Choosing a suitable life insurance policy isn’t always simple. You want to be sure your chosen benefit amount will be able to support your dependents should you pass away or become terminally ill, while also ensuring that you can afford the monthly premium.
Your chosen level of coverage should also be based on real and relevant calculations, as there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to Life Insurance. Research from independent consultancy group Rice Warner1 reveals that the median level of cover among Australians only covers 64% of their basic needs and 42% of the amount required to maintain their dependents’ standard of living.
In order to avoid being underinsured like this, it’s vital to understand:
- the sum insured that’s suitable for you
- the breadth of your coverage, and
- the reality of your expenses and debts.
How do I estimate my Life Insurance needs?
Understand your living costs
Comb through your budget to identify the day-to-day living costs that your loved ones will need to continue paying should anything happen to you. These expenses might include:
- rent or mortgage
- groceries
- transport and fuel
- education (consider regular school expenses as well as whether you plan to pay for your children’s tertiary education)
- entertainment and eating out
- medical (including routine appointments, regular medications and ongoing medical treatment if applicable)
- other forms of insurance (such as car, home or health insurance), and
- long-term costs such as house maintenance or vehicle upgrades.
Once you have worked out your net monthly expenses, calculate your annual total expenses. Then, think about how many years you want to cover your family for (eg, until your youngest child turns 18).
Try the AAMI Life Insurance calculator
If number-crunching isn’t your strong suit, try AAMI’s Life Insurance calculator . After generating your estimate, make sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement for the particular life insurance policy you’re looking at. Try the Life Insurance Calculator.
Understand your debts
If you have co-signed on a loan, your partner might need to continue paying off the mortgage or car loan on their own if you pass away or become terminally ill.
If you take on more debt, it may be appropriate to increase your cover. Conversely, you might want to reduce your cover as you pay down debts.
Consider optional extras
Life Insurance is a deeply personal decision. You might decide to add optional Major Illness and/or Cancer Cover to your AAMI Comprehensive Life Insurance policy, which is a lump sum payment of up to $250k that can be paid out of your total Life benefit if you’re diagnosed with a defined critical illness of a specified severity. Alternatively, you can choose to take out AAMI Comprehensive Life Insurance, without the optional cover, which offers:
- Up to $1.5 million cover (subject to eligibility criteria)
- Up to $10,000 advance payment (upon death)
- Cover until your 99th birthday