Single parent families are underinsured While there has been a 35.8pc increase in households comprising unmarried couples over the past decade, only 31pc have opted for life insurance. Similarly, the number of same-sex cohabiting family units have seen a 40pc rise, yet only 23pc in total are insured in the case of death. Helen Williams, head of Sainsbury's Life Insurance said: "Worryingly, our research suggests modern family units are much less likely to protect their dependants with life insurance or critical illness cover than the traditional notion of a stereotypical family. Whatever the make-up of your family, it's important to ensure you and your dependants are financially protected. Having life insurance and critical illness cover gives you peace of mind that if you or your partner dies or cannot work due to illness, you could have one less thing to worry about at a difficult time. Jennifer Gilchrist, of Scottish Provident, reiterated the importance for those with dependants to be properly insured. "There is a very real need for individuals to look after their and their families" financial livelihood throughout their whole lives," she said. Tragically, in an age where there are regular calls for people to provide for their pension, there are many thousands of people who do not live to retirement age.