Practical preparation · General information, assessed individually
Collect the terms, not just the headline
Start with the current employee-benefits booklet and policy information. A short description on a recruitment page may not explain eligibility, limits or how a claim is assessed. Ask HR or the benefit provider for the documents relevant to you.
- List sick pay, group income protection, death-in-service and medical cover separately.
- Record the date of the information and your membership or eligibility status.
- Ask about anything that is discretionary or subject to further conditions.
Map the household need
Make a simple outline of the financial effects you want to discuss: ongoing bills, mortgage payments, dependants and a longer interruption to income. Keep this separate from selecting a policy or deciding how much cover to buy.
- Use current household spending rather than a remembered estimate.
- Identify accessible savings and amounts already committed elsewhere.
- Note which costs would continue even if you could not work.
Check how the pieces fit
MoneyHelper explains that income protection can provide regular payments for qualifying illness or injury, usually after an agreed waiting period. Employer sick pay and existing cover are therefore useful inputs to the discussion. Policy definitions and exclusions still matter.
- Ask the adviser to explain the relationship between workplace and personal cover.
- Check waiting periods, payment duration and the income basis used.
- Ask how other benefits or payments could affect a claim under the actual terms.
Plan for a change of job or circumstances
A useful review records what needs checking again when your circumstances change. Do not cancel or replace an existing policy simply because a new role has an attractive benefits headline.
- Ask what happens to each workplace benefit if employment ends.
- Keep current policy documents and any proposed replacement terms together.
- Review the position after a move, new mortgage or change in dependants.
Bring to the first conversation
- Current workplace-benefits booklet and sick-pay terms
- Personal policy schedules and any exclusions
- Essential household spending and accessible savings
- Upcoming employment or family changes
Start with an outline. Send sensitive documents only through the secure route agreed with Jack.
Your questions, answered
Does having workplace cover mean I do not need personal cover?
There is no automatic answer. The benefits, eligibility, terms and household needs need comparing. A review may identify a gap, an overlap or sufficient existing provision.
Link to this answerShould I stop an old policy before a new one starts?
Discuss the consequences first. Replacement cover may have different terms, underwriting or exclusions. Confirm what is in place before making cancellation decisions.
Link to this answerAre private medical cover and income protection interchangeable?
They address different needs. Ask the adviser to explain the purpose and terms of each benefit, rather than treating all insurance as one combined pot.
Link to this answerSources & further reading
Sources checked 12 October 2026. Preparation prompts are editorial checklists; follow the linked original for its scope and updates.
Prepared for Jack Cousins’s website · 12 October 2026. About Jack · How site content is prepared. Insurer terms, underwriting and individual circumstances determine the cover available. This guide is general information, not a personal recommendation.