A survey by London & Country Mortgages has found that more than 80 per cent of women are completely unaware of the forthcoming introduction of the European Gender Directive this year.
London & Country conducted an online survey of 811 women to gauge their views and awareness of the European Gender Directive.
The Directive comes into force on December 21 and will force insurers to charge men and women the same amount for cover.
Women currently pay less than men for their life and critical illness cover due to their longer life expectancy but can expect the Directive to push the cost up.
Although awareness of the Directive was low, more than 82 per cent of those surveyed anticipated the impact to be raised costs.
The exact cost implications are not yet known but it is estimated that women could see an increase of 15 per cent, potentially adding hundreds or even thousands of pounds to the total cost of a policy.
London & Country associate director David Hollingworth says: “With 36 per cent of respondents and more than 41 per cent of their partners having no cover at all, the time is right to review you and your family’s protection.”
