Vitality Life Insurance: Is It Worth The Hype?

Vitality is a health and life insurance company that offers a range of policies, including term life insurance, whole-life insurance, and serious illness cover. They are known for their rewards programme, which incentivises healthy living by offering discounts and savings on gym memberships, fitness trackers, and healthy food to their policyholders.

Vitality has received mixed reviews, with some customers praising the company for their helpful service and easy claims process, while others have complained about issues with syncing activity points and not honouring claims.

Vitality's life insurance policies start from £5 a month, and the company has a high pay-out rate, having paid out 99.7% of their life insurance claims in 2022.

Vitality life insurance reviews

Vitality life insurance is a popular choice for UK customers due to its innovative policies and comprehensive rewards scheme. The company has over 1 million UK members and offers discounts on gym memberships, cinema tickets, smartwatches, and more.

Vitality life insurance is rated 5 stars on Defaqto and scored 4.2 stars ("Great") on Trustpilot, with 68% of customers rating them 5 out of 5 stars as of 10 May 2024. On Fairer Finance, Vitality is ranked 11th out of 24 insurers based on their customer experience rating (77%).

The key difference between Vitality life insurance and other policies is the health rewards and benefits that come with its plans. Customers can earn rewards and discounts on gym memberships, spa breaks, fitness trackers, healthy food, sports clothing, and more. The higher your Vitality status, the more rewards you can access.

Vitality has one of the highest payout rates of all UK insurers, with 99.7% of all life insurance claims paid in 2022. The company offers term life insurance, whole-of-life insurance, serious illness cover, and income protection options as part of its Personal Protection Plan.

Prices start from £5 a month when buying directly from Vitality, with the option to add on extra protection features for an additional cost.

While Vitality life insurance has many positive reviews, there are also some negative experiences. Some customers have complained about issues with claiming their rewards and syncing their activity points. Others have expressed frustration with the complexity of the points system and the need to maintain an active lifestyle to access the best rewards.

Overall, Vitality life insurance is a good choice for those who want to get the most out of their policy through rewards and benefits. However, it may not be the best option for those who are less engaged with the rewards programme or prefer a simpler, more traditional life insurance plan.

Vitality life insurance costs

Vitality offers a range of life insurance options, including whole life insurance and term life insurance. Whole life insurance lasts your entire life, so your family receives a guaranteed lump sum payout when you pass away. However, this type of policy tends to have higher monthly premiums due to the guaranteed payout. On the other hand, term life insurance covers you for a specific term, usually between five and 70 years. If you pass away within the policy term, your loved ones receive a lump sum payout. Term life insurance is generally more affordable than whole life insurance, making it a popular choice.

In addition to life insurance, Vitality also provides serious illness cover and income protection insurance. Serious illness cover pays out a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a serious illness, such as cancer. Income protection insurance, on the other hand, provides a monthly income if you are unable to work due to sickness or injury.

Vitality's life insurance is 5 Star Defaqto rated, and they have paid out 99.7% of life cover claims in 2023. They also offer various rewards and discounts to their members, such as discounted gym memberships and cinema tickets. However, it is important to note that some reviews mention issues with claiming rewards and syncing activity points.

When considering life insurance, it is essential to evaluate your needs and circumstances. Life insurance can provide financial protection for your loved ones in the event of your passing or a terminal illness diagnosis. It can help cover expenses such as mortgage repayments, debts, childcare costs, and funeral costs.

Overall, Vitality life insurance offers comprehensive coverage with additional benefits such as rewards for healthy living. The cost of your premium will depend on various factors, and it is always a good idea to get a quote and compare different options before making a decision.

Vitality life insurance benefits

Those without the Optimiser have access to ‘Vitality Select’, which includes a reduced number of benefits, such as discounts at Champneys, Garmin, and Runners Need.

Those with the Optimiser have access to ‘Vitality Plus’, which offers more benefits, including:

• Discounts on Apple Watches
• Free cinema tickets at Odeon and Vue cinemas
• Free drinks at Caffè Nero
• Healthy food discounts at Waitrose
• Discount codes for Rakuten
• Cashback for purchases using American Express
• Discounts from Mr & Mrs Smith Holidays
• It has one of the highest payout rates of all UK insurers (99.7% of all their life insurance claims were paid in 2022).
• It is rated 5 stars on Defaqto and scored 4.2 stars (“Great”) on Trustpilot from over 39,000 reviews (as of 10/05/24).
• It is an award-winning cover with over 10 years of 5-star Defaqto ratings.
• Its members saved more than 25% of their health premiums through rewards in 2022.
• It has been in the insurance business for over 30 years and is an industry leader in rewards-based insurance.
• It offers serious illness cover, which is more comprehensive than traditional critical illness cover (covering up to 174 illnesses).
• It offers income protection cover, which safeguards your income in the event you are unable to work due to illness or injury.

Vitality life insurance pros and cons

Pros

• Vitality life insurance is rated 5 stars on Defaqto and scored 4.2 stars ("Great") on Trustpilot from over 39,000 reviews (as of 10/05/2024).
• Vitality has one of the highest payout rates of all UK insurers (99.7% of all their life insurance claims were paid in 2022).
• Customers can earn rewards and discounts on gym memberships, spa breaks, fitness trackers, healthy food, sports clothing and more.
• Cover can be tailored to suit your circumstances and budget, allowing you to add other protection options and features (for an extra cost) if desired.
• Vitality's health and life insurance has over 10 years of 5-star Defaqto ratings.
• Vitality's members saved more than 25% of their health premiums through the company's rewards programme in 2022.
• Vitality has been in the industry for over 30 years and is an industry leader when it comes to rewards-based insurance.
• Vitality offers serious illness cover, which is more comprehensive than traditional critical illness cover (covering up to 174 illnesses).
• Vitality has a good life insurance payout rate.
• Vitality offers a wide range of rewards to their active customers, including free items, discounts and more.
• Vitality provides some of the most comprehensive life cover currently available in the UK.
• Vitality offers an extensive range of rewards to their active customers, including free items, discounts and more.
• Vitality has some of the cheapest premiums.
• Vitality's policies offer some of the highest levels of cover in the UK, and prices are extremely competitive.
• Vitality's policies can be tailored to suit your needs and circumstances, with optional features and benefits.

Cons

• The rewards programme and point system may not always be easy to understand, which could be off-putting for potential customers.
• To be eligible for the full range of rewards (including the Apple Watch and free cinema tickets), your monthly premium must be over £45 and you need to pay an extra £4.75 a month.
• Vitality reward partners could change at any time while your policy is active.
• Technology sometimes fails or doesn’t work as expected, and so it can be frustrating, especially if you need to contact Vitality to try to sort out issues.
• Points aren’t always as easy to get as you’d expect, and you might not be able to earn points for all of your activity.
• Rewards partners can change quite regularly (usually every year) and so you might lose a discount that you’ve been using. Also, not all of the rewards partners are for everyone and so you might not get the best value for money (e.g. gyms, travel, food and drink).
• Premiums increase if you don’t engage and so you can very quickly end up paying more than you can afford or higher premiums than other providers.
• Vitality is only good value for money for the right type of customer who would use and benefit from the rewards partners. If you don’t engage with the program and you don’t get your points from your daily activity then Vitality is not right for you.
• Vitality gets mixed reviews. While it has improved its Trustpilot score to 4.1 out of 5.0 stars, it still gets very mixed reviews, with some customers complaining about poor customer service and issues with claiming.

Vitality life insurance cancellation

Vitality is a 5-star Defaqto-rated insurance company offering health and life insurance with rewards for healthy living. Their health insurance is available from £1.45 per day, while their life insurance starts at £5 per month.

Vitality's life insurance offers protection for your loved ones when you die, giving them a lump sum when you pass away or if you're diagnosed with a terminal illness. This money can be used for anything, including paying off your mortgage and funeral costs.

To cancel your Vitality life insurance, you can call their dedicated team on 0345 601 0072 or email them at [email protected] Their lines are open Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 5 pm.

When cancelling your policy, keep in mind that your plan does not have any cash value when it ends or if it is cancelled for any reason. Additionally, if you have missed any premium payments, you can contact their dedicated team on 0800 030 4903, with lines open Monday to Thursday, from 8:30 am to 6 pm, and Friday, from 8:30 am to 5 pm.

It is important to carefully review the terms and conditions of your policy before initiating the cancellation process, as there may be specific requirements or penalties associated with early termination.

Frequently asked questions