With some protection products you can choose to have either single or joint life cover.

Single life cover - as the name suggests, will insure you and only you.
Joint life cover - is taken out with another person and usually only pays out on the first claim.

Single life policies allow you greater flexibility as both individuals can be covered separately. This means that where two single life policies are taken out, each death can result in a payout. This can however be more expensive.

Joint life cover can be a cost-effective option if you want you and your partner to be covered. It is often easier to manage as there is only one set of paperwork to handle and one premium to pay. It is also usually cheaper than taking out two single life policies.

However, there is usually only one payout with the cover ending after a claim is made. This leaves the other person uncovered in the future. Additionally if you and your partner were to separate the plan may no longer be appropriate and may need to be cancelled and replaced by new separate plans.