Can farmers secure life insurance?

Yes, it could be possible to secure life insurance as a farmer and, often, without the need for specialist insurers.

Depending on the type of farm work you do, it could be possible to secure life insurance on standard terms.

The day-to-day activities involved with farming can vary depending on the industry and, for this reason, some forms of farming present greater risk than others.

Insurers may need to ask some additional questions to get a better understanding of the level of risk involved with your line of work.

In this article we’ll be covering the following:

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about farmers life insurance…

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What is farmers life insurance?

Farmers life insurance is simply a term used to describe a life insurance policy taken out by someone in the farming profession.

There isn’t a specific life insurance policy just for farmers.

Life insurance provides financial protection for your loved ones after your passing by providing a cash lump sum pay out.

Farmers life insurance can also refer to life insurance taken out through Farmers Insurance Group. However, this isn’t what this article will be focusing on.

Why do farmers need life insurance?

Farm work can present many risks and, unfortunately, over the last ten years at least one person a week has passed away as a direct result of working within agriculture[1].

Being a farmer can include a number of risks, such as:

  • Working with dangerous livestock
  • Handling heavy machinery
  • Working at height or near pits/silos
  • Handling dangerous equipment
  • Driving large vehicles

This highlights the need to have life insurance in place to protect your loved ones in case the worst were to happen to you.

As a farmer you never know what life will throw at you, but life insurance can give you peace of mind that your loved ones will be taken care of financially should you pass away.

Top concerns for farmers regarding life insurance:

As a farmer in the UK, you’ll want to protect certain aspects for your loved ones to ensure they can continue to live their current lifestyle if you were no longer around.

A life insurance pay out could help to:

  • Pay off the remainder of your mortgage
  • Provide an inheritance
  • Cover future family living costs
  • Pay for your funeral
  • Pay off outstanding debts in your name
  • Fund daily running of the farm

How much life insurance do you need?

Enter your financial commitments to understand the level of farmers life insurance cover you need.

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£137,934 is the estimated mortgage debt per household in the UK.

The purchase of a home is likely to be the largest financial commitment any of us will make in our lifetime. Your life insurance should cover your remaining mortgage balance to allow your loved ones to stay in the family home should anything happen to you.

Source: Moneynerd.co.uk
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The average monthly household budget in the UK is £2,548 (that’s £30,576 per year), which is spent on transport, food & drink, utilities (gas, electricity, water etc), clothing, council tax and leisure activities.

With energy prices hitting a record high and the cost of living rising sharply in the UK, you may wish to factor in utility bills and family living expenses into your cover.

Source: Nimblefins.co.uk
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The average personal debt of UK adults has risen to £34,566 (not including mortgage debt), with credit cards, personal loans and overdrafts being the most common forms of debt.

Factoring in any debts into your life insurance cover means that, if they need to be paid back from your estate after your passing, your loved ones won’t miss out financially.

Source: Money.co.uk
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According to SunLife, the average cost of a funeral in the UK is £3,953 (with the overall cost of dying at £9,200).

Funeral costs have increased by 116% since 2004 and are a significant cost which should be factored into the amount of life insurance you secure.

Source: SunLife.co.uk
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When factoring in cover for your children, you may wish to calculate the amount based on how long it is until they reach financial independence.

This could include childcare (£7,000 per year for part-time care), school expenses (£1,519 per school year for uniforms, lunches, stationary etc), as well as an additional sum for further education (this could be a contribution of up to £5,000 per year).

Sources: Daynurseries.co.uk, Primarytimes.co.uk & Savethestudent.org
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2 in 5 adults say they are relying on an inheritance to fund their retirement.

Factoring in an inheritance to your sum assured could allow loved ones to live a more financially comfortable life. Alternatively, you could leave a cash gift to a charity of your choosing.

Source: Moneyage.co.uk
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If you’re lucky enough to have your own savings or are part of the 30% of UK residents who already have a life insurance policy in place, this can provide financial protection for loved ones.

By entering your current cover, savings or death in service amount you can reduce the sum assured you require.

Source: Scottishbusinessnews.net
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Best life insurance for farmers

Farmers can choose from the four main life insurance policy types, these include:

  1. Level term life insurance »
  2. Decreasing term life insurance »
  3. Whole of life insurance »
  4. Over 50s plan (aged 50-85) »

Each policy type is well suited to protecting different aspects of your life, the best option for you will depend on your personal circumstances and available budget.

Let’s look at these cover options in more detail…

Level term life insurance

  • Covered for a specified period of time (up to 40 years)
  • Provides a lump sum pay out
  • Sum assured up to £1,000,000
  • Fixed pay out amount

Level term life insurance provides a fixed payout sum (sum assured).

You’ll be covered for a specified period of time (the term) and a pay out will occur if you pass away during this time.

Due to the large pay out potential, level term life insurance is ideal for helping cover large debts, such as an interest-only mortgage, loans/debts or covering family living costs.

If you have farming equipment or vehicles which have been taken out on finance or through a payment plan, the pay out from a level term policy can help provide the funds to pay off these debts (and any other loans you may have) after your passing.

Why not compare multiple level term life insurance policies using the services of Reassured? We can help you to find affordable rates for farmers.

Source: https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/hsagriculture.htm

Decreasing term life insurance

  • Covered for a specified period of time (up to 40 years)
  • Provides a lump sum pay out
  • Sum assured up to £1,000,000
  • Pay out amount reduced over time

Decreasing term life insurance provides a sum assured that reduces throughout the lifetime of the policy.

As with level term cover, you’ll be protected for a specified period of time and if you pass away during the term a pay out will be made to your loved ones.

As your sum assured decreases over time, it’s ideal for helping cover a repayment mortgage.

Because the financial risk to the insurer reduces over time, decreasing term is usually cheaper when compared with level term cover.

Compare decreasing term life insurance from some of the UK’s best life insurance providers through Reassured. Simply get in touch for your FREE quotes.

Whole of life insurance

  • Offers lifelong cover protection
  • Sum assured up to £1,000,000
  • Fixed pay out amount
  • Provides a lump sum pay out

Whole of life insurance provides lifelong cover and a pay out is made to your loved ones when you pass away, making it a form of life assurance.

This makes it an ideal option for providing an inheritance.

Farming is often a family run business that’s passed down through generations, by providing your loved ones with an inheritance you can help to keep the farm running for years to come.

However, as cover lasts for life, you can risk paying more into the policy than it will pay out if you take out cover at a young age.

For this reason, whole of life cover can be well suited to those later on in life who are still in good health.

Compare whole of life policies through the advised team at Reassured.

Over 50s life insurance

  • Guaranteed acceptance to UK residents aged 50 - 85
  • Sum assured up to £20,000 (depending on your personal circumstances)
  • Loved ones guaranteed a pay out (after 12 - 24 month waiting period has passed)
  • No medical information required

An over 50s plan offers guaranteed acceptance to UK residents aged 50 - 85. You’ll be covered for the remainder of your life once cover is in place.

Typically a 12 or 24 month waiting period is added to the start of your policy. If you pass away during this time due to natural causes, your loved ones won't receive a pay out. However, the premiums you've paid will be refunded.

Once the waiting period has passed, your loved ones are guaranteed a pay out upon your passing.

You also aren’t required to provide any medical information at the point of application. So, if you’ve previously struggled to secure cover due to ill health, an over 50s plan can be an ideal option.

However, to compensate for the unknown risk, insurers offer a lower sum assured (often between £10,000 - £20,000 depending on your age, lifestyle and budget).

The pay out from an over 50s plan can help to cover funeral expenses and provide an inheritance.

Reassured can secure over 50s plans with a sum assured of up to £20,000, simply speak to a friendly member of the team.

Other types of insurance for farmers

There are also additional policies that can be taken out alongside a life insurance policy to provide an extra safety net of protection. These include:

Terminal illness cover

Comes free of charge with all term life insurance policies secured through Reassured.

Terminal illness cover will allow you to make an early claim on your policy in the event you’re diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and given less than 12 months to live.

Critical illness cover

Critical illness cover provides you with a cash lump sum pay out if you’re diagnosed with a serious illness (such as cancer, heart attack and stroke) whilst cover is in place.

It can be added to a life insurance policy for an additional fee, or can be purchased as a standalone policy through some providers (but not through Reassured).

Income protection

Can be taken out alongside a life insurance policy. Income protection will pay out up to 70% of your usual income if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury.

Income protection could be an ideal option for self-employed farmers.

How much is life insurance for farmers?

How much you pay for your life insurance is based on the level of risk you pose to the insurer.

Insurers calculate risk by asking a variety of questions during the application process. As a farmer, this can include questions about your health and about your occupation.

Key information insurers require includes:

As farming can include some high-risk activities, they may also need to know the following information about your occupation:

  • Type of farming
  • Dangerous machinery used
  • Exposure to animals
  • Use of hazardous chemicals

While it’s likely that insurers will want to know more about your farming to understand the level of risk involved with your work, rest assured it’s unlikely you’ll be declined.

The type of farm work you do can have an impact on the level of risk you pose to the insurer.

For example, a farmer who herds sheep or a dairy farmer is likely to pose less risk than a farmer who works from great heights or uses heavy, dangerous machinery.

Farmers who don’t pose a risk to the insurer, due to their specific job role, should be able to secure cover on standard terms if no other high-risk factors are identified.

Below the table shows the different life insurance options available to farmers who’re deemed low risk. Example quotes are based on a non-smoker, who is in good health, for £100,000 of cover and £20,000 for an over 50s plan;

AgeLevel term (20-year term)Decreasing term (20-year term)Whole of life insuranceOver 50s plan
30£5.36£4.99£72.10N/A
35£6.20£5.17£84.56N/A

40

£8.19£6.23£103.03N/A
45£11.91£8.49£126.75N/A
50£18.12£11.43£152.97£25
55£27.88£18.12£179.64£31
60£48.81£30.97£210.54£75
65£92.32£50.41£266.15£75
70N/AN/A£349.96£75


A farmer who’s considered a high-risk applicant, for example someone who works with dangerous machinery, may experience inflated premiums due to the increased risk.

Reassured can compare multiple quotes to help you find the right cover for your circumstances, simply get in touch with a friendly member of the team.

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What questions will insurers ask about your farming?

When disclosing that you’re a farmer, insurers may ask some additional questions about your occupation.

This is so they can get a better idea of the risk involved with your line of work.

They may ask questions, such as:

  • What type of farming you do?
  • Do you work with animals and livestock?
  • If so, which animals?
  • Do you work at height?
  • Do you use any heavy machinery?
  • Do you use any hazardous chemicals?

Due to the different underwriting processes used, the questions asked can vary between providers.

The level of risk you pose can also vary between the different providers so comparing quotes will help you to secure more favourable terms.

Why not use our award-winning life insurance broker service to compare quotes from some of the UK’s leading insurers?

What about farmers who smoke?

As a farmer who smokes, you may experience inflated premiums due to the increased risk of your smoking habits.

However, Reassured have secured life insurance for over 100,000 smokers - so you’re in good hands.

Some insurers will deem smoking as riskier than others, so it’s even more important to compare quotes.

Quitting smoking can help to lower the price you pay for your premium, but you’ll need to have been nicotine free for a certain period of time before insurers will consider you a non-smoker.

Should farmers write their policy in trust?

The benefits of writing your life insurance in trust include:

  • Detaches your life insurance policy from your estate
  • Reduce or avoid inheritance tax for your loved ones
  • Bypass the probate process for a faster pay out
  • FREE trust writing support with the majority of policies taken out through Reassured

Writing your life insurance policy in trust is a process that detaches your life insurance policy from your estate (any money, possessions or property you own).

Inheritance tax is charged at 40% on any estate that’s valued at over £325,000.

As a farmer, it’s likely that your estate will be made up of land and property, easily taking it over this threshold and leaving your loved ones vulnerable to inheritance tax.

By writing your life insurance in trust, your loved ones may not have to pay inheritance tax on the pay out - meaning they can make the most of your selfless investment.

At Reassured we offer a FREE trust writing service with the majority of the policies we sell. Our dedicated team can guide you through the whole process to ensure your policy is exactly as you wish.

Farming in the UK

Data shows, as of June 2024, there were 285,000 farmers working on agricultural holdings in the UK[2].

Farming is an ever-changing industry and one that’s constantly diversifying to meet market changes. With the cost of importing goods after Brexit being on the increase, could there be further changes to come?

It’s hard to know what the future holds for farming, but you can ensure the financial future of your loved ones with life insurance.

Not only can a life insurance pay out provide the funds to help cover family living costs and pay for your funeral, but it can help to cover essential farming costs to ensure your family’s livelihood can keep on going.

Compare life insurance quotes for farmers

Comparing quotes is essential to find a good deal for your personal circumstances.

You could conduct this research yourself or you could enlist the help of an expert, like Reassured.

We can help you to compare quotes from some of the UK’s leading insurers, while providing you with all the information you need to make a fully informed decision.

A friendly member of our team will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and decode any jargon you may not understand.

What’s more, quotes are fee free and no obligation. So why not get in touch today?

UK Farmers » Compare Life Insurance Quotes

Sources:

[1] https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/hsagriculture.htm

[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/agricultural-workforce-in-england-at-1-june/agricultural-workforce-in-england-at-1-june-2023

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