A financial safety net through your superannuation

Moneysmart
(ASIC)

More than 70% of Australians that have life insurance hold it through super. Most super funds offer life, total and permanent disability (TPD) and income protection insurance for their members.

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

Super funds typically offer three types of life insurance for their members:

• 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.

Cancellation of insurance on inactive and low balance 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.

Your super fund will contact you if your insurance is about to end.

If you want to keep your insurance, you’ll need to tell your super fund or contribute to that super account.

You may want to keep your insurance if you:

• don’t have insurance through another super fund or insurer
• have a particular need for it, for example, you have children or dependants, or work in a high-risk job

Insurance for people under 25

Insurance will not be provided if you’re a new super fund member aged under 25 unless you:

• write to your fund to request insurance through your super
• work in a dangerous job – you can cancel this cover if you don’t want it.

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

Pros

• 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.
• Fewer health checks — Most super funds will accept you for a default level of cover without health checks. This can be useful if you work in a high-risk job or have health conditions that can make it difficult to get insurance outside super. Check the product disclosure statement (PDS) to see the exclusions and treatment of pre-existing conditions.
• Increased cover — You can usually increase the amount of cover you have above the default level. But you’ll generally have to answer questions about your medical history and do a medical check.
• Tax-effective payments — Your employer’s super contributions and salary sacrifice contributions are taxed at 15%. This is lower than the marginal tax rate for most people. This can make paying for insurance through super tax-effective.

Cons

• Ends at age 65 or 70 — 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.
• Limited cover — The amount of cover you can get in super is often lower than the cover you can get outside super. Default insurance through super isn’t specific to your circumstance and some eligibility requirements may apply.
• Cover can end — If you change super funds, your contributions stop or your super account becomes inactive, your cover may end. You could end up with no insurance.
• Reduces your super balance — Insurance premiums are deducted from your super balance. This reduces your savings for retirement.

How to check your insurance through super

To find out what insurance you have in your super you can:

• call your super fund
• access your super account online
• check your super fund’s annual statement and the PDS

You’ll be able to see:

• what type of insurance you have
• how much cover you have
• how much you’re paying in premiums for the cover

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.

Making a claim on insurance in super

To make a claim for insurance through your super fund, see making a life insurance claim for more information.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Please consider whether the information is appropriate to your circumstance before acting on it and, where appropriate, seek professional advice.