WorkWelfareWills - How can I get new Insurance or Superannuation?

9. How can I get new Insurance or Superannuation?

If you already have chronic illness, it can be difficult to get disability or death insurance cover.
If you try to take out your own insurance or super policy you will usually have to fill in a health questionnaire.
If you know you have a chronic illness, you might have to tell the insurer and they might refuse to cover you.
If you knew you had a chronic illness when you joined but didn’t tell the insurer, they might refuse to pay you.

However, it might be possible to get disability and death cover by joining a “group” super or insurance scheme e.g. with your emploment super, employer income protection insurance, union or credit union.
You might be offered automatic cover up to a certain limit without any health questions.
With some schemes you are covered for pre-existing disabilities if you haven’t had active medical treatment for say 6 months.
If you are thinking of leaving work, your employment super might offer to continue your total and permanent disability or total and temporary disability insurance even if you have a disability. You usually have to take up a continuation option within one or two months.
In some funds your insurance cover will continue if you change jobs as long as you leave enough money in the super fund to cover the insurance premiums.

If you are starting a new job, check what insurance cover is offered by the super funds you can join.
If you are considering leaving work, check whether your employment super offers an insurance continuation option or account-based on-going cover BEFORE you leave.
If you want to take out private insurance, do it through an insurance broker - don’t apply direct to insurance companies.

If you are refused insurance cover because of your chronic illness, it might be unlawful discrimination.
Discrimination complaints can be made to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission or to an industry complaints scheme.

It’s very important to know your rights before you leave work, before you start a new job or before you sign up for super or insurance.
See ' 'Who can I go to for advice and more information' fact sheet.