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 £4 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 due. 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: 10am-4pm, Sat-Sun: Closed)
Our Guaranteed Over 50 Plan is 5 Star rated by Defaqto
Defaqto is one of the UK's most trusted sources of financial product and market intelligence
Why choose SunLife's Guaranteed Over 50 Plan?
Summary
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 our Guaranteed Over 50 Plan is the nation’s favourite.
Your monthly payments are fixed, and will stop on the anniversary date of your plan, following your 95th birthday. But you'll still be fully covered for life.
Proud to be the nation's favourite over 50s whole of life cover, and proud to be highly rated by our customers.
Important to know
- You're only fully covered after you've had the plan for one year.
- Premiums are payable for your lifetime or until the policy anniversary after your 95th birthday. Your cover continues for life. If you stop paying premiums earlier, your insurance will end and you won't get anything back.
- Depending on how long you live, you could pay more in premiums than the cash sum paid out.
- Because the cash sum is fixed, inflation will reduce its buying power over time.
- Over 50s Insurance Plans do not guarantee to meet the full cost of a funeral.
- Terms and Conditions apply.
Compare over 50s insurance
See how the most popular over 50s life insurance providers compare. For full features and details, please refer to each provider.
| Provider |  |
British Seniors | Post Office | One Family | Legal & General |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Policies start between | 49-85 years old | 50-80 years old | 50-80 years old | 50-80 years old | 50-80 years old |
| Max cover* | £18,000 | £10,000 | £10,000 | £20,000 | £10,000 |
| Defaqto rating | 5 Star | 3 Star | 4 Star | 5 Star | 5 Star |
| Full life cover available after | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | 2 years | 1 year |
| Quote and apply online |  |
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Competitor information correct as at June 2025. Checked every 3 months. Provider rankings from Swiss Re Term & Health Watch report 2025. *Maximum cover depends on your age and smoker status, so may be different to the amounts show here. Get a personalised quote to see what's available to you. For more details about all the providers in our comparison table, compare over 50s plans here.
Your free SunLife welcome gift
As a special thank you for taking out a plan, we'll send you a free welcome gift card, worth £135! It'll be yours to spend in all your favourite shops like M&S, Argos and Boots. T&Cs apply
Over 50s life insurance calculator
The payout your loved ones will get depends on your age and smoker status 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 of the SunLifeOver 50s life insurance plan at various ages a non-smoker can get for £20 a month:
| Age: | 50 | 55 | 60 | 65 | 70 | 75 | 80 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payout: | £5,752 | £5,061 | £4,515 | £3,722 | £2,805 | £2,026 | £1,456 |
Payouts for new customers who are non-smokers. Correct as at May 2025.
For a quote call free on 0800 904 7674.
How much cover do I need?
The average amount of cover people take out is over £4,000, which according to our Cost of Dying report, is roughly the average cost of a funeral in the UK.
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 over £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 over £4,000. 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.
Health and Wellbeing Service
To help your wellbeing be the best it can be, we’ve introduced a free Health and Wellbeing Service, provided by our partner RedArc – so you can get regular support from the same registered nurse over the phone whenever you need it.
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.
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 national coverage, 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
Sources and information
- UK’s no.1/Nation's favourite/Most popular/Most trusted/UK's favourite – source: Swiss Re Term and Health Watch Report 2025.
- Gift card – sent after you've paid 6 months' premiums. We reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time. Go to sunlife.co.uk/gift for T&Cs.
- Guaranteed Acceptance – is for UK residents aged 49-85.
- Fast payout – 98% of claims are paid within 3 working days of receiving the necessary paperwork.
- 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.
- SunLife is highly rated for customer experience on Feefo and Trustpilot.
- Testimonials – are from genuine customers, via Trustpilot and Feefo.
- Guaranteed Over 50 Plan details (including 100% claims paid) – Full T&Cs apply(PDF downloads)
- £4 premium – availability depends on your age and smoker status.
- RedArc – is a support service that isn't regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. These services aren't part of the terms and conditions of your SunLife Guaranteed Over 50 Plan and may be amended or withdrawn at any time.
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(website opens in a new tab) 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(www.fca.org.uk opens in a new tab) 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(nafd.org.uk opens in a new tab).