What Are the Different Types of Life Insurance?

This is the basic cover under a policy that pays out a lump-sum benefit to your family when you pass away.

The process usually starts by getting approved by an insurer and then setting your benefit amount (how much you want your family to receive).

Some insurers offer specific benefits that can be helpful for those of us over the age of 50. That includes being able to take out cover from a later age or even having a simple application process without having to undergo any medical tests. Depending on your personal circumstances, you may find these types of policies are more relevant to you and easier to take out cover. Read more about life insurance for seniors.

Policies with terminal illness cover will pay you a lump-sum benefit if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness with 12 months or less to live. However, every insurer is likely to have their own specific definition and terms around a terminal illness.

This benefit can help you organise any final expenses you would expect your family to have, such as a funeral or estate fees. It can also be used to pay for any palliative care that you might need in order to live comfortably and pain-free.

Direct life insurance is any life insurance policy that you can purchase on your own, directly from the insurer, without using a third-party agent or broker. You can simply call the insurer yourself, discuss your options, and set up a policy over the phone. 

Buying life insurance directly means you need to do your own research to find the right policy. However, don’t be discouraged – you don’t need to be a financial expert to do this. If you have access to a computer and internet connection (which most of us do), you can easily find plenty of resources and policy types to choose from. Find out more about direct life insurance here.

This is most commonly referred to as group life insurance. Your employer or super fund will provide this policy and include it as part of your benefits. However, it’s important to remember that group life insurance isn’t tailored to your personal needs or budget, so it’s important to check what you are covered for under this type of policy.

In some cases, with life insurance through your super fund, the fund can claim their payments on tax, and, depending on how your contributions are funded, this may come from your pre-tax income.However, the downside is that any payouts or benefits received from your group life insurance policy may be taxed in some cases, particularly if you have not yet reached your retirement age under superannuation law.  

Although income protection insurance is a completely different type of cover, it’s often referred to as part of the life insurance market. This type of policy is designed to temporarily replace your income if you couldn’t work due to an injury or illness.

If you and your family still rely on a stable income every month, then income protection insurance may be worth considering. This can help you stay on top of your everyday finances while you recover. However, many policies only offer cover to new customers up to age 60, and cover may expire at (or before) age 65.

If you don’t rely on a monthly income to meet your expenses, if you have retired, or if you have enough savings to cover your living costs if you are unable to work, then you might want to consider life insurance for peace of mind your family can cover the expenses if you were to pass away.