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Compare business expenses insurance products from Australian insurers. Assess coverage limits, eligible expenses, and benefit payment structures.
Business expenses insurance reimburses ongoing fixed business costs if you are unable to work due to illness or injury. Eligible costs typically include rent or lease payments, staff wages, utilities, accounting fees, professional memberships, equipment leases, and loan interest.
It is designed for self-employed people, sole traders, and small business owners whose business costs continue to run even when they personally cannot bring in revenue. Premiums are generally tax deductible because the cover relates directly to running the business.
This cover sits alongside personal income protection rather than replacing it. Income protection replaces your personal income, while business expenses cover keeps the business solvent and the doors open while you recover.
The variables to compare are the monthly benefit limit, the benefit period (commonly 12 months), the list of eligible expenses, the waiting period, and any caps on individual expense categories. Without this cover, an extended illness can force a small business owner to eat into savings, take on debt, or close the business permanently.
General Advice Only
Insure Me For Life is Authorised Representative Number 1244847 of Consilium Advice Australia Pty Ltd, Australian Financial Services Licence 246623.
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General Advice Warning
The information on this page is general in nature and does not take into account your personal financial situation, objectives, or needs. Before making any decisions, consider whether the information is appropriate for you and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). See our Financial Services Guide for more information.
How the panel insurers compare on the policy features that actually differentiate products. Drawn from the broker-facing PDS extractions. “See PDS” means we don't hold a documented value for that insurer, not that the insurer lacks the feature. The insurer's current Product Disclosure Statement is the authority in every case.
| Feature | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business expenses | |||||||||
Maximum monthly benefit Maximum monthly business expenses benefit available, before occupation-class adjustments. | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | $60,000 Maximum $60k per month combined for business expenses and income protection |
Benefit period Maximum period over which business expenses can be paid (commonly 12 months). | See PDS | 12 months Business Expenses benefit period is 12 months from the end of the Waiting Period. | one year Maximum one year but extended until 12x monthly benefit amount paid if disability continues beyond one year | ||||||
| See PDS |
| See PDS |
12 months Maximum period of 12 months for any one illness or injury. May be extended up to 12 months if amount paid is less than 12 times monthly amount insured, provided life insured is still disabled. |
| See PDS |
1-year (12 months) 12-times insured monthly benefit payable over up to 24 months |
Eligible expenses categories Categories of business expenses covered (rent, wages, utilities, professional memberships, equipment leases, etc.). | See PDS | See PDS | eligible business expenses Covers eligible business expenses actually incurred in operation of profession, business or occupation | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS |
Locum / replacement costs Covers the net cost of employing a locum or replacement worker while the insured is unable to work. | See PDS | No Net costs associated with employing a locum are covered under Business Expenses. | No Net cost of a locum (a person sourced external to the business and who is a direct replacement for you and whose gross sales, income or billings are less than the fees incurred for that locum) | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | No Business Expense Cover is for fixed business expenses only, not specifically for locum/replacement costs | See PDS | See PDS |
| Built-in benefits | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Premium Freeze Available Whether premium freeze exists | no | yes Available for Variable age-stepped premiums, minimum age 35 | yes Premium Freeze Benefit available as built-in benefit at no extra cost | See PDS | See PDS | no | yes Available for Life Cover, TPD Cover and Trauma Cover with variable age-stepped premiums. Not available for Extra Care Cover, Child Cover, Cover under SuperLink arrangements or Cover with variable premiums. | yes Available if Variable Age-Stepped Premiums and Life Insured older than age 30; premium unchanged but Benefit Amount reduces yearly | no No premium freeze option mentioned, but premium waiver option available if life insured is totally disabled |
Premium Freeze Option to freeze premiums at a certain age | See PDS | No Reduces Sum Insured to keep premium the same | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | No Premium fixed at level before policy anniversary; amount insured recalculated to amount purchasable by fixed premium. Can be activated by policy owner/life insured within 30 days of policy anniversary. | See PDS | See PDS |
Future Insurability Option Ability to increase cover without medical evidence | No Increases without further Medical Evidence feature available for Life Cover, TPD and Critical Illness Plus insurances. Can apply to increase insurance without further medical evidence if specified personal or business events happen. | No Guaranteed Future Insurability and Salary Increase Benefit allow increases in cover without medical evidence under certain circumstances. | No Can increase cover in specified circumstances without medical information | No Available until policy anniversary after age 55 for specified personal or business events | See PDS | No Future Increase Benefit allows increases without medical evidence for specified life events | No Ability to increase Life, TPD, Trauma and/or Extra Care Cover amount insured without medical evidence upon specified personal, business or policy events. Maximum increase varies by event type, subject to conditions. | See PDS | No Can increase death, TPD or trauma cover without health assessment when certain life events happen (marriage, birth, salary increase, mortgage, etc.) |
Guaranteed Renewability Policy cannot be cancelled by insurer | See PDS | No Policy cannot be cancelled by insurer except for non-payment of premiums or fraud | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | No Guaranteed to renew each year until plan expires, provided premiums paid when due. Cannot be cancelled or have restrictions placed by insurer due to changes in health, occupation or pastimes. | No Policy continues each year despite changes in health, occupation or pastimes as long as premiums are paid | No Premium rates may change but policy cannot be singled out for cancellation | See PDS |
Automatic Indexation Automatic annual increase in cover with CPI | No If Inflation Proofing applies to your insurance, then each year, on your Review Date, we'll automatically increase your sum insured to take inflation into account. | No Automatically increases Sum Insured at Policy Anniversary each year by the higher of CPI Increase and 5% | No Benefit amount automatically increased at each policy anniversary by CPI percentage increase | No Annual increase by greater of CPI or 3% | No Automatic annual increase by higher of 5% or CPI. Can be declined. | No Automatic annual increase by higher of 5% or CPI | See PDS | No Inflation Protection Benefit increases Insured Benefit Amount by Indexation Factor at each Policy anniversary unless opted out | No Cover automatically increased each year unless declined; increased by higher of 5% or CPI |
Wellness Program Access to health and wellness benefits (e.g., AIA Vitality) | No Vivo Virtual Care - Get quick and easy access to confidential support from leading health and medical experts at any time. Offered to you and your family at no extra cost when you're insured by Acenda. | No AIA Vitality program available to eligible lives insured | No Health Rewards program provides initial premium discount; discount continues or reduces based on completing requirements on policy anniversaries | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS |
| Policy changes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Increase Cover Without Medical Circumstances allowing cover increases without health checks | See PDS | yes Forward Underwriting allows you to increase your future cover if you experience specified Personal, Business or Other Events without having to provide additional information about your health. Business Safeguard Forward Underwriting allows you to increase your future cover if you experience specified Business Events without having to provide additional information about your health. | yes Future Increase Benefit allows increases in specified circumstances without medical information | See PDS | yes Future Increase Benefit allows increases without medical evidence after specified life events | See PDS | yes Available under Future Insurability for specified personal, business and policy events; Increasing Income feature for Income Secure (up to 15% annually); Increasing Expenses for Business Expense Cover; Business Guarantee Option for business insurance purposes. | See PDS | See PDS |
Decrease Cover Ability to reduce cover amount | See PDS | No You can decrease the Sum Insured and/or Insured Monthly Benefit of an eligible benefit under the Policy at any premium due date providing the reduced Sum Insured, Insured Monthly Benefit or premium are not below the appropriate minimums in force at the time of the decrease. | No Must notify in writing to reduce cover level, remove option, or change to more restrictive option | No Can request to change sum insured subject to approval | No Sum insured can be reduced | No Can decline indexation increases within 30 days of plan anniversary | See PDS | No Option to reduce cover if premiums increase, subject to minimum premiums or sum insured | No Can make changes to policy including reductions; can reject or reduce inflation protection increases |
Policy Conversion Options Convert to different policy type without medical evidence | See PDS | yes The benefits associated with certain covers held by you under a Superannuation Life Cover Plan issued to the trustee of the relevant fund can be replaced with Ordinary Life Cover Plan benefits, under a Policy issued to you, without providing any medical evidence, subject to those benefits being offered by us under an Ordinary Life Cover Plan at that time. | yes Continuation option allows replacement of cover from inside super to outside super without medical evidence | yes Can transfer cover between non-super and super policies | See PDS | yes Child Cover can be converted to Life Cover (with optional Critical Illness) without medical evidence when child turns 18 or 19 | See PDS | yes Child's Critical Illness can convert to Life Insurance with Attached Critical Illness Insurance Standard Plan via Cover Continuation Benefit | yes Can apply to convert cover to a non-superannuation policy at any time while a member or within 30 days of leaving the Zurich Plan |
Cancel Anytime Policy can be cancelled without penalty | No | No You or the trustee at your direction, as applicable, can cancel your Policy or individual benefits within the Policy at any time. | No Can cancel by notifying in writing or calling; cancellation effective from next premium instalment date | No | No Insurance cover can be cancelled by notice to the Administrator | No Policy can be cancelled by requesting cancellation | See PDS | No Policy can be cancelled at any time including due to premium increase | No Policy can be cancelled by notification, with end of cover at the end of the period premiums have been paid for |
Cooling Off Period Period to cancel policy and receive full refund | 30 days 30 days from the day on which your first Policy Schedule was issued | 30 days Full refund of premiums if cancelled within cooling-off period | 30 days Starts on the earlier of: the date you receive your policy, or five business days after your cover start date | 30 days From the earlier of: the date you receive your policy schedule; or five business days after your policy commencement date | 30 days From plan commencement date. Full refund if no claim made. | 30 days 30 days from earlier of: date plan schedule received or 5 business days after plan commencement date | 30 days Policy owner can cancel OneCare policy or any individual Cover within 30 days from the date Policy Schedule is issued | 30 days Full refund unless claim made; refund subject to preservation rules if through superannuation | See PDS |
Policy Ownership Transfer Ability to transfer policy ownership | See PDS | No If you purchased a non-superannuation Policy, you may transfer ownership of that Policy to another person or company provided that Policy does not include any Superannuation PLUS, Maximiser or Super Extras benefits. | See PDS | No Subject to relevant law including super law | No Plan ownership can be transferred to another person | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS |
| Premium structure | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Premium Indexation How premiums are indexed | CPI or 3%, whichever is greater Indexation Benefit automatically increases sum insured annually by the greater of CPI increase or 3%. Can be declined by policy owner. Premium increases accordingly. | yes The policy fee will automatically increase each year effective from 1 October by the percentage increase in the CPI | yes Premiums indexed via Indexation Benefit (CPI-based benefit amount increases) and Health Rewards program | yes Sum insured increases by greater of CPI or 3% | See PDS | CPI Indexation Benefit automatically increases sum insured annually by higher of 5% or CPI percentage increase | CPI-based Premiums indexed based on CPI weighted average of eight capital cities, 12 month period ending 31 December, applied from 1 May following year. If CPI reduces, indexation factor is zero. | optional Inflation Protection Benefit automatically increases Benefit Amount on Policy anniversary by greater of 5% and Indexation Factor. Can be removed. Policy fee increased annually by greater of Indexation Factor or 3%. | yes Inflation protection increases cover annually by higher of 5% or CPI increase, can be declined |
Payment Frequency Available payment frequencies (monthly, quarterly, annually) | See PDS | monthly, half-yearly, yearly Initial and subsequent premiums can be paid monthly, half-yearly or yearly by Mastercard, Visa Card, Diners Card and American Express or via Direct Debit from your financial institution. | monthly, annually Monthly or annual payment options available via various methods | See PDS | See PDS | Monthly or Annually 8% frequency loading applies to monthly payments | monthly, quarterly, annually Different payment frequencies available | monthly, half-yearly, quarterly, annually All premiums payable in advance | See PDS |
Premium Holiday Ability to pause premiums temporarily | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | No Suspending Cover Benefit allows suspension for up to 12 months during financial hardship | No Can suspend cover for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months due to hardship, maximum 12 months over life of cover | No Premium and Cover Suspension available for Income Secure Cover for up to 6 months (maximum 24 months over life of policy). Premium Break available for Business Expense Cover for up to 12 consecutive months. | No Premium Pause Benefit allows temporary suspension of Income Protection premiums and cover for up to 12 months | See PDS |
Premium Type Stepped or level premium structure | Stepped Variable age-stepped premium structure. Premiums recalculated each year based on age and premium rate at Review Date. | stepped, level, and optimum available Premium options include Variable age-stepped premium, Variable premium (level), and Optimum premium. Availability varies by cover type. | both available Variable age-stepped premium and variable premium available. Variable premium converts to variable age-stepped at policy anniversary after age 65 | Variable age-stepped premium | See PDS | both available Variable age-stepped premium, Variable premium to age 65 (reverts to age-stepped after 65), Variable premium to age 70 (reverts to age-stepped after 70) | variable age-stepped or variable Stepped or level premium structure available | Variable Age-Stepped Premium or Variable Premium Two premium options available | Variable age-stepped or variable premiums Policy schedule shows whether premiums are variable age-stepped or variable |
Multi-Policy Discount Discount for bundling multiple policies | See PDS | No Bundled discount and Lump Sum Bundled discount available for multiple policies meeting specified premium thresholds | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS |
Direct Debit Discount Discount for setting up automatic payments | See PDS | No No direct debit discount explicitly mentioned in this excerpt | See PDS | See PDS | No 7% frequency loading applied for monthly payments (inverse discount for annual) | See PDS | See PDS | No Premium frequency discount may apply for half yearly and annually payments | See PDS |
| General | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Insurance Company Name of the insurance provider | Nippon Life Insurance Australia and New Zealand Limited, trading as Acenda ABN 90 000 000 402, AFSL 230694 | AIA Australia Limited ABN 79 004 837 861, AFSL 230043 | ClearView Life Assurance Limited ABN 12 000 021 581, AFSL 227682 | Nippon Life Insurance Australia and New Zealand Limited Trading as Acenda | NobleOak Life Limited ABN 85 087 648 708, AFSL 247 302 | NobleOak Life Limited ABN 85 087 648 708 AFSL 247 302 | Zurich Australia Limited Trading as OnePath Life, ABN 92 000 010 195, AFSL 232510 | TAL Life Limited ABN 70 050 109 450, AFSL 237848 | Zurich Australia Limited ABN 92 000 010 195, AFSL 232510 |
Product Name Name of the insurance product | Acenda Insurance and Acenda Insurance (Super) | See PDS | See PDS | Encompass Protection | Futura Protection | NEOS Protection | See PDS | Accelerated Protection | Zurich Wealth Protection |
Annual Claims Paid Total dollar value of claims paid annually | See PDS | $2.6 billion Total claims paid in 2024 across Retail, Group and Direct insurance policy claims | $127 million Over $127 million paid in claims to 1,032 claimants in FY23 (12 months to June 2023) | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | See PDS | $4.2 billion Total claims paid by TAL Group between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 to over 50,128 customers and their families | See PDS |
Company Size Market position and scale of operations | Member of Nippon Life Group Nippon Life Insurance Australia and New Zealand Limited ABN 90 000 000 402 AFSL 230694, member of the Nippon Life Group | See PDS | ASX listed, $359 million in-force premiums, 80,000+ policyholders Listed on Australian Securities Exchange with $359 million of in-force premiums as at 31 December 2023, protecting over 80,000 policyholders with 100% Australian-based operations | See PDS | See PDS | APRA regulated life insurer NobleOak Life Limited ABN 85 087 648 708, AFSL 247 302, regulated by Australian Prudential Regulation Authority | Over 150 years heritage, part of Zurich Insurance Group, serves more than two million customers, employs more than 56,000 people worldwide, operates in over 210 markets OnePath is a leading life insurance brand with heritage of over 150 years. Part of Zurich Insurance Group, one of Australia's largest life insurers | TAL Group paid over $4.2 billion in claims to over 50,128 customers between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 Claims statistics based on total claims paid under TAL Life Limited and TAL Life Insurance Services Limited insurance products | ABN 92 000 010 195, AFSL 232510 Zurich Australia Limited with Australian Business Number and Financial Services License |