What does life insurance cover?
Learn about life insurance cover. Find out what’s covered by Tesco Life Insurance and discover the Tesco benefits that come with your policy.
Published: 20 August 2025
Life insurance: financial support for your family
Life insurance provides cover in case you die or become terminally ill during the term of the policy. Its purpose is to give your family some financial support after you’ve gone - by helping to pay off the mortgage or covering the cost of their living expenses.
If you’re new to life insurance, take a look at our beginner’s guide - What is life insurance?
You can also find out what some of the key terms mean in our life insurance glossary.
What life insurance covers
Life insurance is designed to give your family some financial support in case you’re not around to look after them. What’s covered by your policy, and what’s not, depends on your insurance provider, but the basic principles are the same.
To find out exactly what you’re covered for, it’s always best to check the policy documents.
What’s covered by Tesco Life Insurance
Here’s what we cover, and what to bear in mind before you apply.
Tesco Life Insurance is provided by Aviva, who will also administer your policy.
Lump sum payment
You can choose cover of up to £5million and Aviva will pay out the amount after a successful claim.
Protection if you die
Aviva will pay a cash lump sum if you die during the term of the policy. If they pay out, your policy ends, and they won’t pay any more claims.
Terminal illness
You’ll get your lump sum payment early if you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness, as defined by Aviva, and you’re not expected to live longer than 12 months. If Aviva pay out, your policy ends, and they won’t pay any more claims.
A separation benefit
If you separate from your partner after taking out a joint policy, Aviva can split your joint policy into 2 single policies.
House purchase cover
If you’re taking out cover when buying a house, Aviva will give you free life insurance for up to 90 days. This begins when they’ve accepted your application and you’ve exchanged contracts or completed missives, as long as you’ve given them a future start date that coincides with the completion of your house purchase. Terms apply. See policy conditions for full details.
What’s not covered by Tesco Life Insurance
There are important things you should know about you cover before you apply. For example, if you stop paying your premiums, your cover will end, and you won’t get your money back.
Take some time to find out more about Tesco Life Insurance and check the policy documents for full details of cover before taking out a policy.
Why get Tesco Life Insurance?
Everyone has different financial needs, so Tesco Life Insurance comes with 2 types of cover to choose: Family Protection and Mortgage Protection.
At Tesco Insurance, we want to help you with the things that matter most. That’s why Tesco Life Insurance comes with a Big Win and lots of Little Helps.
- Clubcard Prices - Save 5% on Tesco Life Insurance with your Clubcard.Clubcard Prices - Save 5% on Tesco Life Insurance with your Clubcard.
- Your Big Win - Get a £100 Tesco gift card after you’ve paid 6 months’ premiums. T&Cs apply.Your Big Win - Get a £100 Tesco gift card after you’ve paid 6 months’ premiums. T&Cs apply.
- Your Little Helps - Get a full year of coupons in your Tesco grocery app to help you shop at Tesco.Your Little Helps - Get a full year of coupons in your Tesco grocery app to help you shop at Tesco.
As well as your Tesco benefits, you’ll also get Aviva DigiCare+ - a health and wellbeing service from Aviva that includes free annual health checks and the Bupa Anytime HealthLine.
Tesco Life Insurance is provided and administered by Aviva, who have a 5-star rating for life insurance and pay out on 98.8% of claims.
Important information
About Tesco Life Insurance
Tesco Life Insurance is arranged, administered and underwritten by Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited.
Tesco Personal Finance Ltd acts as an introducer to Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Member of the Association of British Insurers. Firm Reference Number 185896.
Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited. Registered in England & Wales No. 3253947. Registered Office: Aviva, Wellington Row, York, YO90 1WR. Tesco Personal Finance Ltd and Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited. are not part of the same corporate group.
About Tesco Insurance
Tesco Insurance is a trading name of Tesco Personal Finance Ltd, Registered Office: 2 South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh, EH12 9FQ (registered in Scotland, no SC173199) which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (register no. 186022).
Aviva DigiCare+ app
With the Aviva DigiCare+ app, you can start using a range of health and wellbeing services, at no extra cost, when you take out your policy.
Members of your family can use it too, as long as they're eligible.
The Aviva DigiCare+ app is provided by Square Health. The services are provided by Square Health and other selected partners.
You'll find full details about the services in the app, along with the terms and conditions, residency restrictions and privacy policy.
Aviva DigiCare+ is a non-contractual benefit that could be changed or withdrawn by Aviva at any time. So, it won't appear in any contract you've signed, or in any terms and conditions.
Life Insurance policy booklets
Please check the policy documents to make sure the cover you’ve chosen meets your needs.
The policy booklet and product information documents tell you about the benefits, limitations and exclusions that’ll apply to your cover.
The Big Win - £100 Tesco Gift Card
Terms and conditions
- You’ll get a £100 Tesco Gift Card once you’ve paid 6 months’ premiums, if you have a current Tesco Life Insurance policy.You’ll get a £100 Tesco Gift Card once you’ve paid 6 months’ premiums, if you have a current Tesco Life Insurance policy.
- Customers are entitled to one Tesco Gift Card per policy.Customers are entitled to one Tesco Gift Card per policy.
- We'll send your Tesco Gift Card to the email address you used when applying for your Tesco Life Insurance policy.We'll send your Tesco Gift Card to the email address you used when applying for your Tesco Life Insurance policy.
- Tesco Gift Cards should be treated like cash. Lost or stolen cards can’t be replaced.Tesco Gift Cards should be treated like cash. Lost or stolen cards can’t be replaced.
- You'll get an e-gift card, which can be used in any UK Tesco store. Please note, your Tesco Gift Card can’t be used in Tesco Petrol Stations.You'll get an e-gift card, which can be used in any UK Tesco store. Please note, your Tesco Gift Card can’t be used in Tesco Petrol Stations.
- Tesco’s change of mind policy does not apply to gift cards. If you change your mind, you can’t return your Tesco Gift Card for a refund. Your legal rights are not affected.Tesco’s change of mind policy does not apply to gift cards. If you change your mind, you can’t return your Tesco Gift Card for a refund. Your legal rights are not affected.
- Your Tesco Gift Card and balance will expire five years after the date you activated your card, or the date you last used your card, whichever comes later.Your Tesco Gift Card and balance will expire five years after the date you activated your card, or the date you last used your card, whichever comes later.
- Damaged, altered or cancelled cards won’t be accepted as payment.Damaged, altered or cancelled cards won’t be accepted as payment.
- Your Tesco Gift Card can’t be used to buy another Tesco Gift Card, or to buy other gift cards sold in-store or online at tescogiftcards.com. Your Tesco Gift Card can’t be used to buy another Tesco Gift Card, or to buy other gift cards sold in-store or online at tescogiftcards.com.
- We reserve the right to amend, modify or terminate this offer from time to time, at our sole discretion, and without prior notice.We reserve the right to amend, modify or terminate this offer from time to time, at our sole discretion, and without prior notice.
Little Life Helps - Tesco shopping benefits
Terms and conditions
- You’ll get money-off coupons to spend on your Tesco shopping for one year, starting from the date you get your first coupon.You’ll get money-off coupons to spend on your Tesco shopping for one year, starting from the date you get your first coupon.
- You’ll need to have the Tesco app on your mobile phone and be opted in to marketing.You’ll need to have the Tesco app on your mobile phone and be opted in to marketing.
- The coupons will appear automatically in your Tesco app.The coupons will appear automatically in your Tesco app.
- You'll get up to 5 Tesco coupons throughout the year, which could include £15 off your total shop and £5 off fruit & veg.You'll get up to 5 Tesco coupons throughout the year, which could include £15 off your total shop and £5 off fruit & veg.
- We reserve the right to amend, modify or terminate this offer from time to time, at our sole discretion, and without prior notice.We reserve the right to amend, modify or terminate this offer from time to time, at our sole discretion, and without prior notice.
Tesco Life Insurance is provided, administered and underwritten by Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited.
Aviva have a 5-star rating for life insurance from Defaqto. And they pay out on 98.8% of life insurance claims*.
*Aviva UK individual claims report 2025, based on claims paid in 2024.
Learn more about Life Insurance
Find the right cover to give financial support to your family after you’ve gone. Tesco Life Insurance comes with Clubcard Prices, some great Tesco shopping benefits and Aviva DigiCare+.