Life insurance 2025: choices in Poland

Nowadays, choosing the right life insurance is not just about the „sum payable in the event of death.” In 2025, many people in Poland want to combine protection with additional coverage: for serious illness, hospitalization, or inability to work. The problem is that two policies with similar premiums can work completely differently because they differ in terms of waiting periods, exclusions, and definitions of events.

This guide shows you how to approach the topic in a practical way: how to determine the purpose of protection, how to read the general terms and conditions, how to choose the sum insured, and what to watch out for in 2025. If you want to start from scratch, take a look at our section life insurance.

In most policies, the „core” is protection in the event of the insured's death during the insurer's period of liability. The general terms and conditions usually describe that the subject of the insurance is life, and the benefit is paid to the beneficiary if death occurs during the period of coverage. You can often extend the scope, for example, to include a higher payout if death occurs as a result of an accident.

It is crucial to distinguish between what is included in the basic contract and what is included in additional contracts. Add-ons can be more important than „death” itself, as they address the real concerns of families: illness, surgery, long-term sick leave, and loss of income.

Some products allow you to choose between a basic or extended option, and then select additional coverage. In practice, in 2025, you will most often encounter extensions covering accidents, serious illnesses, surgeries, hospitalizations, and medical and nursing services. Before comparing premiums, compare the list of risks and definitions in the general terms and conditions.

If you are interested in accident protection, you may also find the following material helpful: Individual accident insurance, because some of the „accidental” additives work in a similar way.

Choosing the sum insured is the most important decision, because it determines both the amount of coverage and the premium. General Terms and Conditions often indicate that the premium is payable for providing coverage and is calculated based on a tariff, and its amount depends, among other things, on the sum insured, scope, frequency of payment, and risk assessment. In practice, the insurer may also propose a change in the scope, an increase in the premium, or a reduction in the sum after analyzing your medical answers.

A simple method for 2025: start by calculating your „financial gap.” This is usually the sum of several elements: repayment of liabilities (loans), 12–24 months of family living expenses, and a budget for your children's goals. Only then should you adjust your policy to your monthly budget, not the other way around.

The most common factors affecting the premium are: age, sum insured, health condition, occupation, and payment method (monthly vs. annual). In group policies, the „group profile” and the number of people are also taken into account. If you are in good health and want high coverage, consider a term policy, as it usually provides a large sum for a reasonable premium. If you want to save capital, protection and savings solutions work differently and are worth analyzing separately.

If you are considering a policy through your employer, see also our overview: group life insurance – reasons for choosing it.

In 2025, the biggest „pitfalls” in policies are not the price itself, but the details of liability. The general terms and conditions describe when the insurer will pay out and when it will refuse to do so. Most often, the problem arises in three areas: waiting periods, exclusions, and definitions of events (e.g., what exactly does „serious illness” or „permanent incapacity for work” mean).

It is also worth checking whether you can change the option or scope during the term of the contract, e.g., on the anniversary of the policy. When life changes occur (child, loan, promotion), the possibility of increasing coverage is very valuable.

A grace period is a period during which liability is limited or excluded. In practice, this may be, for example, three months for selected risks, and often the grace period does not apply to events caused by an accident. Therefore, before signing the contract, ask directly: what risks are covered by the grace period and how long does it last?.

The medical questionnaire is important because, after assessing the risk, the insurer may propose a higher premium, restrictions, or refuse coverage. Exclusions of liability are sometimes standard (e.g., war, acts of violence), but what matters are the detailed provisions and definitions. If you have any doubts, compare offers with your advisor and always read the general terms and conditions.

In Poland in 2025, the most common choice is either an individual policy tailored to your needs or a group policy from work as a cheaper option. Group insurance works on the basis of a contract concluded for a group of people, usually with the same scope and sums for all participants. This can be an advantage (simple protection), but also a disadvantage (less personalization).

An individual policy usually gives you more control: you can choose the sum insured, add-ons, and adjust your coverage when your family situation changes. On the other hand, it is often easier to get accepted into a group policy without an extensive medical risk assessment, although this depends on the terms and conditions of the specific program.