Compare Guardian Life Insurance Quotes Against The Market

Guardian is a relatively new name with an old soul. While the original Guardian Royal Exchange was a titan of the 20th century, the brand was relaunched in 2018 as Guardian 1821 with a mission to fix what it saw as broken in the life insurance industry.

Today, Guardian doesn't try to be the cheapest on the market. Instead, it positions itself as a premier provider, offering highly comprehensive coverage, unique Dual Life options, and some of the best additional benefits in the UK protection space.

At a Glance: Guardian (UK)

• Defaqto Rating: 5 Stars for Life Protection and Critical Illness

• Payout Philosophy: Known for its "Halo" claims service and a commitment to medical evidence over complex claim forms

• Unique Selling Point: Dual Life cover instead of traditional joint life, and "All Cancers" coverage in their critical illness plans

• Best For: Families and couples who want high-quality, jargon-free protection and robust terminal illness support

Types of Life Insurance Offered

Guardian offers its products through a Protection Menu, allowing you to mix and match different types of cover under one monthly premium.

1. Life Protection (Premier Term)

This is Guardian’s primary life insurance product. It is a term policy that pays out a lump sum or monthly income if you die or are diagnosed with a terminal illness.

• Level, Decreasing, or Increasing: You can choose fixed cover, cover that decreases with a mortgage, or cover that rises with inflation (RPI)

• Family Income Benefit: Instead of a lump sum, this pays a regular tax-free income to your family for the remainder of the policy term—ideal for replacing a salary

• Enhanced Terminal Illness: Unlike many UK insurers who only pay out if you have less than 12 months to live, Guardian pays out immediately upon diagnosis of certain conditions like Stage 4 cancer or Motor Neurone Disease, regardless of life expectancy

2. Life Essentials (Budget-Friendly)

Launched for those who want Guardian’s quality but have a tighter budget. It strips back some of the premier features (like the enhanced terminal illness definition) to provide a lower monthly cost while maintaining the same high standard of claims service.

3. Critical Illness Protection

Guardian is widely considered to have one of the best Critical Illness products in the UK.

• All Cancers Covered: They promise a payout for any cancer diagnosis, though the amount depends on the severity.

• Upgrade Promise: If Guardian improves their critical illness definitions in the future, they automatically apply those improvements to your existing policy.

• Children’s Critical Illness: This is an optional add-on that is remarkably flexible; you can add it, remove it, or change the cover amount at any time without affecting your own policy.

The "Dual Life" Difference

One of Guardian's most significant innovations is its approach to couples.

• The Problem with Joint Life: Most UK insurers sell Joint Life First Death policies. If one partner dies, the policy pays out and then ends, leaving the surviving partner with no cover (and they are now older and more expensive to insure)

• Guardian’s Solution: They offer Dual Life cover. Both partners have their own separate policies under one plan. If one person dies, the survivor still has their full cover in place. It offers double the protection for a price very similar to traditional joint cover

Pros and Cons

The Pros

• Superior Terminal Illness Cover: Their "Stage 4 Cancer" trigger is a market leader

• Claims Support (HALO): A bespoke service that provides medical, legal, and even bereavement support tailored to the claimant's specific needs

• No Standard Exclusions: They don't have a long list of fine print reasons not to pay, preferring a transparent approach

• Guardian Anytime: 24/7 access to GP services and second medical opinions for the whole family

The Cons

• Not the Cheapest: If you are purely price-shopping, "Essentials" may compete, but their flagship "Life Protection" is often more expensive than basic supermarket brands.

• No Over 50s Plan: They do not offer guaranteed-acceptance over-50s plans or traditional whole-of-life investment products

• Adviser Only: You cannot buy directly from their website; you must go through a broker or financial adviser like ourselves

How to get a Guardian Life Insurance quote

Guardian’s products are designed to be comprehensive, but they are only available through professional intermediaries. This is because their menu approach allows for high levels of customisation that usually require expert guidance.

Our team of independent life insurance advisers can help you navigate Guardian’s offerings. We provide:

• Market-Wide Comparison: We’ll compare Guardian’s plans against other UK giants like Aviva, Legal & General, and Royal London

• Value Assessment: We help you decide if Guardian’s premium features—like the "Upgrade Promise"—justify the cost for your specific needs.

• Trust & Probate Advice: We can help you place your Guardian policy into a Trust, ensuring the payout goes to your beneficiaries quickly and minimises Inheritance Tax

Get started for a Free, No-Obligation Quote and to speak with an expert who can provide access to the whole life insurance market.