Life cover from Halifax and from Lloyds Bank is provided by Scottish Widows, which sits in the same banking group as both. This page sets out what each bank sells, how the online and phone routes differ, and whether either bank makes you take out cover with a mortgage.

Want Halifax and Lloyds cover talked through in plain words? An FCA-authorised broker phones back at no cost once your name and number go into the form on this page.

Who provides Halifax and Lloyds Bank life cover?

Halifax says its cover comes from Scottish Widows: "Our life insurance is provided by Scottish Widows. They're a part of Lloyds Banking Group, like us." Lloyds Bank's life insurance page says the same of its own policies. Both pages were read on 27 October 2026 and neither prints a date.

So the bank you buy through is a route to the policy, and Scottish Widows is the insurer. Its own policies, terms and claims are covered in Scottish Widows life policies.

Halifax's life cover pages carry a banner that reads "The Halifax brand is changing to Lloyds". They add that you can still get a quote or retrieve a previous quote with Halifax, and "If you already have protection with us, your existing policy is not affected." Halifax has a separate page on what the brand change means for protection.

Both banks also offer a free conversation with a protection adviser. Halifax says its protection experts "won't charge you for their support and you don't need to take the product as a result of speaking to them", and that the service is provided by Lloyds Bank Insurance Services Limited. Lloyds describes its own protection experts as offering personalised support, help with setting up a policy in trust and guidance on Scottish Widows policies.

What can you buy through Halifax or Lloyds Bank?

Each bank describes an online route and a phone route, and the limits differ between them. Everything below comes from the banks' own pages, read on 27 October 2026.

HalifaxLloyds Bank
Online"We offer a level-cover life insurance policy online." You must be a UK resident aged 18 or over; over 59, Halifax asks you to callYou must be aged 18 to 59 and looking for up to £500,000 of level term cover on a single life basis
By phoneOver 59: Halifax asks you to call to discuss your options. Ask what limits apply by phoneAged 18 to 79 for life cover and 18 to 64 for critical illness cover, with up to £18 million of life cover and up to £3 million of critical illness cover
Types by phoneAsk when you call"This can be on a level, increasing or decreasing basis, single or joint life cover."
Length of cover5 to 40 years, up to age 69You choose the length; ask what range applies

Halifax says you do not need a medical exam and will get your decision the same day. Lloyds says you do not need a medical examination and will get an instant decision. Phone-route limits and policy lengths vary by product, so ask about them when the broker rings.

How level, decreasing and increasing cover differ is explained in decreasing and level term insurance.

Can you get mortgage protection or mortgage life insurance from Halifax or Lloyds?

Both banks sell cover aimed at a mortgage. Lloyds describes mortgage protection as a policy that "could pay out a cash lump sum if you die before the policy ends" so that loved ones could help pay off the mortgage. Halifax describes its mortgage protection as a type of policy that "could pay out a cash lump sum to help pay off your mortgage if you were to die or fall seriously ill."

Halifax's guidance on mortgages describes mortgage life insurance as another name for decreasing life insurance, which it says can often cost less than other types because the payout falls over time as a repayment mortgage balance does. For an interest-only mortgage, where the debt does not fall, it points to level-term cover instead. Lloyds lists decreasing cover among the types it sells by phone, while Halifax offers a level policy online. Which type sits behind each bank's mortgage protection is something the broker can spell out, without charge, during the call-back.

On whether you must buy any of this: Halifax's guidance says life insurance is not a legal requirement for a mortgage and that some providers may ask for cover. Whether your own lender asks for cover is a point to check with that lender. What lenders themselves say is set out in is life insurance compulsory for a mortgage, and comparing mortgage life insurance quotes covers lining up policies from different insurers. The wider choice of cover types sits in the mortgage cover guides.

Weighing a falling payout against a fixed one for your mortgage? A broker phones at no cost to talk it through once your details reach the form on this page.

What do Halifax and Lloyds Bank offer for critical illness cover?

Both banks sell critical illness cover from Scottish Widows. At both banks the two are separate policies that you can buy together when you apply. Because they are separate, both banks say a successful critical illness claim does not affect the life policy, which still pays out if you die during the term.

Halifax lists the illnesses its policy covers in groups: brain and neurological system, heart, organs, cancer and limbs. It says the headings "are only a guide. For full details, refer to the terms and conditions", so the policy document, not the headings, decides whether a particular diagnosis counts. For less severe, early stage cancers the cover includes an early help payment of £5,000, paid on top of the lump sum for a full claim, which stays available. It is paid if you have surgery for an early stage cancer, are treated for early stage prostate cancer or develop early stage malignant melanoma, and only one such payment is made across all of your Plan and Protect policies.

Both banks' critical illness pages ask that you are a UK resident aged 18 or over, offer cover from 5 to 40 years up to age 69, and ask you to call if you are over 59. By phone, Lloyds lists critical illness cover for ages 18 to 64. How a condition such as yours would be treated depends on the policy wording and your health answers. What critical illness cover is and which conditions it covers explain the general position.

What do Halifax and Lloyds say about cost?

Neither bank gives a price for you without a quote. Both say the price depends on your age, health, lifestyle and the amount of cover, and Lloyds adds the length of time you need it for. Halifax says premiums start from £5 a month, and its footnote explains the figure: "6% of customers paid £5 per month for Halifax Plan and Protect life insurance bought online between 01 Jun 23 and 31 May 24." Lloyds gives the same £5 starting point, based on the 6% of its customers who paid that for Plan and Protect life insurance bought online during 2024. Both say the price is for single level cover without critical illness, depends on underwriting and is subject to change.

Halifax also prints example monthly costs for single level life insurance bought online between 31 Jan 23 and 31 Jan 24. Half of the Plan & Protect customers in each age band paid these amounts or less. They are past prices from 2023 to 2024, not current ones, and not a price you will be offered.

Age bandHalifax example monthly cost, single level life cover bought online 31 Jan 23 to 31 Jan 24
18-25£9
26-50£15
51-59£20

Halifax prints the same kind of table for critical illness cover. At both banks, adding the second policy when you apply is an extra cost, and both say a history of smoking can push the price up. A personal quote is what shows a figure for your age, health and cover amount.

What if you already hold a Halifax or Lloyds Bank life policy?

Existing policies are looked after by Scottish Widows. Halifax's page for existing customers allows cancelling whenever you choose, without a fee, and says Scottish Widows will refund payments made if you cancel within 30 days of the start date. Finding documents, changing a payment date or updating your name is covered in managing a Scottish Widows life policy, and cancelling in cancelling or cashing in a Scottish Widows policy.

Deciding on a bank-sold policy? A free ring from a broker, arranged on the form on this page, can compare it with other insurers' cover.

Frequently asked questions

Can you take out joint life insurance through Halifax or Lloyds Bank?

Lloyds says its phone route can be single or joint life cover, and its online route is single life only. Whether Halifax arranges joint cover over the phone is something to raise on the broker's free call-back. What a joint policy involves is in joint life insurance explained.

Can you get Halifax or Lloyds Bank life cover with a health condition?

Lloyds says you can still get life insurance with existing medical conditions, though acceptance depends on the health issues you have and it may cost more. Halifax says Scottish Widows might not be able to help with a pre-existing condition and will say where to get more help if it cannot offer you a policy. Read life insurance with medical conditions before applying.

Do you need an online banking login to get a quote?

Halifax says that if you are registered for Online Banking, logging in is the simplest route because your details are pre-filled and your application is saved as you go, and that you can also continue without logging in.

What happens at Halifax and Lloyds Bank once you pass 59?

Both banks send over-59s to the phone route. Halifax says you will need to call to discuss your options; Lloyds lists phone applications for life cover up to age 79. Ask what is on offer at your age.

Sources