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Compare income protection insurance from major Australian providers. Evaluate waiting periods, benefit periods, and how the monthly benefit is calculated.
Income protection insurance replaces up to 70% of your pre-disability income with monthly payments if you cannot work due to illness or injury. Unlike a one-off lump sum, it provides ongoing cash flow so you can keep paying the mortgage, rent, bills, and family expenses while you focus on recovery.
Premiums for cover held outside super are generally tax deductible (consult your tax adviser for your specific situation). That makes income protection one of the more cost-effective forms of personal insurance for self-employed and contract workers.
The key variables to compare are the waiting period (commonly 30, 60, or 90 days before benefits start; some insurers document 14-day options on certain cover types, and others use week-based waiting periods from 4 weeks), the benefit period (2 years, 5 years, to age 65, or to age 70), and how the indemnity benefit is calculated at claim time (all new retail policies are indemnity; APRA ended agreed value contracts for new business from 31 March 2020). Other features include partial-disability payments, rehabilitation support, return-to-work assistance, and how each insurer treats mental-health and pre-existing conditions in their underwriting and claims practice.
This page is a factual side-by-side comparison, not a personalised recommendation. The right structure depends on your occupation, income stability, existing employer sick leave, and how much premium you want to pay.
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 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income protection | |||||||||
Income replacement ratio Maximum percentage of pre-disability income paid as the monthly benefit, typically 70%. | See PDS | 70% 70% of pre-disability income for first 24 months, reducing to 60% thereafter for certain benefit periods | See PDS | See PDS | 70% 70% of first $25,000 per month, 50% of next $16,667, 20% of remainder | See PDS | 70% Maximum percentage of pre-disability income paid as monthly benefit | 70% 70% of first $25,000 per month ($300,000 per annum) of Pre-Claim Earnings; 50% of next $16,666 per month ($200,000 per annum); 20% of remainder | 70% Maximum 70% of first $300k annual income, 50% of next $200k, 25% of balance |
Agreed value option available Agreed value income protection (closed to new business since APRA October 2021 reforms; legacy policies only). | |||||||||
No Only available when replacing existing Agreed Value Income Protection cover from AIA Australia for administrative reasons |
| See PDS |
| See PDS |
| See PDS |
| See PDS |
| See PDS |
| See PDS |
No Policy provides indemnity cover only |
Indemnity value available Indemnity value income protection — benefit is calculated against income at time of claim. | See PDS | No Income Protection CORE is available on an Indemnity basis only. Standard Income Protection also offers Indemnity and Extended Indemnity options. | See PDS | No Benefit based on pre-disability earnings at time of claim | See PDS | No Income Support Cover calculates benefit based on pre-disability income at time of claim | No Income Secure Protection and Income Secure Protection Super use indemnity value - benefit calculated against income at time of claim | No Benefit calculated against Pre-Claim Earnings at time of claim | No Benefit based on income at time of claim, adjusted for other payments and income received |
Partial disability benefit Pays a proportional benefit if the life insured can return to work in a reduced capacity rather than total disability. | See PDS | No Available under Income Protection CORE and Income Protection plans | No Partial benefits payable if working in reduced capacity; calculated proportionally based on earnings reduction | See PDS | No Pays proportional benefit if able to return to work in reduced capacity | No Pays portion of monthly benefit if partially disabled and working in suitable work for no more than 80% of regular work hours | No Pays proportional benefit if life insured can work in reduced capacity or restricted capacity in primary occupation (or any gainful occupation after 2 years on claim for to age 65 benefit period) | See PDS | See PDS |
Rehabilitation / return-to-work support Funded rehabilitation, retraining, or return-to-work services beyond the monthly benefit. | See PDS | No Rehabilitation Expenses Benefit reimburses costs up to 12 times the Insured Monthly Benefit for approved rehabilitation programs, equipment, and modifications. | No Recovery Support by paying the cost to third-party providers of rehabilitation, equipment, re-skilling or re-training | See PDS | No Rehabilitation Benefit pays costs of approved rehabilitation programs and equipment up to 12 times monthly sum insured | No Rehabilitation Benefit pays costs of approved rehabilitation program and equipment, maximum 12 times sum insured | No Rehabilitation and retraining support provided at no cost under Income Secure Cover | No Work Assistance Benefit reimburses cost of approved Rehabilitation Program up to 12 times Benefit Amount at start of Waiting Period | See PDS |
Waiting period options List of waiting period options before benefit payments commence. | 14 days, 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 180 days, 1 year, 2 years | 14 Days (A1, A2, M, A3, A4, B1, B2, C1, C2), 30 Days, 60 Days, 90 Days, 1 Year, 2 Years | 14 days, 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 1 year, 2 years | See PDS | 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 13 weeks, 2 years | 4, 8, 13, 26 weeks or 2 years | See PDS | 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 13 weeks, 26 weeks | 14 days, 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 180 days, 1 year, 2 years |
Benefit period options List of benefit period options (e.g., 2 years, 5 years, to age 65). | 2 years, 5 years, To age 65 | 2 Years, 5 Years, To Age 65 | 2 years, 5 years, To age 65, To age 70 | See PDS | 2 years, 5 years, To age 65 | 2 years, 5 years, to age 65 | See PDS | 1 year, 2 year, 5 year, to age 65 Maximum Benefit Period shown in Policy Schedule | 2 years, 5 years, To age 65 |
| 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 |
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 |
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 |