1Life Insurance 2026 Review
Direct online life insurer with strong price discipline — cover up to R12 million, no medicals required up to the limit (HIV test only), entry premiums from around R200/month. Strongest HelloPeter score in the direct-insurance segment.
Max cover
R12 million
Entry premium
~R200–R500/mo
Underwriting
No medicals (HIV test only)
Premium guarantee
12 months fixed
HelloPeter
6.8/10
Application
100% online
Key features
- • Up to R12 million sum assured with simplified underwriting (HIV test only)
- • 12-month premium guarantee — rate locked for first year
- • Pure Life Plus bundles life + funeral cover (up to 28% combined premium saving)
- • Owned by Telesure Investment Holdings (OUTsurance group)
- • 100% online application, instant quote
- • HelloPeter score 6.8/10 — strongest in direct-insurance segment
Frequently asked questions
How much does 1Life cost?+
Entry premiums start from ~R200/month for low cover amounts. For meaningful R1 million cover for a 35-year-old non-smoker, expect R250-R500/month. 1Life publishes a 12-month premium guarantee — your rate is locked for the first year. Premiums then escalate annually with age. 1Life is consistently among the cheapest direct online life insurers in SA.
Are 1Life medical tests required?+
For most cover up to R12 million, no medicals are required beyond an HIV test. This is meaningfully easier than traditional advisor-led insurers (Liberty, Sanlam) which usually require full medicals at meaningful cover levels. Quote-to-cover is typically same-day online for low-medical-risk applicants.
What is 1Life Pure Life Plus?+
Pure Life Plus bundles life cover with funeral cover on a single policy, saving up to 28% on combined premium versus standalone products. Covers up to R12 million life and up to R50,000 funeral for up to 16 family or extended-family members.
Is 1Life reliable?+
Yes — 1Life is owned by Telesure Investment Holdings (same group as OUTsurance, Auto & General, Budget, King Price). FSCA-licensed under the Insurance Act. HelloPeter score of 6.8/10 is the strongest among the direct-insurance pure-plays in our sample. Industry-wide death-claim payout rate was 95.6% in 2024 — 1Life pays in line with the industry standard.
Important
This article is for general information only and is not financial advice. Figures and rules change frequently — always verify with the official source before acting.