Best way to buy UK life insurance + Critical Illness cover, Health insurance

[skuml]

in 2026, I am planning to focus on financial wellbeinNeed to sort out insurances!

Looking for:

• Life insurance with Critical illness ( might add Income protection too)
• Private medical insurance for a family of 4

What is the best way to buy these insurances?? Comparison sites vs direct vs broker/adviser?? (I dont have any financial advisor at the moment!)

if you have private medical insurance roughly how much do you pay per month and what level of cover?
Which PMI providers have been good (or bad) in your experience? (Bupa/Vitality/AXA/Aviva etc.)

Anything else, I should keep in mind before finalizing the insurance? Looking for real like experience!
Many thanks !! I’m trying to get this right since it’s a long commitment !

anyone??
Many thanks

On life assurance / critical illness, I think it's worthwhile going to a broker. There are quite a few nuances to these where getting the right cover is preferable to getting the cheapest cover.

I found the podcast below really helpful on insurance products but I was coming from very little knowledge so it helped frame what might be important. You may be more clued up.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0zk5TqWK3ZnI2pCAhZPICS?si=4cXteM33QN6TgrYYJgB1gA

For health insurance, mine is through work but it may be worth starting out with MSE.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/cheap-health-insurance/

Use a broker, or a local IFA. They will be best placed to tailor a comprehensive solution that best meets your needs and objectives, and recommend products and providers accordingly.

The problem with trying to do it yourself using comparison sites is that you are more likely to end up buying policies that don't meet your needs and, worse, will be less likely to pay out in the event of a claim due to the exclusions in the small print that you may miss or not understand the implications of. If you are needing to make a claim then you are probably going to be going through some tough times and the last thing you need is for a claim to be turned down on some seemingly trivial matter.

100% use a broker or local IFA

Ive had both Bupa and Vitality. Have only used Vitality in practice was absolutely fine straightforward
Ive had it both as part of a corporate and as a private individual, I pay £68 ish per month just for me. I also have critical illness with Vitality and pay £35 but had that years

Thanks! I will check it out !