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*Disclaimer – we do not arrange policies through Vhi Life Insurance (we use Zurich who underwrite VHI policies)
Vhi is best known for health insurance, but they also offer life insurance and mortgage protection.
The idea behind the product is simplicity.
You apply online, answer a series of medical questions and, if accepted, your cover can be in place quickly.
For some people that works perfectly well.
But like most things in life insurance, the detail matters.
Vhi life insurance is designed to be simple and straightforward.
Typically the policy provides:
Although the policy carries the Vhi brand, the insurance itself is underwritten by Zurich Life Assurance plc. That means Zurich is the insurer actually taking on the risk and paying claims.
For healthy applicants looking for basic cover, this can be a convenient way to arrange protection.
Vhi life insurance may suit you if:
Some people simply want to put a policy in place and move on.
For simple situations, Vhi can do that.
Where things become more important is when you look closely at the policy limits.
The maximum age you can apply for Vhi life insurance is 60.
If you apply later in life, you won’t qualify.
By comparison, some broker-arranged policies allow applications up to age 74.
Vhi policies must end by age 70.
Once the policy reaches that age, the cover ends.
Some broker-arranged policies allow cover to continue much longer, in some cases up to age 91 or even whole of life.
Some life insurance policies include conversion options that allow you to extend cover later without answering new medical questions.
With Vhi policies, the maximum extension point is still limited to age 70.
For people thinking about long-term protection planning, that limitation can matter.
Life insurance becomes more complex when:
Insurers assess risk differently.
One company may accept a condition at normal rates while another may increase the premium.
That’s where broker advice can make a real difference.
Don’t take the first offer because without getting quotes from all of the insurers, you won’t know if you’re getting the best deal.
Another factor worth considering is price.
Direct policies are not always the cheapest option.
In many cases we see Vhi life insurance premiums coming in significantly higher than comparable policies available through brokers.
Before committing, it’s always worth comparing what’s available across the wider market.
If you’d like me to review your situation properly and recommend the most suitable structure based on where you are in life, please complete this questionnaire and we’ll review it and come back to you.
Or if you’d rather talk it through first, you can schedule a callback here.

Written by Nick McGowan, QFA RPA APA
Nick is a qualified financial advisor and founder of Lion.ie, a multi-agency Irish life insurance and income protection brokerage based in Tullamore. He’s been helping people secure fair, transparent cover for over 15 years and was named Protection Broker of the Year 2022.
If you’d like straight answers without the sales pitch, learn more about Nick here.
As Ireland's leading life insurance broker, we specialise in comparing the rates and policies from the top five Irish life insurance providers and offering the very best value quotes to suit the individual needs of our clients. Our expertise lies in finding a suitable insurance plan for those with specific needs, be it a particular illness, occupation or claim history, we've got you covered in every sense!
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