More than the Money

When most people think about life insurance, they picture a lump-sum payment to loved ones (or a business partner in the context of business protection) after they pass away. While that’s certainly the core purpose, many modern life insurance policies now have the option to include value-added benefits — extras that can support you and your family or business during your lifetime, not just after.

Typically these come at a small additional cost per month but often this is minimal in comparison to the value they provide.

Examples of Value-Added Benefits

• Virtual GP appointments: Speak to a doctor from your phone or computer, often available 24/7.

• Mental health and counselling services: Confidential help for anxiety, depression, bereavement, and more.

• Second medical opinions: Access to global experts who can review a diagnosis or treatment plan.

• Health checks and lifestyle tools: Track your wellbeing and get advice on how to stay healthy.

• Legal and bereavement support: Guidance on things like wills, probate, and emotional support for loved ones.

• Employee engagement services: offering many of the above to employees covered by Group Life/Critical illness/Income Protection schemes.

These services are designed to add peace of mind, flexibility, and support when facing major health or lifestyle challenges.

Whilst the following is only available on personal protection policies, not business protection ones, it is worth highlighting as a standout example of these benefits which can be literally life changing or even saving:

Zurich Accelerate Benefit: Access to the World’s Best Treatment

Zurich’s Accelerate Benefit is a powerful example of how life insurance can go beyond financial protection.

If you're diagnosed with a serious health condition — such as a heart condition, a neurological disorder (like Parkinson’s or motor neurone disease), or Stage 3, Stage 4, or a rare form of cancer or if you require a bone marrow transplant or live donor organ transplant— Accelerate offers something extraordinary:

It helps you get the best treatment available anywhere in the world, and covers all the costs involved. How's that for an amalgamation between the health insurance industry and life insurance industry in supporting their clients in the best way?

Here’s what’s included:

• Private Diagnostics: Minimise the time taken to get an accurate diagnosis. Upon experiencing symptoms of a conditions which could be any of those covered by the benefit you will become eligible to access a private UK diagnostic testing facility to get a formal diagnosis.

• Second Medical Opinion: If you are unsure of the diagnosis provided you can obtain a second opinion by a UK or international expert in that particular field of medicine.

• Global medical expertise: Zurich will identify and connect you with world-leading specialists and hospitals that have the best outcomes for your specific condition.

• Travel and accommodation: They’ll arrange and pay for your treatment overseas, including travel and accommodation for both you and a companion.

• Ongoing support: A dedicated team will guide you through everything — from organising travel, to booking appointments and even offering emotional support.

• No impact on your life cover: The benefit is completely separate from your life insurance/critical illness cover or income protection payout. You don’t have to pay it back, and it doesn’t reduce your overall cover amount.

Whilst this is not a free benefit, typically costing just under £10 per month the results of it

can be truly life-changing, especially when time is critical, and you want to explore the best options — even if they’re outside the UK.