Be sure you are comparing like with like when getting insurance quotes. Companies are getting very clever with the terminology ie lifetime cover is probably not the same thing as true cover for life.

Cover for life (eg Petplan) means they will continue to pay for treatment for a condition for as long as you continue to pay the premiums.

Lifetime cover usually means they will continue to cover a condition up to a set amount. Once this ceiling has been reached they will no longer cover the condition and you won't get cover elsewhere. Depending on the level of cover you have chosen it may be as much as £7000 but when it's gone it's gone.

Some companies still sell straight term insurance. It will be the cheapest quote because they will not continue to cover a condition beyond the term of the policy (12 months). At the end of the year, when your policy is due for renewal they will exclude any existing condition.