Seniors Life Insurance

Comparison of seniors life insurance maximum ages?

Compare the maximum entry ages of entry and expiry age.

Brands	Maximum entry age	Expiry age
AIA	75	100
AMP	74	99
Asteron	75	100
BT	69	99
Clearview	64	99
Comminsure	69	80
Macquarie (Zurich)	65	99
Metlife	79	99
MLC	70	100
NobleOak	70	85
OnePath	59	75
TAL	75	100
Zurich	69	99
Virgin	65	80

_{Ages of entry were last checked as correct in October 2016 and are subject to change. Always check the product disclosure statement (PDS).}

What types of life insurance are available to seniors?

• Life cover. Life insurance for seniors comes in the form of term life insurance. Your nominated beneficiaries will receive a lump sum payment upon your death if you die within the policy term. This means that you can leave your loved ones financially secure when you are no longer around to provide for them or take care of them.
• TPD cover. Provides a lump sum benefit for permanent or partial disablement. Definition of disablement may vary between insurers so it is important to determine when a benefit will be paid. The benefit may be used to cover everyday living expenses and costs associated with rehabilitation. This cover can be purchased as standalone cover or bundled with the life cover policy.
• Trauma insurance. Provides a lump sum benefit if the insured suffers a medical condition specified in their policy. May be especially useful for those entering their later years that are more susceptible medical events occurring. This cover can be purchased as standalone cover or bundled with the life cover policy.
• Funeral insurance. While the benefits of a life insurance policy can be used for various purposes other than paying for the funeral expenses, the payout from funeral insurance is usually used for covering the costs associated with a funeral. Most policies will allow applicants to take out between $1,000 and $30,000 in cover.
• Income protection. With an expiry age of 65, income cover will only be relevant for applicants of this age bracket. Income protection insurance provides a lump sum benefit of up to 75% of the insured's income with some policies offering up to 85% if the additional portion is contributed towards a superannuation fund.

Am I eligible for life insurance?

The maximum age that seniors can apply for cover will really depend on the type of policy that they decide to go with. This may vary between providers but generally the following rules apply.

• Life Insurance. Maximum entry age of 75 with an expiry age of 100.
• Income Protection. Maximum entry age of 60 with an expiry age of 65.
• Trauma Insurance. Maximum entry age of 64 with an expiry age of 70.
• TPD Insurance. Maximum entry age of 64 with an expiry age of 70.
• Funeral Insurance. Maximum entry age of 80 years.

How much does seniors life insurance cost?

The cost of life insurance will get more costly as you enter your later years.

Age	Monthly premium for males	Monthly premium for females
50	$234.62	$69.63
65	$666.43	$419.41
70	$1,242.05	$745.80

'Monthly premium' based on the average of monthly policy premiums available through finder.com.au's quote engine. Premiums last checked October 2016 and are are subject to change.

What factors influence the cost of a premium?

Life insurance premiums are calculated based on different risk factors a person is exposed to. An insurer will use the criteria below to determine the premium payable.

• Age. With most types of insurance, the older you are, the higher your premiums will be. When you apply for cover in your senior years, you can expect the premiums you pay will be more expensive compared to people that apply for cover when they are young. This is due to age related health risks.
• Gender. Men typically pay more in premiums than women because statistics have shown men have a lower life expectancy.
• Smoking status. If you are a smoker you will usually pay two to three times more in premiums than a non smoker. To be assessed as a non smoker for insurance purposes you will have to have stopped smoking for 12 months.
• Medical history. A standard risk means you are in generally good health, and can qualify for a lower premium, even if you have minor health issues such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. However, if you have a number of pre-existing health conditions, your premiums may be higher.
• Family medical history. Your insurer may ask details of any medical conditions of your immediate family members. This may include heart disease, cancers, diabetes, mental disorders etc
• Pastimes. Insurers may ask if you are involved in any hobbies or pastimes that may increase the likelihood of a claim.
• Occupation. If still employed, the nature of your occupation may also lead to an increase in premiums if your insurer deems it to be higher risk.

Is it possible to find cheap life insurance as a senior?

Life insurance gets more expensive the older you get. However, some key steps to find affordable cover include:

• Take the time to research what cover is actually suitable for your needs
• Determine an adequate level of cover based on your existing financial obligations
• Take steps to improve your health. Giving up smoking may lead to a reduction in premiums in the future
• Consider funding cover through your superannuation. If you already have life cover in existing super funds, consider consolidating funds to avoid paying multiple fees
• Look out for special offers and discounts offered by the insurer to cut your premium
• Consider how your premium is structure and paid to reduce the overall amount
• Receive assistance from an insurance consultant to help you find and compare different policy options

Is my pre-existing medical condition covered?

While many life insurers won't cover pre-existing medical conditions (especially for seniors) there are some exceptions. These are the common ways insurers may treat your condition:

• Provide you with cover but exclude the pre-existing medical condition
• Provide you with cover with restrictions on the condition e.g. a partial benefit
• Provide you with cover for an additional premium

What expenses can life insurance cover?

The benefit payment from a seniors life insurance benefit may be used for a number of remaining expenses. This may include:

What should you look for in a seniors life insurance policy?

Some key features to consider when looking at seniors life insurance plans include:

• Premium freeze. Insured may select to pay the same premium that was paid the previous year by reducing the sum-insured before the policy anniversary date.
• Benefit indexation. The sum insured on your policy will automatically increase each year by the consumer price index or 5% to ensure your cover keeps pace with inflation.
• Guaranteed future insurability. Enables you to increase the level of cover on your policy without undertaking another round of medical underwriting
• Interim cover. Will provide complimentary interim life cover while application is being assessed by insurer.
• Funeral advancement benefit. Will make an advance payment (usually to a maximum of about $20,000) to your nominated beneficiary to assist with funeral expenses.
• Financial planning benefit. Will provide an advance payment to cover any legal or estate planning costs.

Benefits and drawbacks of life insurance for seniors

Taking out life cover can see like just another thing to organise, when all you want to do is relax and enjoy planning your retirement. However, there are some important benefits and limitations you should consider when looking at seniors life insurance:

Life insurance at the later stages in life

Over 50

This might be the prime of your life, with a lot of professional and life experience under your belt than you had before. A lot of people start looking towards retirement in their 50s, but it’s important to remember that there’s a good chance you’re still only halfway through a long and full life. This might be the right time to really focus on powering towards your savings and retirement goals, as the more you can put away now, the more you’ll have later. The right life insurance can help keep you on target even if things go wrong.

Over 65

When you’re over 65 you’re officially a senior. You’re older, probably wiser and are most likely feeling the physical aches and pains that come with age by now. Unfortunately, these growing health issues will likely start taking up increasing amounts of your time, attention and money. It’s time to start considering how to actively use superannuation and life insurance as you move away from a constant income and towards savings.

Over 70

By now you’re either feeling the weight of years and your health is an increasing concern. By now you may want to consider estate planning in more detail, and how you plan on passing on your belongings with minimal tax impacts. Many life and related insurance policies will be expiring when you’re in your 70s. If you have been depending on benefits from these, or are expecting to rely on claims in the future then it’s wise assess your existing cover and options.

Should you get funeral insurance?

Funeral insurance can be a good choice if you're unable to apply for life insurance. Some key tips to follow when applying for funeral insurance include:

• Obtain quotes from multiple providers. Don't get ripped off. Compare a number of quotes to ensure you're getting the best deal.
• Choose a policy backed by a reliable name. Make sure you do your research into the company's before you buy your policy. Look for details such as the company's history, awards, customer service and claims process.
• Compare features and benefits of the policy. It's essential to find out what events are covered. Read the product disclosure statement (PDS) to help you decide whether the life insurance plan is suitable for you or not.
• Look for premium guarantees. Premium guarantees ensure you don't get ripped off by making sure your premiums are capped when they reach the total sum you have insured.
• Premium payment options. Find out whether your policy includes flexible repayment options.

Is funeral insurance a better choice for seniors?

In some cases yes. With guaranteed acceptance usually offered to those under the age of 80, funeral insurance may be the only option for those looking for those that have been unsuccessful in taking out life cover in the past and don't require a significant amount of cover. Most funeral insurance policies allow applicants to take out between $1,000 and $30,000 in cover.

As mentioned above one of the best things about funeral insurance for the older buyers is that you won't be refused cover even up to age 80, no matter what your health, lifestyle or gender and you can take out a joint cover with your spouse if you wish. Some insurers offer seniors two choices, an age based premium option or a fixed premium option:

• The age based option is cost effective earlier on but as you age the premium cost automatically increases. The cost can become quite substantial as you get older but as you're committed you have to persevere, or otherwise find some other way of paying your own funeral costs, which many older people can't manage. Age based premiums are automatically increased by 5% each year to keep pace with the rise in funeral expenses.
• The fixed premium option is fixed at the time of taking out the cover and it will always remain the same. It's dearer than the age based option initially but if you live on to a ripe old age it becomes cheaper in comparison to the age based option at that time.

Learn more about funeral insurance plans

Frequently asked questions

Q. Should I take out seniors life insurance even though I’m healthy?

• Even if you’re healthy you’re not immune to accidents, and no one knows what the future has in store. Therefore, it is best to take out life insurance as early as possible, when you are less of a risk to the insurer, and your premiums will be lower.

Q. What is included?

• Depending on your insurer, you can have extras such as accidental serious injury insurance, and total and permanent disability insurance, so you don’t have to die to receive a benefit payout.

Q. Who can apply?

• Generally any Australian resident who is aged between 50 and 79 can apply for a policy. In most cases you won’t need to have a blood test or a medical exam. Then, as long as you continue to pay your premiums on time, you are guaranteed to have your cover renewed each year.

Q. Am I covered everywhere?

• As seniors are more active than ever before, the chances are good that you’ll be doing some travelling in your retirement. Therefore, you will generally be covered no matter where you are in the world, as long as you remain an Australian citizen.

Q. Can I cover my family too?

• Most seniors policies will also allow you to add your partner and your children to the policy. In most cases you can cover as many dependents as you like, up until they turn 21.

Q. What will the premiums cost?

• A. Most policies will have fixed premiums, so you won’t have to pay any more as you get older. Plus, there is likely to even be a premium waiver feature, where you don’t have to pay any more premiums once you turn 90.

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