Why Every UK Employee Should Consider Accident and Sickness Insurance

Imagine waking up on a morning just like any other. You step out of the house with a coffee in hand, thinking about your day, and have no idea it could all change with a single slip or unexpected pain. Picture yourself suddenly in A&E, dazed and bruised, wondering what will happen next.

It sounds dramatic, but it’s real: nearly 54,000 people across the UK visit the hospital every day due to accidents or sudden illnesses. One second you’re fine; the next, a broken leg, a sprained ankle, or a serious flu lands you in hospital. With each emergency comes a more hidden crisis: what happens to your paycheck if you can’t work?

Facing the numbers

By the time questions like these sink in, the cold reality can bite hard. What if you couldn’t work for a month, or six months? Imagine a fractured arm after a fall, or a relentless flu that drains your energy for weeks. Studies suggest this isn’t just a worst-case scenario: over one in three (35%) working-age Britons will experience at least six months off work due to illness or injury during their career.

It’s chilling to think about. Sickness is already common; UK employees took an average of 9.4 sick days per year in 2025 (up from 7.8 days in 2023). Official data concur: approximately 148.9 million workdays were lost to sickness in 2024, averaging roughly 4.4 days per worker. Think about what running out of income for a few weeks would do to you; many people already struggle to make ends meet even during a short illness.

The gap in your paycheque

During those days off, the bills don’t pause. Your mortgage, rent, heating bill, and grocery shop still need paying – even if you’re not bringing in your full wage. By law, most UK employees only get Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) when off sick, which is a modest £118.75 per week (for up to 28 weeks).

In 2025 terms, that’s only about 15% of the median full-time wage (around £767/week). Imagine trying to cover a family on that; it’s a stark drop. For many, that shortfall is daunting. Everything you’ve saved could vanish fast, and with most employers only offering a few weeks or months of contractual sick pay (if anything beyond SSP at all), the uncertainty can be overwhelming.

Anxiety and vulnerability

It’s not just the money,  it’s the worry that gnaws at you. Suddenly, every cough or groan makes you wonder, “What if this is the start of something worse?” Many people describe lying awake at night, stomach in knots, agonising over questions they never thought they’d have to ask: “Who will pay the rent if I’m sick next week?How will I feed my children?” You might have some savings, but would that really stretch through months off work?

You find yourself counting cough drops and paracetamol with a bit of desperation, suddenly understanding how vulnerable you really are. Every random headache or ache in your body can start to feel like a looming threat, simply because you know how much you rely on your regular paycheque to keep things going.

A quiet protector: accident and sickness cover

This is where accident and sickness insurance can quietly step in, a safety net for your earnings. Citizens Advice puts it simply: “Illness insurance protects your income if you are unable to work because of an accident, long-term ill health or disability”.

In practice, once a short waiting period passes (often just a few weeks), the policy starts paying you a portion of your normal wage while you’re off sick or injured. The payments usually amount to a sizable fraction of what you would normally earn, often around half to two-thirds of your salary,  and continue until you’re well enough to return to work (or until a set time limit agreed in the policy). In effect, it’s like having a backup paycheque when life throws you off schedule.

How it works in plain English

Signing up is easier than it sounds. You pay a monthly premium, and if the worst happens – say you break an ankle playing football or catch pneumonia – you submit a claim to your insurer. After the waiting period, they start sending you benefit payments.

These payments usually form a percentage of your salary (for example, 50–65%) and carry on until you’re back on your feet or until a pre-set cap (often up to retirement age). In other words, if an accident or illness costs you your job, this policy steps in to replace much of the lost income.

It won’t pay you in full (you still have to cover some shortfall), but it can make a huge difference when cash is tight. Ultimately, it’s like investing a little now to ensure you’re not left struggling financially if something bad happens.

Who ends up needing it?

You might be thinking: “This all sounds great, but do people really use it?” The honest answer is surprisingly few do, yet many who go without wish they had. Only about 14% of UK adults have any kind of income-protection policy, which means the vast majority would be on their own if illness struck.

And among those who didn’t have it, many came to regret that choice: one survey found about 29% of people said they wished they had taken out income protection earlier. In other words, many families in dire situations would have given anything to have this cover in place sooner. It’s often only in hindsight,  when bills mount and SSP runs out, that people realise how much peace of mind they gave up by skipping it.

Finding peace of mind

Peace of mind matters, especially when life takes an unexpected turn. If the thought of running out of money while you’re ill gives you a shiver, it may be worth exploring what support is out there. Best Insurance makes it simple to check whether accident or sickness cover could give you a small safety net when you need it most.

It won’t stop accidents or illnesses, but it can stop you from facing the fallout alone. Sometimes, knowing there’s even a bit of a cushion is enough to help you breathe easier. If you’re looking for reassurance, taking a moment to see what Best Insurance can offer might be a good first step toward that peace of mind.