What is life insurance?

When you take out a life insurance policy, you are provided with peace of mind that your or your loved ones will be cared for financially in the event of your death. If you have dependents who rely on your income, either fully or partially, to pay household bills and other expenses, then life insurance may be right for you. Life insurance pays out a lump sum to your beneficiaries if you die or become terminally ill while covered by your policy. This lump sum can be used to cover debts, essential bills, as well as to protect and maintain your family’s lifestyle outside of the essentials. You choose the amount of cover that you need based on a variety of factors such as current income, debts, mortgage and other household expenses. To help you get an understanding of the cover you might need, get started with our life insurance calculator. It’s important to have adequate cover in place, so you can have peace of mind that your family aren’t burdened with unexpected costs should you pass away.

Why do I need life insurance and income protection?

We are often asked the difference between life insurance and income protection — is one sufficient or should you be taking out both? There are some very clear differences between the two types of insurance and one or both may be suitable depending on your personal circumstances. When you have a life insurance policy, your beneficiary (the person chosen by you to receive the benefit) will receive a lump sum payment should you die or become terminally ill. This payment can help cover funeral costs, mortgage repayments, debts and everyday expenses. It can help your family cope financially during a difficult time. Income protection insurance provides you with up to 75 percent of your income if you become unable to work due to illness or injury for an extended period of time. It provides you, and your loved ones, with peace of mind that you can still continue to cover your ongoing costs if you are not able to earn an income.

How much cover do I need?

The amount of life insurance cover you need depends on a variety of personal factors including age, income, dependents, debts and lifestyle — there is no one-size-fits-all solution. If you have too little cover your loved ones may not be adequately protected if they need to claim, and having too much can mean you are paying more than you need to in premiums. The first thing to consider are the needs of your family and dependents – how much do they need to maintain their current lifestyle and not be financially disadvantaged if you were to die or be diagnosed with a terminal illness? If you’re the main income earner, you may be covering costs such as a mortgage, other loans, school fees and everyday expenses. These costs can quickly add up and cause significant stress if your loved ones were unable to continue to make these payments in the event of your death. Your life insurance cover should not only be able to cover the immediate needs of your family but their future needs too. How much do they need to maintain their current lifestyle? You can use our life insurance calculator to get an idea of how much cover you might need and start your comparison.

How will my health affect my life insurance application?

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, it does not mean that you can’t take out life insurance. Every application for life insurance through Lifebroker is individually assessed by an underwriter to understand your cover options based on a range of factors including your current health and lifestyle. Although some people may have a pre-existing medical condition they may still be able to take out life insurance. Rather than simply declining your cover, the insurer may apply a premium loading or exclude a particular condition on your policy, so you can still have cover in place for your family. As part of your duty of disclosure, it is important that you do declare any medical conditions when applying so you don’t have any nasty surprises when you or your family need to make a claim. Before your insurance application is approved, the insurer will generally take into account a variety of personal factors including age, health, lifestyle and your health to offer the right cover, without over-promising to their clients. For more information, contact one of our insurance consultants on 13 54 33 or if you’re ready to compare life insurance, visit our comparison tool now.

Are life insurance premiums tax deductible?