“From December 2012 the EU Gender Directive will mean that women must pay the same as mend for life cover – an increase of up to 15%*”
So the advice is, apply now before the rates go up!
*HMRC Consultation Document, December 2011: UK response to the 1 March European Court of Justice ruling that insurance benefits and premiums after 21 December 2012 should be gender-neutral.