones the full payout.
During the first year of your SunLife policy (called a moratorium period) Accidental Death Benefit offers an extra layer of protection in case of the unexpected. The moratorium period can differ from provider to provider so it’s a good idea to check before taking out a policy.
Claim an extra £250 with the Funeral Benefit Option
What is the Funeral Benefit Option?
You can choose to add Funeral Benefit Option to your Guaranteed Over 50 Plan at no extra cost. It offers an extra £250 to contribute towards your funeral.
When you pass away, your cash sum will be sent directly to Dignity Funerals Limited. Dignity are one of the UK’s largest funeral companies, with around 750 funeral director branches around the UK, so they could be just on your high street.
There is no commitment, and nothing is arranged in advance – so your loved ones have full control of the funeral planning when the time comes.
If your family do choose a Dignity Funeral, one of their local funeral directors will help with any arrangements, and Dignity will put £250 towards the cost of your funeral.
Please note that Funeral Benefit Option excludes direct cremations.
What is over 60s life insurance?
Over 60s life insurance
Over 60s life insurance is the same as over 50s life insurance. That’s why you won’t often see it advertised. Whether you’re over 50, 60 or 70, you can apply for SunLife Guaranteed Over 50 Plan if you’re a UK resident. If you’d like to know more, read our guide on reasons to consider over 60 life insurance.
Over 50s plan eligibility and documents
Are you eligible for over 50 life insurance?
To apply for SunLife’s Guaranteed Over 50 Plan you need to be:
Remember, we guarantee to accept you and there will be no medical questions.
Already a customer? Get help here
How to make a claim
Here's how to make a claim or register a death
How to make a change
If you need to make a change to your details or your plan
Top up your plan
Increase your payout with another plan – and even better rates
Answers to your questions
Sources and Information
1. UK's No.1/Nation's favourite/Most trusted/Most popular – Source: Association British Insurers statistics.
2. Gift card – sent after six months premiums paid. Offer starts 25.10.2023. Offer ends 26.12.2023. SunLife reserves the right to change, stop or limit this offer at any time. Terms and conditions apply.
3. Guaranteed Acceptance – is for UK residents aged 49-85.
4. Fast payout – 98% of claims are paid within 3 working days of receiving the necessary paperwork.
5. 86p a week – equivalent to £3.70 a month, our lowest premium. Premiums are paid monthly.
6. Funeral costs – are based on the average cost of a burial and the cost of a cremation in the UK. SunLife Cost of Dying report January 2023.
7. SunLife is highly rated for customer experience on Feefo and Trustpilot.
8. Testimonials – are from genuine customers, via Trustpilot and Feefo.
9. SunLife £10,000 Big Cash Draw – entry is open to Guaranteed Over 50 Plan & existing Protected Funeral Payout Plan policyholders in England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland, who confirm their details with SunLife. The Draw entry close dates in 2023 are 27th June, 23rdAugust, 24th October & 26th December. The final close date is 6th March 2024. A promotion for double entry into the Draw will run for limited times throughout the Draw period – see T&Cs for details. Opt in when you take out your plan to be entered into all remaining draws until end of promotion. Full T&Cs via sunlife.co.uk/win.
10. British Heart Foundation – SunLife will pay £1 from the first payment of every plan to British Heart Foundation Ventures Limited registered as a company in England and Wales No. 02767880, which pays its profits to the British Heart Foundation. Registered Charity Number: 225971 (England and Wales) and SC039426 (Scotland).
11. Guaranteed Over 50 Plan details (including 100% claims paid) – Full T&Cs apply
12. Insurance type – this is whole of life insurance. Premiums are payable for life unless PayStop option is selected. A payout is guaranteed when you die.
For additional verifications please visit the verify page.
Legal and regulatory information
Not all products are available outside of mainland UK, please call us to discuss if you have any queries.
This website contains information on how the SunLife Guaranteed Over 50 Plan works. This website does not contain advice, so you need to be satisfied this type of policy meets your needs. If you are unsure and need advice, please visit unbiased.co.uk to find an Independent Financial Adviser in your area (you may have to pay for the financial advice provided). If you have any questions about the plan, you can call our UK team on 0800 904 7674.
Who are SunLife and who provides the SunLife Guaranteed Over 50 Plans?
SunLife Limited distributes financial products and services. Registered office: 1 Wythall Green Way, Wythall, Birmingham, B47 6WG, United Kingdom. Registered in England and Wales, number 05460862. SunLife Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is entered on the Financial Services Register (reference number: 769427).
Phoenix Life Limited trades as SunLife and is the provider of the SunLife Guaranteed Over 50 Plan life insurance policies. Phoenix Life Limited’s registered office is at 1 Wythall Green Way, Wythall, Birmingham, B47 6WG, United Kingdom. Registered in England and Wales, number 1016269. Phoenix Life Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (reference number: 110418).
Who provides the Funeral Benefit Option?
If you choose to add Funeral Benefit Option to your Guaranteed Over 50 Plan, Dignity Funerals Ltd arranges and provides the funeral services, registered office: 4 King Edwards Court, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B73 6AP, United Kingdom. Registered in England and Wales, number 00041598. Dignity Funerals Ltd is a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors.