Income Protection Insurance

Here you can find answers to the most common questions we’re asked about our Income Protection.

For anything else, call us on 13 77 87 or download the Income Protection Insurance Combined Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Financial Services Guide (FSG).

• What is Income Protection Insurance?

  Our Income Protection Insurance provides a payout of up 75% of your monthly income up to $10,000 per month if sickness or injury leaves you unable to work. It is a way to help replace your income and help protect yourself and your dependants from financial stress.

  You can choose how to use your payment - to help with rent or mortgage repayments, car repayments, household bills, credit card payments or even the basics like food and clothing.

  Income protection is a monthly benefit that pays up to 75% of your income while you're unable to work, and is based on your earnings prior to claim.

• How much Income Protection can I get?

  Sickness and Injury Cover insures up to 75% of your income, with a maximum payout of $10,000 per month and you can choose a benefit payout period of 6, 12, 24 months or 5 years.
  
  
  Want to know more about our Income Protection? Get a quote online or call 13 77 87 today.

• What is a Waiting Period? When would my Income Protection payouts start?

  The Waiting Period is the amount of time after a Sickness or Injury occurs that you have to wait before your payments commence. You can choose a Waiting Period of 14, 28, 60 or 90 days for Sickness and Injury claims or 14 or 28 days for the Accident Benefit Option. The longer the Waiting Period you choose, the lower the cost of your Cover. If you are off work and make a claim, you will not receive any payments for the duration of your Waiting Period. Once you’ve been continuously off work for the duration of your Waiting Period, you’ll start receiving payments a month later, as they’re paid a month in arrears. If you have a waiting period of 14 or 28 days and you have the Accident Benefit Option as part of your policy, your claim will be back dated to the date your accident or injury occurred and the waiting period will be waived. Terms and conditions apply, read the PDS for more information.
  

  
  

• What is a Payout or Benefit Period? For how long will I get Income Protection payouts?

  The Payout Period or Benefit Period is the maximum amount of time you can receive payments when you are unable to work due to Sickness or Injury. You can choose a Payout Period of 6 months or 1, 2 or 5 years. Benefit payments will continue until the Payout Period you’ve chosen runs out, or you’re able to return to work.

• Will my Income Protection premiums go up?

  Premiums generally increase with age each year at the anniversary of your insurance, or if you increase cover. Unless otherwise requested, premiums also increase each year for the automatic adjustment for inflation (your level of cover will also increase by the same percentage).
  
  Premiums will increase if we change our underlying premium rates. The underlying premium rates are not guaranteed, but once your Policy has started, you will never be singled out for a premium increase. Any increase will be applied to all policyholders to whom the same premium rate table applies, with 30 days written notice.

• If I make an Income Protection Insurance claim, how much will I get?

  Your monthly payouts are based upon either your cover amount (that you have applied for successfully), or 75% of your pre-claim monthly income – we’ll pay you whatever amount is lower.
  
  Generally, we calculate monthly income as a before-tax average over the last 12 months before you became sick or injured. If you’re self-employed, we’ll deduct business expenses to calculate this amount.
  
  We may reduce your payouts if you receive other payments while you’re not working – for example, a payout from another Income Protection policy, workers’ compensation or social security. If these extra payments plus your cover payments add up to more than 75% of your pre-claim monthly income, we’ll reduce your payouts proportionally.
  
  Remember that while your premiums are tax-deductible, your monthly payouts are assessable for tax. 

  
  

• What’s not covered in Insuranceline's Income Protection Insurance?

  Always consider how cover exclusions and restrictions may affect you if you need to claim. As with all insurance policies there are some things that are excluded:
  

  • Pregnancy: normal and uncomplicated pregnancy, childbirth or miscarriage. Normal and uncomplicated pregnancy includes, but is not limited to morning sickness, backache, varicose veins, ankle swelling, bladder problems, multiple pregnancy, or participation in an IVF or similar program. 
  • Self-harm: any intentional act of self-harm. This includes exposing yourself to risk of sickness or injury for any reason. 
  • Drug and alcohol related sickness or injury: taking intoxicating liquor (however, we will pay a claim if you are at or under the legal blood alcohol limit for driving); taking drugs (unless prescribed to you by a medical practitioner and taken in the correct dose). 
  • Overseas Travel:  No payments will be made under Income Protection if the event giving rise to the claim occurs while you are visiting a country for which the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning advice prior to your travel to that country, and which continues to be in force during the time of your stay in that country.
  • Criminal activity: any sickness or injury that occurs as a result, or during, committing or attempting to commit a criminal offence.
  • In jail or lawfully detained: any sickness or injury that occurs as a result, or during, the Life Insured being in jail or in lawful detention.
  • War and terrorism: terrorism, civil commotion or unrest; guerrilla or insurgent activities in countries outside Australia, if the Australian Government has advised you to not travel to that country; war, or an act of war. 
  • Other: any other specific exclusion agreed with you first and as listed in the Policy Schedule. 
    
    
    

  For more details about what isn’t covered, see the Combined Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) & Financial Services Guide (FSG)

• What happens if I leave information out when I apply for Income Protection?

  You must give us the information we request when you apply for Income Protection, and answer all of our questions honestly and completely. That’s because if you do make a claim, we’ll need to check your medical, employment and financial records. If it turns out you didn’t tell us something important, we may have to refuse your claim.

• When does my Income Protection cover end?

  As long as your premiums are paid when due, your Sickness, Injury and Permanent Disability cover will continue right up until the renewal date after you turn 65. On that date, your policy will end. 

• If I cancel my Income Protection policy, will I get a refund?

  When you take out Income Protection, we give you a 30 day money back guarantee - so if you cancel your policy in the first 30 days, we’ll give you a complete refund.

  After that, there are no refunds. Your policy simply gives you Income Protection Insurance cover - it is not a savings plan.

  
  

• What happens if I can’t pay my Income Protection premiums?

  If you think there will be a problem with paying your premiums because your budget has run over that month or you're unsure you'll have the money, please give us a call on 1300 880 750 at least 3 business days before your payment is due and we can help you with an alternative payment arrangement.

• Who will I be dealing with during my Income Protection claim?

  You will be given a dedicated Claims Manager whose details will be on the accompanying cover letter that we’ll send in the event of a claim. He or she will personally oversee your case and help you work through the details of your claim.

  
  You can contact your dedicated Claims Manager while you’re settling your claim. They will explain anything that is not covered here or talk through any concerns you might have.

  
  

  Want to know more about our Income Protection? Get a quote online or call 13 77 87 today.