If your life insurance premiums are becoming too high, you have options.
You never know when you’ll need to make a life insurance claim, so it’s important to maintain active cover whenever possible. Unfortunately, circumstances change, new expenses arise and it’s not always possible to keep up with premium payments.
Three readily available options to consider include:
- Freezing your premiums
- Temporarily suspending your cover
- Reducing costs in other ways e.g. switching insurers
What happens if I simply stop paying?
If your premiums go unpaid for too long, you will lose your cover. If they continue to go unpaid, your policy will be cancelled all together.
Should I just cancel my policy and look for one later on
A common mistake is to cancel your life insurance policy when the cost gets too high. If you do this, it will probably cost more to sign up again later, because you’ll be older and might not be as healthy as you were before.
The good news is that you don’t need to do this. Everyone’s financial situation will change from time to time, and insurers have several options to make sure you don’t need to cancel your cover.
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What is a premium freeze?
A premium freeze is only available with stepped premium life insurance policies, where the cost rises with age. Applying for a premium freeze is generally as easy as filling out a form and sending it to your insurer.
Things to consider
- Not all policies will include this option. If you’re interested, check whether your current policy includes it or if it’s available with new policies.
- Limited window to activate option. If your premiums have recently gone up, you may have a limited window in which to activate a premium freeze. Typically a premium freeze must be activated within 30 days of policy renewal.
How does a premium freeze work?
When frozen, your premiums will stop rising with age, for a set period of time. Typically it can last until you choose to cancel it, or make a claim or adjust your level of cover in some other way. You will still have to pay premiums but the price won’t increase with time, as long as it’s active.
What’s the downside?
- The main catch is that your cover won’t increase either, and you may become underinsured.
- Policies are often indexed for inflation, but typically won’t be for as long as your premiums are frozen.
- You might lose benefits like guaranteed future insurability depending on the policy terms and conditions.
Can I ‘unfreeze’ my policy later?
Yes. You can generally unfreeze your policy whenever you are ready, but certain conditions might unfreeze it sooner, depending on your policy. It may unfreeze when you make a claim, reach the next policy renewal date, change your sum insured or otherwise adjust your cover.
Should I freeze my premiums?
It might be the right option if your premiums are becoming unaffordable. However, there are downsides, so it’s a good idea to consider the other alternatives first.
Which insurers offer premium freezes?
Here are some of the brands on finder that offer premium freezes.
| Brands | Premium freeze | What age is this available? |
|---|---|---|
| AIA |
| 35 |
| AMP Elevate |
| Not stated |
| Asteron |
| Not stated |
| MLC |
| 30 |
| OnePath |
| Not stated |
| TAL Accelerated Protection |
| 30 |
| Zurich Wealth Protection |
| Not stated |
| ANZ |
| 12 months pause |
| NobleOak |
| Not stated |
| Virgin |
| Not stated |
| TAL Lifetime Protection |
| Not stated |
Note that premium freeze options will reduce your sum insured amount and might not be available in super policies. Data taken from brand product disclosure statements on May 2017. Benefits, conditions and amounts are subject to change at anytime.
General conditions
General conditions
- Will apply to stepped premiums
- Sum insured will reduce
- May not be available in super policies
How do I temporarily suspend my cover?
Functionally, suspending your cover is a lot like temporarily cancelling your policy, with the advantage of not actually needing to cancel it. Not all life insurance policies will include a suspended cover benefit, and where they do it may be variously known as a premium holiday, premium pause or other variation.
Key conditions to consider
- Suspended cover works differently between insurers and policies. Some may require you to provide evidence of financial hardship while others might let anyone suspend cover without condition.
- Length of suspension. Some insurers might let you suspend cover for a full year, while others will limit you to only a few months.
- Terms and conditions will apply. For example, you might be limited to only one premium suspension over the policy lifespan, and it might be restricted to no more than three months. Make sure you are familiar with all conditions before committing to this option.
How does suspended cover work?
Unlike a premium freeze which merely stops premiums from increasing, this option means you stop paying premiums entirely. The downsides are also more severe. You will typically lose all your cover, and cannot make claims for anything that occurs while your cover is suspended.
Should I suspend my cover?
This will depend on your personal circumstances. Some examples where suspending cover might be a sensible cost-saving measure include:
- If you’re between jobs
- If you’re on long-term leave
- When you’re otherwise not earning your typical income
Note: You may be left without any cover if you suspend your premiums. This step should not be undertaken lightly, and it’s a good idea to consider the alternatives first.
Other ways to reduce costs
Life insurance policies are often more complex and multifaceted than others. This can make it more difficult to navigate, but also means there are many ways to reduce costs.
- Change your premium structure. Stepped, level and hybrid premiums have very different costs over time.
- Adjust your cover. Reducing your cover also reduces your costs.
- Share a policy. You can get a “bulk discount” with joint life insurance policies.
- Get fit. It’s easier said than done, but your overall health makes a major difference to life insurance premiums
- Shop around. It’s important to be aware of the downsides of switching life insurance policies, but it may still be worth considering. Whatever life insurance policy you have, it’s still only one option among many. Compare it side by side with other policies to see if you’re getting value for money.
For more details on ways to lower your premiums, and other options to consider, try going over our guide to reducing life insurance premiums.
