Important Information About Trauma Insurance
It is unfortunately possible that a sudden and unexpected incident of critical illness or serious injury can make it difficult to continue to work. Trauma insurance can help support you and your family at this time and pay for medical and rehabilitation costs.
What Trauma Insurance Covers
Trauma insurance, also called ‘critical illness’ or ‘recovery insurance’ is when a lump sum amount is paid to you in the event where you suffer a critical illness or serious injury. This can include cancer, a heart condition, stroke or major head injury. Trauma insurance does not cover mental health conditions.
What is covered under a trauma insurance policy and medical definitions can be different between insurers. To understand what's covered under a trauma insurance policy, read the (PDS).
Trauma insurance can be used to help pay for:
• out-of-pocket medical costs• living expenses for you and your family while you're unable to work
• the cost of therapy, nursing care and special transport
• changes to housing if needed
• paying back your debt, for example, a mortgage
Deciding If You Need Trauma Insurance
• How much income you and your family would need if you were unable to work for an extended period of time.
• If you have income protection insurance or total and permanent disability (TPD) insurance, these can help replace lost income. You may hold these insurances through your super fund.
• If you have private health insurance that could help pay for some medical expenses
• What support is available from your family and your friends.
If you need help with deciding if you need trauma insurance and how much you will need you should contact a financial adviser at Vault Accountants.
How to Purchase Trauma Insurance
• through a financial adviser or insurance broker
• directly from an insurance company.
You can choose to buy trauma insurance on its own or package with life cover and TPD insurance. If you buy trauma insurance packaged with life cover, your life cover could be reduced by the amount paid out on a trauma claim. To see if this applies to a policy, read the PDS or ask your insurer.
Before you decide to buy renew or switch insurance, check if the policy will cover you for claims associated with covid-19.
Trauma Insurance Premiums
• Stepped Premiums — recalculated at each policy renewal, usually increasing each year based on the higher chance of a claim as you age
• Level Premiums — charge a higher premium at the start of the policy, but changes to cost aren't based on your age so increases happen more slowly over time
Your choice of stepped or level premiums has a large impact on how much your premiums will cost now and in the future.
Compare Trauma Insurance Polices
• the critical illnesses and serious injuries covered
• exclusions
• waiting periods before you can claim
• limits on cover
• premiums – now and in the future.
A cheaper policy may have more exclusions, or it may become more expensive in the future.
What You Need to Tell Your Insurer
You need to inform your insurer about anything that could impact their decision to provide you with trauma insurance. You need to give them this information when you apply, renew or change your insurance.
• age
• job
• medical history
• family history, such as a history of disease
• lifestyle, for example, if you're a smoker
• high risk sports or hobbies, such as skydiving
If an insurer doesn't ask for your medical history, the policy might have more exclusions or narrower medical definitions.
• if they should insure you
• how much your premiums will be
• terms and conditions for your policy
