When reviewing your insurance, check if you’re covered through your super fund. Compare it with what’s available outside super to find the right policy for you.
Types of life insurance in super
- life cover – also called death cover. This pays a lump sum or income stream to your beneficiaries when you die or if you have a terminal illness.
- TPD insurance – pays you a benefit if you become seriously disabled and are unlikely to work again.
- income protection insurance – also called salary continuance cover. This pays you a regular income for a specified period (this could be for 2 years, 5 years or up to a certain age) if you can’t work due to temporary disability or illness.
Most super funds will automatically provide you with life cover and TPD insurance. Some will also automatically provide income protection insurance. This insurance is for a specified amount and is generally available without medical checks.
TPD insurance cover in super usually ends at age 65. Life cover usually ends at age 70. Outside of super, cover generally continues as long as you pay the premiums.
Insurance on inactive super accounts
Under the law, super funds will cancel insurance on inactive super accounts that haven’t received contributions for at least 16 months. In addition, super funds may have their own rules that require the cancellation of insurance on super accounts where balances are too low.
If you want to keep your insurance, you’ll need to tell your super fund or contribute to that super account.
- don’t have insurance through another super fund or insurer
- have a particular need for it, for example, you have children or dependents, or work in a high-risk job
Insurance will not be provided if you’re a new super fund member aged under 25, or your account balance is under $6000 unless you:
- contact your fund to request insurance through your super
- work in a dangerous job and your fund chooses to give you automatic cover – you can cancel this cover if you don’t want it.
If you already have insurance and your balance falls below $6000, you usually won’t lose your insurance as a result.
Superannuation and insurance can be complex. If you need help call your super fund or speak to a financial adviser.
Pros and cons of life insurance through super
- Cheaper premiums – Premiums are often cheaper as the super fund buys insurance policies in bulk.
- Easy to pay – insurance premiums are automatically deducted from your super balance.
Check your insurance before changing super funds. If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over age 60, you may not be able to get the cover you want.
How to check your insurance through super
Your super fund’s website will have a PDS that explains who the insurer is, details of the cover available and conditions to make a claim.
If you have more than one super account, you may be paying premiums on multiple insurance policies. This will reduce your retirement savings and you may not be able to claim on multiple policies. Consider whether you need more than one policy or whether you can get enough insurance through one super fund.
When reviewing your insurance in super, see if there are any exclusions or if you’re paying a loading on your premiums. A loading is a percentage increase on the standard premium, charged to higher risk people. For example, if you have a high-risk job, a pre-existing medical condition or you’re classified as a smoker.
If your super fund has incorrectly classified you, contact them to let them know. You could be paying more for your insurance than you need to.