Whole Life Insurance in Australia

Whole life insurance was popular in the '70s and '80s in Australia and commonly used as a way to save for retirement.

But when compulsory superannuation was introduced in the '90s, insurers stopped offering this type of cover.

You may still hear the term being thrown about, which is why you've probably ended up on this page if you've been searching for anything to do with whole life insurance.

Let's take a look at what this type of life insurance offered and what type of similar insurance is available today.

What was whole life insurance?

Whole life insurance did what its name suggests - it covered people for their entire lives.

It was also known as permanent whole life insurance or cash value life insurance and was similar to universal life insurance in America.

Before the introduction of compulsory superannuation in 1992, many people used their whole life to save for retirement.

They'd give up their policy when they retired to access its cash value. If the policyholder passed away, their beneficiaries would get a payout.

How did a whole life policy work?

Whole life insurance paid a death benefit, but also had a savings component called the "cash value".

This could be invested, withdrawn or borrowed against.

To get hold of the cash, you'd need to request a withdrawal of funds or a loan.

Loans that were unpaid reduced the death benefit by whatever was still outstanding to pay, while withdrawals reduced the cash value but not the death benefit.

Why is whole life insurance no longer available in Australia?

Confidence in these types of policies was already beginning to dwindle even before 1992.

Inflation had impacted the benefit amounts that were paid out and increased living costs meant the overall payout stopped being enough for a comfortable retirement.

In 1992, super was made compulsory to ensure all Aussie workers had enough money for their retirement.

That change to life savings meant many life insurers began to offer a more affordable alternative called term life insurance.

Will whole life insurance ever come back?

It's unlikely. At this stage, there are no plans to re-introduce this type of insurance back into the Australian market.

What are the alternatives?

You can get life insurance through your superannuation or you can buy a standalone term insurance policy.

Term life insurance, also known as life cover, death cover or simply life insurance, will be familiar to many Aussies.

It pays a lump sum to your beneficiaries if you die or get diagnosed with a terminal illness, and generally offers a larger death benefit than the life insurance most of us have through our super funds.

It can get a bit complex but there's a number of reasons why people may choose to buy term life cover.

• Life insurance through your super is often one-size-fits-all and can have a lot of exclusions.

• Standalone term policies often offer more comprehensive cover.

• Standalone policies are paid out-of-pocket, not through retirement savings.

• Payouts through super funds have to meet the fund's conditions of release.

There are also three other types of life insurance that can be purchased with term cover or as standalone policies:

• Trauma cover, which gives you a lump sum for injuries or illnesses like cancer or heart attacks.

• Total and permanent disability cover (TPD), which pays a lump sum if you can't work again because of permanent illness, injury or disability.

• Income protection, which pays up to 70% of your usual income if illness or injury means you can't work.

What's the difference between whole and term life insurance?

There's quite a few differences between the two, which you can see in the table below.

What's the difference between whole and term life insurance?

How long should I take out life insurance for?

It's important to find the sweet spot for a term length that means you can still afford your premiums while making sure your family won't be financially burdened when you're gone.

If you're a new parent, for example, you probably want a policy that covers the amount of time your child will be financially dependent on you.

That can be anywhere from 20 to 30 years.

New homeowners, on the other hand, might want to consider a 30-year term, since that's likely how long your mortgage will last for.

What should I do if I still have whole life insurance?

If you took out a policy before 1992, you can continue to be on it as long as you keep paying your premiums.

Your other options are to cancel the policy and take the cash value or keep the death benefit for a shorter period.

If you'd like to switch to term life insurance, we're here to help you compare insurers and find a price that fits your budget.

How much does life insurance cost?

The level of cover you need and how much your premiums are really depend on your circumstances and what stage of life you're at.

Before pinning down a benefit amount, have a think about what costs your family may need to cover if you're no longer around.

These could include mortgage repayments, school fees, loan repayments and funeral costs.

You should take stock of your current finances, too.

The more debt and expenses you have, the more cover you'll probably need.

Where can I buy alternatives to whole life insurance?

That's an easy one -- through Compare Club. We'll help you compare your life insurance options from our panel of trusted insurers.

While whole life insurance was popular for its investment and cash value benefits, today's alternative of term life insurance is much more affordable, plus it gives you the reassurance of knowing your family will be looked after when you're gone.

Compare and buy term life insurance with us and you'll also have the reassurance of knowing you're on the best deal available.

Matthew Lang is the general manager of life insurance at Compare Club. Matthew leads a team of dedicated professionals who are passionate about helping individuals and families make informed decisions about their life insurance needs. Whether it's finding the right coverage for your specific circumstances, comparing policies, or optimizing your existing policy, Matthew and his team are here to provide expert guidance and support.

Meet our life insurance expert, Matthew Lang

Matthew's top life insurance tips

• 1

  Identify what you want out of life insurance before you buy. Knowing the purpose of your life cover will help you choose a policy that meets your needs.

• 2

  It's easy to assume that the sole purpose of life cover is to leave money behind for your family, but there's more to it than that.

• 3

  Life insurers like those on our panel pay an average of 97% of claims in full.

• 4

  There are different types of life insurance, including term life insurance, income protection, trauma cover and total and permanent disability cover.