Balancing insurance and your super
If you’re wondering whether your insurance is worth the cost, this article helps you understand the trade-off between cover today and retirement savings.
24 Apr 2026
Insurance offers protection but it comes at a cost
Insurance in super can provide valuable peace of mind, but it isn’t free.
Because insurance premiums are deducted from your super account at the end of each month, understanding your insurance premiums associated with your cover can help you protect yourself without unintentionally eroding your retirement savings.
How premiums affect your super
When premiums come out of your super:
- they don’t affect your take home pay
- they may be more tax effective than paying for insurance outside super
- they may reduce the amount available for long term investment growth.
Over many years, even small premiums can add up. That’s why it’s important to regularly check whether your level of cover still makes sense.
What is insurance erosion?
Insurance erosion describes the impact insurance premiums can have on your super balance over time.
Keeping your super in one account can help reduce this impact by avoiding duplicate insurance premiums and making it easier to manage your cover. Before consolidating your super, you should consider whether you would lose any insurance cover you would like to keep.
As a general industry guide, premiums of around 1% of salary a year are often used as a prompt to regularly review whether your insurance still suits your needs —helping you balance protection today with your retirement savings.
When higher premiums may be worthwhile
Sometimes paying higher premiums is a conscious and sensible decision.
This may be the case if you need:
- higher levels of cover to support your lifestyle or financial commitments
- higher levels of cover to support a higher income
In these situations, the extra cost may be outweighed by the protection insurance provides.
Why insurance in super can still make sense
Insurance through super can offer:
- automatic premium deductions
- competitive group pricing
- cover that’s easy to manage
- additional oversight if you make a claim (the fund trustee may review and challenge decisions on your behalf).
For many members, this makes insurance in super a practical and cost-effective option.
Things to consider before making changes
Before changing or cancelling your cover, think about:
- whether you could get the cover again later without a full insurance application
- how long you have until retirement
- whether you hold insurance in other super accounts
- your financial commitments
Before making changes, you may want to check the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Insurance Guide or consider getting financial advice.