10-second summary: You can’t buy a standalone life or serious illness policy for a child in Ireland, but all adult policies automatically include free children’s cover. This guide explains what’s covered, what’s not, and which insurers treat families the fairest.
Editor’s note: First published in 2017 | Refreshed in 2025 with updated insurer limits, children’s definitions, and Guaranteed Insurability rules.
Do You Need Life Insurance for Your Child?
Strictly speaking, no.
You see, life insurance exists to replace the income of a breadwinner.
And if your kids are anything like mine, they certainly aren’t winning any bread.
Eating it, yes.
Slowly bleeding you dry.
Please, Daddy, can I have a new pair of trainers.
Please Daddy, can I have a new phone.
Please Daddy, can I have a PS5.
How about you get a job, you bum!
But Daddy, I’m only 12.
Pfff, always with the excuses!
Can You Buy Life Insurance for Your Child?
Nope — you can’t buy a separate policy.
But when you buy life insurance, children’s cover is usually included automatically.
Here’s what each insurer includes:
- Zurich Life: €7,000 per child
- Irish Life: €7,000 per child
- Aviva: €5,000 per child
- Royal London: €5,000 per child
- New Ireland: €4,000 per child
Important: Survival Periods for Children’s Life Cover
Most people don’t realise this, but not all insurers treat children’s life cover the same way.
Here’s how it actually works in Ireland:
- Irish Life → covers from birth (no survival period)
- Royal London → child must survive 3 months before a claim can be paid
- Aviva, Zurich & New Ireland → generally require a survival period (usually around 30 days, depending on policy wording and when the plan was taken out)
This stuff only comes to light at the worst possible time. One of my clients lost his little boy at just three weeks old, and the insurer refused the claim because of their survival-period rule. After a battle, they changed their mind but we shouldn’t have had to go to war for that child.
So yes — Irish Life is the fairest insurer on this benefit because they’ll pay from birth.
Can You Buy Serious Illness Cover for Your Child?
No — you can’t buy a standalone serious illness policy for a child.
But if you buy adult Serious Illness Cover, children are covered automatically.
All insurers cover the lesser of:
- €25,000, or
- 50% of your own serious illness cover
Some cover up to age 21, some up to 25. Always check the small print… or let me check it for you.
Does Having a Baby Affect Your Life Insurance?
If you’ve recently had a baby — congratulations!
If it was in the last three months, you may be able to buy extra cover without answering any medical questions using the Guaranteed Insurability Option.
Guaranteed Insurability
Guaranteed Insurability lets you increase your cover without medical underwriting when certain life events occurs (e.g marriage, birth of a chld, new mortgage, new job)
The insurer will offer you cover regardless of any new health issues since the policy started.
More details here:
Guaranteed Insurability explained.
What Other Child-Related Benefits Are Available?
Medical 2nd Opinion Service
If your child is diagnosed with something serious, most insurers provide access to a global second-opinion service.
Aviva’s Best Doctors vs Royal London’s Helping Hand — TL;DR Aviva’s is better.
Hospital Cash Cover
If you have hospital cash cover, your child usually gets €30–€60 per day free.
How Much Is Life Insurance for a Child?
Did you read any of this blog? 😅
I’ll repeat:
You can’t buy life insurance for a child. It’s included for free on your own life insurance policy.
How Much Is Serious Illness Cover for a Child?
Ah here. 🙈
You can’t buy serious illness cover for a child. It’s included for free on your serious illness policy.
Over to You
If you have children but no idea how much or what type of cover you need, let me help.
Simply complete this short questionnaire and I’ll email you a no-obligation recommendation:
Complete the questionnaire
Thanks for reading,
Nick
lion.ie | Protection Broker of the Year
Written by Nick McGowan, QFA RPA APA
Nick is a qualified financial advisor and founder of
Lion.ie, an independent Irish life insurance and income protection brokerage based in Tullamore. He’s been helping people get 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.