What is stepped cover?
Stepped cover is the most common type of life cover with the life insurance companies we work with at LifeDirect. Stepped premiums start off lower, and increase every year as you get older, this is because there's a higher chance of you claiming your insurance every year. As a result, stepped cover will almost always offer you the cheapest premium.What is level cover?
Level cover life insurance premiums don't increase with age, instead they'll only increase if you decide to increase your amount of coverage. Level premiums will stay level for a good period of time, usually until age 65 or 80, after this they change to stepped. To get a basic understanding, here is a basic example of how stepped and level cover compare.
What should you choose?
The choice between the two comes down to the number of years you want to keep your cover. Stepped is much cheaper at the beginning (around half the cost of level cover), but because your premiums increase every year, it can get pricey.Level cover starts out much more expensive, but because your premium remains at the level you first insured for, it will be cheaper in the long run.
If you're not sure what option would work best for you, compare life insurance quotes from NZ's leading insurers with LifeDirect. Otherwise you can fill out a contact form online or give us a call on 0800 800 400 to chat with our Wellington based team.
Disclaimer: Please note that the content provided in this article is intended as an overview and as general information only. While care is taken to ensure accuracy and reliability, the information provided is subject to continuous change and may not reflect current development or address your situation. Before making any decisions based on the information provided in this article, please use your discretion and seek independent guidance.
