Over 50s life insurance is a life insurance policy which is usually whole of life cover intended to cover funeral costs, pay outstanding bills, or to leave a gift or bequest to a loved one or for charity.

Whole life cover is life insurance cover which is guaranteed to pay a lump sum payment when you die as long as you continue to pay monthly premiums.

Over 50s life insurance

What is over 50s life insurance?

Over 50s life insurance is life insurance which is available with guaranteed acceptance. This means that you will not be required to provide medical information when you purchase a policy.

This type of insurance cover is suitable for those who are over 50 years of age who may have pre existing or chronic medical conditions.

Over 50s life insurance may offer lower levels of cover than other forms of life insurance and monthly premiums may be higher. This is due to the inherently higher levels of risk to the insurer in providing cover without medical information.

If you stop paying premiums, some policies will cease to offer cover. Over 50s insurance does not usually have an investment element and will usually not allow you to cash in your policy ie. the policy does not have a cash value. With some policies, you may end up contributing more than you receive in benefit.

This type of life insurance plan will generally offer fixed premiums for the life of the policy with premiums paid monthly.

However, there is very limited availability of specific over 50s life insurance in the Irish market. An Post and the Credit union offer funeral insurance policies that are the only policies that do not require medical questions.

Compare life insurance quotes from every insurer.

Take our 90-second online assessment and get the best life insurance quotes on the market. Our vetted life insurance partners are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and will outline the various options available to you.

Options for Life Insurance for Over 50s

A life insurance provider that offers whole of life or term life insurance may offer life insurance policies without you having to undergo a medical but you will need to provide medical information on purchasing a life insurance policy for almost all life insurance in Ireland.

You may be refused cover or be offered a policy with exclusions, depending on your medical history. For example, cancer survivors face challenges in obtaining insurance cover.

Depending on the amount of cover you choose, it may still be possible to purchase relatively affordable life insurance policies over the age of 50 which may be used to pay funeral costs or for other expenses, provided you can obtain cover with your medical history. It is also possible to take out a policy with joint cover for you and your spouse.

Laya do not require health information on setting up a new policy. However, the cover amount available decreases with age and they will only offer term life protection up to age 80, so all cover would cease at that time.

Life Insurance Providers Who Offer Life Insurance to Over 50s

Zurich - Home Insurance
irish life
Aviva - Home Insurance
laya

Age Limits on Life Insurance.

Zurich offers life insurance to new customers up to the age of 75 and offers life insurance plans up to the age of 90. 

Depending on the amount of protection you require, Zurich have varying requirements regarding undergoing a medical, depending on your age and the amount of cover that you require.

You will have to provide health information at the time of purchasing a life insurance policy, however.

Irish Life offer new customers health insurance up to the age of 82. Again, you will have to provide health information to purchase life insurance with Irish Life.

Royal London offer new policies to customers up to the age of 85 with life insurance cover offered up to the age of 91.

Laya life insurance is a term life insurance product which will accept new customers up to age 70.

age limits for life insurance

What does over 50s life insurance cover?

Life insurance is a form of personal protection which offers a lump sum payment on the event of your death.

Term life insurance covers a specific time period and will pay out the lump sum should you die during the term of the policy only.

Whole of life insurance pays out a guaranteed lump sum when you die, whenever that may be, as long as you continue to pay premiums.

Specific over 50s policies tend to offer a lower level of cover than other forms of life insurance.

However a term or whole of life policy may offer more benefit with lower repayments, depending on availability or exclusions due to your health.

Many life insurance companies now offer additional benefits as part of the life insurance policy such as:

  • Wellbeing services
  • Digital GP consultations
  • Second medical opinion consultations
  • Support therapies
  • Counselling

Tailored Life Insurance Quotes

We are Ireland’s first impartial insurance comparison website.

  • Our mission is to help consumers find the best insurance deals in Ireland

  • All research is examined through an independent market research body

  • Our central bank regulated insurance partners will provide you with free life insurance quotes from every provider so you always get the best deal

Benefits of Over 50s Life Insurance

Life insurance will pay a lump sum death benefit when you die, depending on the terms of your life insurance. Term life insurance will offer financial protection should you die during the term of the policy.

Whole of life insurance is guaranteed to pay a lump sum when you die, provided you continue paying premiums.

Although your family may be older and less dependent when you are over 50, many will have spouses, older, dependent children, or elderly parents who rely on them for financial support.

Life insurance is a way to replace your lost income for your family and a lump sum will provide some financial security for them.

Peace of Mind

Over 50’s life insurance offers peace of mind that you will not leave any outstanding debts or expensive bills behind for loved ones when you die. 

Depending on your levels of debt, life insurance provides your dependents with a lump sum death benefit which can be used to pay off outstanding debts.

Over 50’s life insurance can be used to pay for funeral costs and expenses so you are not leaving loved ones with an expensive debt.

Free Service

All information is provided free of charge to the public, we do our best to keep all the information up to date and accurate. 

Unbiased Information

Our information is provided free of charge and without any bias. Unlike other comparison sites we do not have preferential deals with any particular insurance company.

Vetted Insurance Partners

Our Central bank regulated insurance partners are vetted for customer service and expertise, so you know you’re always getting the best advice possible. 

How much is over 50s life insurance?

Over 50s life insurance is generally more expensive than other forms of whole life insurance as the risks for the insurer are higher in providing cover with no medical evidence required.

However, there is very limited availability of Over 50s life insurance of this kind available in Ireland.

Typically, also, the amount of financial protection paid out on this type of policy is much lower than other types of life insurance.

Over 50s life insurance, for example, would be unlikely to cover an outstanding mortgage unlike other forms of life insurance.

compare insurance

Laya Term Life Insurance

Age 65- term 15 years – cover amount €35,000 – €44.40 per month.

Age 75 – cover amount €75,000 – €93.46 per month.

Zurich Term Life Insurance

Age 50, €100,000 cover, term of 30 years – €42.11 per month.

Age 67, €15,000 cover, term of 19 years – €46.66 per month.

How much is funeral insurance?

Credit Union Death Benefit Plus

Age 50, taking out a policy with benefit of €14, 500 – €45 per month premium.

Age 70, taking out a policy with benefit of €5,000 – €49.49 per month.

An Post Funeral Insurance

Age 66, sum assured €1850 – €15 per month.

Age 66, sum assured €5830 – €45 per month.

Who should have over 50s life insurance?

Over 50s life insurance is suitable for anyone who:

  • Has pre-existing medical conditions.

    No medical examination or medical information is required by the insurer.

  • Wants peace of mind.

    You can plan for your funeral arrangements with this type of insurance in place. Funeral costs can be taken care of in advance as per your wishes.

  • Wishes to leave something behind to loved ones.

    You can leave a bequest to a loved one with an Over 50s insurance policy in place.

  • Wants fixed premiums.

    You have the security of knowing that your monthly payments are fixed for the length of the policy.

  • Has lower financial obligations.

    Typically, the amount paid out on an over 50s policy is lower than other forms of life insurance. This may be sufficient, depending on your personal circumstances.

Who should have over 50s life insurance

How Compare Insurance Works

We compare all insurance options so you can be sure you’re always getting the best deal.

1. Select Your Product

Simply select the insurance product you need a quote for e.g. life, home or health insurance.

2. Online Quote Form

Fill out one of our simple online assessments with your insurance details.

3. Free Quote Consultation

A qualified financial advisor will call you back for your free insurance quotation.

Funeral Cover

Funeral insurance is a very specific type of insurance plan which offers whole of life cover for a fixed premium. This plan will pay a fixed lump sum on your death to meet funeral expenses. In Ireland, the Credit Union and An Post offer specific funeral insurance plans.

Life Insurance Funeral Cover

An Post Funeral Insurance

An Post offers funeral insurance which works, in effect, as Over 50s life insurance. 

This is a whole of life insurance policy which is guaranteed to pay out on the event of your death, as long as you continue paying premiums. 

You will be required to pay a monthly premium until you reach the age of 85, after which you will no longer be required to pay premiums but will remain covered until you die.

There is no medical information required on taking out this policy and protection is offered regardless of your health. 

You may take out a premium when you are aged between 50 and 75 and how much cover you are offered will vary depending on the amount you pay each month with €30,000 the maximum level of benefit.

This policy includes Travel Accident Benefit which pays out double the sum assured should you die an accidental death as a result of a motor accident or an accident as a fare paying passenger.

Sum Assured

Your sum assured and the premiums you pay will not change during the life of the policy and are guaranteed. 

If you are unable to pay the premiums or stop paying premiums, then all cover will cease and you will not be refunded the premiums you have already paid.

Credit Union Death Benefit Plus

Credit Union Death Benefit Plus is a funeral plan which offers whole of life cover ie. is guaranteed to pay out when you die. It is available to anyone who is a Credit Union member aged between 18 and 80 on taking out the policy.

The guaranteed lump sum on death can be between €3,000 and €15,000, depending on your age when you take out the policy and the amount of monthly premiums you pay. 

Monthly premiums are fixed and no medical information or medicals are required to take out a Death Benefit Plus policy. Premiums are paid for 30 years or until your 85th birthday.

The Protected benefit feature means that if you cannot pay or cease paying premiums after 5 years, you will still receive a proportional benefit on the event of your death. This means that if your circumstances change you will still benefit from the premiums paid.

Over 50s Life Insurance Indexation

Indexation is a protection against inflation which can be built into insurance policies with the level of financial protection increasing year by year, in return for an increased premium, to offset inflation. 

Indexation is generally an additional option available when purchasing an insurance policy. Generally, when this option is chosen, premiums will not be fixed for the lifetime of the policy.

Over 50s Serious Illness Cover

Serious illness cover pays a lump sum should you be diagnosed with a specific serious illness. All insurers who provide serious illness cover have slightly different rules and will offer cover for different medical conditions, so it is wise to check what is covered before you take out a serious illness policy.

Serious illness cover may be purchased alongside a life insurance policy or as a standalone policy. 

You can also purchase accelerated serious illness cover, where your serious illness cover is paid out as a proportion of your life insurance benefit should you be diagnosed with a specific serious illness.

Many of the insurers who offer life insurance to over 50’s will also offer serious illness cover.

Over 50s serious illness cover

Get a quote for over 50s life insurance today.

Life insurance offers peace of mind that your loved ones will be protected financially in the event of your death. The benefit they receive can also be used to pay for your funeral or for outstanding debts so that you do not leave them a financial burden.

Although life insurance is cheaper if you take out a policy when you are young, you can still avail of the security brought by having a life insurance plan in place when you are over 50 and even over 60 or 70.

Take our assessment today and see what your options are, we can find the right Over 50s life insurance policy for you.

get an online insurance quote

Get the lowest premiums by comparing all the policies in the Irish market

Choose your insurance type, fill out the relevant assessment and speak to a central bank regulated insurance advisor