The price that you pay for your cover can vary from company to company and will be based on how much cover you will need, and a number of personal factors including:

• Your sex
  The rate you pay for some products will depend on your sex, as generally men and women have different life expectancies and suffer different illnesses.
• Your age
  The older you are at the time you start your cover, the more you’ll pay as older people are more likely to suffer an illness.
• Your health
  Your general level of health, family medical history, previous illness, your weight to height ratio will all affect the rate you pay.
• Your lifestyle
  Factors such as whether you smoke or drink, as well as your occupation and certain hobbies such as sailing and yachting, motorcar racing and potholing may also increase the rate.

Companies take all of these factors into account to work out how long and healthy a life you are likely to live and as a consequence the cost of cover will vary from person to person.