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The FCA’s 2026 research found that 58% of UK adults aged 18 or over with online access did not hold a pure protection product, and 59% of those non-holders had not considered their protection needs. That points to an awareness problem online may help address—but not every person without cover needs or can afford a policy. The regulator has said it will look for ways to improve awareness as it concludes its pure protection market study; it has not yet set out a final change to online information.
What the FCA means by the protection gap
Pure protection insurance is intended to provide financial support after events such as death, serious illness or being unable to work. The “protection gap” describes the shortfall between protection people may need and the cover they hold. It is not a simple headcount of people who should buy insurance.
The FCA says there is no industry-accepted methodology for measuring the gap. Needs differ with circumstances and dependants, as well as individual risk appetite, willingness to pay and support available from family. The regulator cautions that commonly used data can also be self-reported and variable. FCA pure protection market study interim report
What the figures do—and do not—show
| FCA finding | What it measures | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| 42% held a pure protection product; 58% did not | Adults aged 18 or over with online access in the FCA’s 2026 consumer research | Not holding a policy does not establish that someone objectively needs cover. |
| 59% of non-holders had not considered their protection needs | Whether non-holders had considered the question | It does not show why they had not considered it or whether a policy would suit them. |
| About 50 million identified needs, around 72% uncovered | An FCA-reported estimate of protection needs, not unique people | The estimate did not adjust for affordability or risk preferences and may overstate the gap. It assigned needs to population groups using assumptions about dependants, mortgages, work and assets; matching cover meant holding an aligned product type, not that the sum assured was adequate. |
The FCA’s consumer research fieldwork took place in September and October 2025. Its online survey used a non-probability panel with demographic quotas, alongside an in-person boost for holders of over-50 guaranteed-acceptance plans. The FCA notes online approaches can underrepresent people who are digitally excluded, so the findings are survey evidence, not a perfect census. FCA consumer research technical report
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Why clearer online information could matter
A person who has never considered protection may not know which life event to plan for, what kind of policy might address it, or how to begin comparing terms. Clear online explanations and prompts could make those first questions easier to answer. The FCA’s findings also point to barriers that information alone cannot resolve:
- Affordability: premiums may compete with housing, bills and other priorities. A prompt should not imply that buying cover is feasible or right for everyone.
- Complexity and confidence: people may struggle to understand exclusions, underwriting, the level of cover and whether policies address their needs.
- Access: people with pre-existing medical conditions may find it harder to obtain insurance or suitable terms.
- Different circumstances: needs can depend on dependants, debts, income and informal family support, so a single online message cannot determine what cover an individual needs.
Useful information would help people understand these trade-offs, explain when advice or further help may be appropriate, and make policy terms easier to compare. Those are possible ways to respond to the barriers the FCA identifies—not published FCA requirements or a description of a final remedy.
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What the FCA has said it will do next
The FCA’s 2026/27 work programme says it will conclude its pure protection market study and look for ways to reduce the protection gap, improve consumer awareness and improve claims experience. The programme does not specify a final change to online information. Until the regulator publishes a decision, any particular redesign, mandatory prompt or new disclosure should be treated as a proposal, not a confirmed rule. FCA 2026/27 work programme
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What consumers can take from the findings
The figures are a reason to think about financial resilience, not an instruction to buy a policy. If you are assessing whether protection is relevant to you, start with the financial consequences you want to plan for: support for dependants or mortgage payments after a death, a serious illness, or loss of income. Then consider affordability, policy exclusions and eligibility, how the cover amount is determined, and how claims work. Where terms or suitability are unclear, seek help from a qualified source rather than assuming an online prompt is personal advice.
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