Buying direct from an insurer
Many insurers sell policies through their own websites and phone teams. This can be quick if you already know what you want. The catch is that you only see one company's products and underwriting approach, and the sales team cannot tell you whether another insurer would offer better terms for your health or job.
Direct sales are often non-advised. That means the insurer gives you information but does not take responsibility for whether the policy suits your needs. You decide the type, amount and term of cover yourself, and you work out on your own whether a trust or a second policy would help.
Using a comparison site
Comparison sites show headline prices from several insurers side by side. They are handy for a first look and for getting a feel for the market. The prices shown assume standard health, and the figure can change once an insurer sees your full application.
Most comparison sites do not offer advice. They will not tell you whether decreasing or level cover suits your mortgage, whether you need a trust, or which insurer tends to look more kindly on a condition like asthma or high blood pressure. If something goes wrong with your application, you are usually on your own.
Using an advised broker
An advised broker asks about your family, finances and health, then searches a panel of insurers for cover that fits. The broker recommends a policy and explains why. Because it is advice, the broker takes responsibility for that recommendation, and if it turns out to be unsuitable you can complain to the broker and then to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Brokers also handle the legwork: filling in applications, chasing medical reports, setting up trusts and answering underwriters' questions. For people with health conditions, unusual jobs or more complex needs, that help can make the difference between standard terms and a loaded premium.
When a broker makes the biggest difference
If you are young, healthy and want a simple policy, buying direct can work. A broker earns its place when your situation has more moving parts. Insurers differ widely in how they treat medical history, and a broker who knows those differences can steer your application towards the right one first time.
That matters because every application leaves a record. If one insurer declines you or adds a loading, later applications usually ask about it. Picking the right insurer at the start keeps your history clean and saves you from repeating long medical questionnaires.
- You have a health condition, past or present
- You need more than one type of cover, such as life and income protection
- You want the policy written in trust
- You run a business or are self-employed
- You want someone to help your family when they claim
Questions to ask any broker
Before you go ahead, check how the broker works. Ask whether they give advice or only information, how many insurers they compare, and how they are paid. A good broker answers these plainly and puts the details in writing.
You can check any firm on the FCA's online register using its name or reference number. The register shows what the firm has permission to do, and any trading names it uses, so you know who you are dealing with.
- Are you authorised by the FCA?
- Do you give advice, or information only?
- Which insurers do you compare?
- How are you paid, and do you charge a fee?
- Will you help my family if they need to claim?
How Hi Tomorrow works as your broker
Hi Tomorrow is a trading name of CoverTrade Risk Management Ltd, an FCA-authorised broker. We give advice, compare the insurers on our panel and recommend cover that fits your needs and budget. We do not charge you a fee for personal protection advice. The insurer pays us commission when a policy starts.
Our UK team is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, and you can fill in our online form at any time. We stay with you after the policy starts, so you have someone to call when your life changes or your family needs to make a claim.