Perceptions on access to protection: The hangover effect of Covid-19?

44% of prospective customers believe that having Covid in the past is a barrier to buying protection

clock • 3 min read

Pacific Life Re's David Waters and Richard Purcell review the misconceptions amongst some customers that protection is only available to the healthiest lives based on recent research.

Covid prevented us from living our normal lives with travelling curtailed and visiting family and friends severely restricted. When it came to protection, we also saw several changes during the pandemic such as the temporary suspension of some products like short deferred period income protection. Other impacts included some insurers introducing underwriting questions to understand if customers had been hospitalised because of Covid. There were also some reductions in maximum age, extra mortality rating and sum assured. By and large though, the protection market remained open for b...

To continue reading this article...

Join COVER for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, key trend analysis and industry insights.
  • Stay on top of the latest developments around health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and the cost of living crisis.
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletter.
  • Members only access to monthly programme 'The COVER Review'
  • Be the first to hear about our CPD accredited events and awards programmes.

Join now

 

Already a Cover member?

Login

More on Individual Protection

Updated: MetLife UK pays out £34m in 2025

Updated: MetLife UK pays out £34m in 2025

31,000 claims paid

Cameron Roberts
clock 20 January 2026 • 2 min read
The COVER Review: Claims, BIBA updates and 2026 predictions

The COVER Review: Claims, BIBA updates and 2026 predictions

Week commencing 12 January 2026

COVER
clock 16 January 2026 • 1 min read
Business Protection Focus Week 2026 launched

Business Protection Focus Week 2026 launched

23-27 February

Cameron Roberts
clock 16 January 2026 • 2 min read