TRAUMA

Standalone or linked trauma cover? What actually changes

Trauma cover can stand on its own or link to Life Cover. The difference matters when you claim.

8

Insurers in the research

16

Product structures compared

PDS dates in the comparison: 26 Sept 2025 – 30 Sept 2026.

On this page

What linked actually means

There are two ways to buy trauma cover, also sold as critical illness insurance (because apparently one name would be too easy).

You can link it to your Life Cover or buy it on its own.

Linked cover

Shares its insured amount with your Life Cover. If the trauma cover pays, your Life Cover reduces by the amount paid.

Standalone cover

Has its own insured amount and a trauma claim doesn't impact your Life Cover at all.

So far, reasonably straightforward. Don't worry, the insurance industry makes up for that shortly.

Serious illness doesn't just affect you

Being the person doing the caring can mean missed work, hospital runs, appointments, driving, childcare and picking up all the ordinary stuff that doesn't stop just because someone is sick. I've been painfully reminded of that myself recently!

And that's without the person you're caring for being completely incapacitated.

A trauma payment can't make any of that go away. It can make it easier for people to show up - by funding time off work, paid childcare, help at home, travel, or whatever takes some pressure out of the situation.

The difference that matters

And unlike paying off the mortgage, spending money on those things doesn't reduce what your family would need if you later died.

That's where the choice between linked and standalone starts to matter.

Linked traumaStandalone trauma
Trauma has its own separate insured amountNoYes
Trauma claim reduces linked Life CoverYesNo
Generally lower costYesNo
Same insured amount can meet either the trauma or death need YesNo
Reduced Life Cover may be able to be restoredYes - depending on the product and options selectedNot required

What if I still need the Life Cover but I'm conscious of price?

Then we get to buy-back.

The idea is simple. Your trauma claim reduced your Life Cover. Buy-back lets you restore it later without going through medical underwriting again.

That's useful if you've spent the trauma payment but the financial need behind your original Life Cover hasn't gone away. And after a trauma claim, simply going out and buying replacement Life Cover may be difficult - or not possible at all.

The insurers have, naturally, managed to give this fairly simple idea a collection of different names.

Here's what actually matters.

Compare life cover buy-back

Available from 8 of 8 insurers in the comparison.

InsurerBenefitIncluded or extra?Waiting period and terms
TALDeath Buy-Back BenefitIncludedone year
Read benefit terms

Death Buy-Back Benefit Only available when Critical Illness Insurance is Attached or Linked to Life Insurance. If we pay 100% of the Critical Illness Benefit, Paralysis Support Benefit or TPD Benefit, Critical Illness Insurance will end. When this occurs, under the Death Buy-Back Benefit, you can repurchase Life Insurance on the Life Insured. The amount you can repurchase is the amount of Critical Illness Benefit paid or the Benefit Amount, in the case of the Paralysis Support Benefit. The Death Buy-Back Benefit can be exercised without having to provide evidence of health, occupation, income or pastimes, or any other Underwriting information. You must notify us in writing of your intention to exercise the Death Buy-Back Benefit during the 30 days after the 12 month anniversary of the date we were notified formally of a claim in accordance with our claim requirements (see Section 3) in relation to a claim which was subsequently paid. Any further requirements must be submitted to us within 30 days of the date we received your notification or the Death Buy-Back Benefit will expire. If payment of the claim occurs more than 12 months after the formal notification was made to us, repurchase will be available for 30 days from the date of payment. If you fail to exercise the Death Buy-Back during this 30 day period, the Death-Buy Back Benefit will expire. The Death Buy-Back Benefit will expire if not exercised before the Policy anniversary before the Life Insured’s 70th birthday. The premium for the repurchased Life Insurance will be calculated using our standard premium rates for the age of the Life Insured at the time the option is exercised and will take into account any extra premiums charged and special provisions that apply to the Life Insurance Plan for the Life Insured. The repurchased Life Insurance will not be eligible for increases under the Inflation Protection Benefit, Guaranteed Future Insurability Benefit, or Business Insurance Option (if applicable). The Death Buy-Back Benefit does not apply: * unless Critical Illness insurance is Attached or Linked to Life Insurance; or * when ‘Double Critical Illness’ or ‘Double TPD’ is shown in your Policy Schedule.

AIACrisis Recovery Buy-backOptional extra12 months after the payment of the claim
Read benefit terms

Crisis Recovery Buy-back Your optional benefit Crisis Recovery Buy-back automatically reinstates the Life Cover Sum Insured that is reduced after the payment of a full Crisis Recovery claim, a restricted benefit for the diagnosis of Prostate cancer or a Crisis Extension claim. The Life Cover Sum Insured is automatically reinstated on the date 12 months after the payment of the claim. Availability The minimum Sum Insured for Crisis Recovery Buy-back is $10,000. * Crisis Recovery Buy-back can be purchased as a Rider Benefit to: - Crisis Recovery, and - Crisis Extension when Crisis Recovery is purchased as a Rider Benefit to Life Cover (Ordinary Plan or Linked Benefit). * Crisis Recovery Buy-back cannot be purchased as a Rider Benefit to Crisis Recovery Stand Alone cover. * The Crisis Recovery Buy-back benefit is not available where your Crisis Recovery is limited to one of the three Crisis Recovery modules (i.e. Cancer and Coronary, Cancer Plus and Coronary Plus).

EncompassLife Cover Buy Back OptionOptional extra12 months
Read benefit terms

The Life Cover Buy Back Option allows you to reinstate your Life Cover sum insured by the same amount as the benefit paid under the TPD Cover or Critical Illness Cover, without you having to provide additional evidence of health, occupation or pursuits. You can apply to reinstate your Life Cover to the amount you had before your claim from the later of: * 12 months after we receive your claim form (the date the form is received by our claims department); and * 12 months after you first meet the critical illness event (or partial critical illness event) definition (the date your condition is confirmed in writing received by our claims department). This option is not available on TPD Cover if you select the Accelerated Life Cover Buy Back Option.

OnePathLife Cover Buy Back Option (Trauma)Optional extrasix months on some conditions
Read benefit terms

Life Cover Buy Back Option (Trauma) Only available if Trauma Cover is attached to Life Cover as shown on the Policy Schedule. Not available for Severity Trauma Cover, stand‑alone Trauma Cover or Trauma Cover attached to TPD Cover only. If we pay or begin to pay the full trauma amount insured for a life insured, we will reinstate Life Cover for the life insured. We will reinstate Life Cover up to the amount of the Trauma Benefit we paid or are paying. We will reinstate Life Cover Buy Back Option either: * six months after the later of the date we receive the completed claim form and the date the life insured first satisfies any of the following trauma conditions: * blindness (permanent in both eyes) * deafness (permanent in both ears) * dementia including Alzheimer’s disease (diagnosed and with cognitive impairment) * loss or paralysis of limb (permanent) * multiple sclerosis (recurrent episodes) * Parkinson’s disease (diagnosed) * Parkinson-Plus Syndrome (specified). * 12 months after the later of the date we receive your completed claim form and the date the life insured first satisfies any other trauma condition not listed above. If you do not wish for the Life Cover to be reinstated, simply let us know before the Cover is reinstated.

Acenda12-month Life Cover Buy Back Option (Available with Critical Illness Extension insurance only)Optional extraone year
Read benefit terms

12-month Life Cover Buy Back Option (Available with Critical Illness Extension insurance only) What is the benefit? When you have Life Cover with a Critical Illness Extension and you receive a benefit under the Extension, your Life Cover insurance decreases by the amount of the Critical Illness Benefit you received. The 12-month Life Cover Buy Back Option allows you to restore your Life Cover insurance (Restored Life Cover) by the same amount as the Critical Illness Benefit paid, without you having to provide additional evidence of health, occupation or pursuits. What is the cost of restoring cover? Your premium for the Restored Life Cover will be based on our premium rates at the time the Life Cover is restored, taking into account the benefit amount, your age, the premium and acceptance terms of the Life Cover (including all loadings, exclusions and special terms). When is cover restored? You can include this option when you first take out insurance. If you then receive a Critical Illness Benefit which reduces your Life Cover, you can apply to restore your Life Cover to the amount you had before your claim.

MetLifeLife Cover Buy Back Option (Trauma)Optional extra12 months
Read benefit terms

Life Cover Buy Back Option (Trauma) The option applies if shown on the Policy Schedule or any other Important Documents. This option restores your Linked Life Cover 12 months following a full or partial Linked Trauma Cover benefit payment, without the need for medical evidence. Where Life Cover and Linked Trauma Cover have been purchased, an Accidental Injury Cover definition applies to Linked Life Cover following a Linked Trauma Cover benefit payment. This definition will cease to apply 12 months following the benefit payment and then your Life Cover coverage is restored. The Life Insured must survive without the use of a life support system for at least 14 days. The Life Cover Buy Back Option (Trauma) expires on the date the Life Insured turns 75.

NeosLife Cover Buy Back OptionOptional extra1 year
Read benefit terms

Life Cover Buy Back Option This option is only available if you have Critical Illness Cover or TPD Cover, attached or linked to your Life Cover. This option allows you to reinstate your Life Cover sum insured after it has been reduced as a result of a benefit being paid on your attached, or linked, Critical Illness Cover or TPD Cover, without having to provide further evidence of medical, pastimes or occupation to us. You may apply to reinstate your attached or linked Life Cover sum insured within 30 days of the later of: * 12 months after the date we received your fully completed claim form in relation to which the full or partial Critical Illness Cover or TPD Cover sum insured is paid; or * 12 months after the date you satisfied the: * Critical Illness Event definition in respect of the Critical Illness Benefit paid; or * the TPD definition in respect of the Total and Permanent Disability Benefit paid. If your premium type is variable age-stepped, the premium for your reinstated Life Cover will be based on your age at the time of the reinstatement. If your premium type is variable, the premium for your reinstated Life Cover will be based on your age at your plan commencement date. Important things to note * Any premium loadings, exclusions or varied terms that applied to your original Life Cover, will also apply to the reinstated Life Cover. * The Indexation Benefit will apply to the reinstated Life Cover. * The Future Increase Benefit is not available under your reinstated Life Cover. * This option expires on the plan anniversary immediately after you turn 65.

ZurichBuy-back death option (trauma)Optional extra1 year
Read benefit terms

Buy-back death option (trauma) Reinstates death cover 12 months after a trauma claim. If the full trauma benefit amount is paid, death cover is reduced by the trauma claim amount. This option restores the death cover to the preclaim amount.

TAL includes the buy-back benefit. Check the cost status above when comparing the other policies.

The waiting periods shown range from 6–12 months. The shortest listed timing is OnePath: six months on some conditions. The starting date and qualifying conditions matter: read the terms alongside the headline period.

During that period your Life Cover remains reduced, so if maintaining the original amount matters to you, there's another set of options to look at.

So what if you don't want to wait?

There's an option for that too. Actually, several options, with (you guessed it) several names.

You'll see terms such as Double Trauma, Double Critical Illness and Accelerated Life Cover Buy Back.

Ignore the branding for a minute. What matters is whether your Life Cover reduces at all, how quickly it comes back if it does, and whether you keep paying premiums on it afterwards.

These options are available from 7 of 8 insurers in the comparison. Not available from: Encompass.

InsurerBenefitTiming overviewPolicy terms and limitations
TALDouble Critical Illness Option14 days — conditions apply
Read benefit terms

Double Critical Illness Option Only available if Critical Illness Insurance is Attached or Linked to Life Insurance. The Life Insured must survive a Critical Illness Event for at least 14 days to be eligible to claim under this option. If the Double Critical Illness Option is indicated in your Policy Schedule, and 100% of the Critical Illness Insurance Benefit Amount becomes payable: * the Life Insurance Benefit Amount will not be reduced; * all future premiums due in respect of that part of the Life Insurance Benefit Amount equal to the Critical Illness Insurance Benefit Amount paid will be waived; and * the Life Insurance Benefit Amount equal to the Critical Illness Insurance Benefit Amount paid will continue until the Life Insurance Plan end date The portion of Life Insurance where the premiums are waived will not be eligible for the following benefits and options: * Inflation Protection Benefit; * Guaranteed Future Insurability Benefit; * Premium Relief Option; or * Business Insurance Option (if applicable). The Double Critical Illness Option will expire on the Policy anniversary before the Life Insured’s 70th birthday

AIADouble Crisis RecoveryLife cover not reduced
Read benefit terms

Double Crisis Recovery will pay a lump sum if you are diagnosed with one or more of the Crisis Events. In addition, if a full Double Crisis Recovery benefit is payable, the Life Cover Sum Insured will not be reduced and future premiums for Life Cover will be waived until the expiry of the Double Crisis Recovery benefit.

EncompassNot available——
OnePathDouble Trauma Option8 days without life support — conditions apply
Read benefit terms

Double Trauma Option Only available where Trauma Cover is attached to Life Cover as shown on the Policy Schedule. Not available for Severity Trauma Cover, stand‑alone Trauma Cover or Trauma Cover attached to TPD Cover only. If the Double Trauma Option is selected, it replaces the Life Cover Buy Back Option. Under this option, if we pay or begin paying the full Trauma Cover amount insured for a life insured, we will reinstate once only the Life Cover amount insured that was reduced when we paid the Trauma Cover amount insured. The life insured must survive for eight days without life support after the date of diagnosis of the condition, or the date of the procedure, for which we paid the Trauma Benefit. The life insured must meet this survival period as well as any time requirement under the relevant trauma condition definition. However, we will not reinstate Life Cover under this option if any of the following apply: * we have previously paid a Terminal Illness Benefit for the life insured or the life insured is terminally ill * we have previously paid an Extended Terminal Medical Condition Benefit for the life insured * we pay or begin to pay less than 100% of the Trauma Cover amount insured or instalment amount insured. However, if we subsequently pay or begin to pay 100% of the Trauma Cover amount insured or instalment amount insured for another trauma condition, we will reinstate Life Cover up to the Trauma Cover amount insured. We will waive premiums for the reinstated Life Cover from the date we pay or begin to pay the full Trauma Cover amount insured. We waive premiums until the life insured dies. Any exclusions under the original Life Cover will apply to the new Life Cover. Indexation, Future Insurability and the Business Guarantee Option are not available under the reinstated Life Cover. This option ends at the policy anniversary when the life insured is age 65.

AcendaDouble Critical Illness Plus insurance – Life Cover Buy Back Option14 days — conditions apply
Read benefit terms

Double Critical Illness Plus insurance – Life Cover Buy Back Option What is the benefit? This option will automatically restore your Life Cover insurance (Restored Life Cover) by the same amount as the Critical Illness Benefit paid, without you having to provide additional evidence of health, occupation or pursuits. What is the cost of restoring cover? There is no cost in respect to the premium for the Restored Life Cover until the Review Date after you turn 65. The acceptance terms of the Life Cover (including all loadings, exclusions and special terms) will continue to apply to the Restored Life Cover. After the Review Date following your 65th birthday, your premium for the Restored Life Cover will be based on our premium rates at the time the Life Cover is restored, taking into account the benefit amount, your age, the premium and acceptance terms of the Life Cover. When is cover restored? If you receive your Critical Illness Benefit before the Review Date following your 65th birthday, and you live for a further 14 days, your Life Cover will be automatically restored.

MetLifeDouble Benefit (Trauma)14 days — conditions apply
Read benefit terms

Double Benefit (Trauma) • This option restores your Linked Life Cover 14 days following a Linked Trauma Cover benefit payment. Following a full Linked Trauma Cover benefit payment, Linked Life Cover is not cancelled or reduced. Instead, the cover is subject to an Accidental Injury Cover definition. This means that the benefit under Life Cover will only be payable if death is the direct result of an Accidental Injury. The Accidental Injury Cover definition will be removed 14 days following the full Linked Trauma Cover benefit payment. • We will waive future premiums for the portion of your Life Cover Amount that is restored under this option, up until you turn 65. This option can only be exercised once. Indexation, the Life Events Increases Feature and Premium Waiver Disability Option are not available on the restored Life Cover.

NeosAccelerated Life Cover Buy Back OptionCheck insurer wordingCheck the insurer's PDS for this benefit.
ZurichDouble trauma option14 days — conditions apply
Read benefit terms

Double trauma option Reinstates death cover 14 days after a trauma claim. If the full trauma benefit amount is paid, death cover is reduced by the trauma claim amount. This option restores the death cover to the preclaim amount. Premium for the reinstated death cover is waived for the remaining life of the policy.

This is where the products genuinely start doing different things. Some don't reduce the Life Cover in the first place. Some reduce it and restore it after a specified period. Some waive premiums on the corresponding Life Cover after a trauma claim.

So don't put too much weight on whether the insurer has put Double, Accelerated or something equally reassuring in the name. The mechanics are what you're buying.

What if I get sick again - can I claim trauma twice?

Potentially. But now we're talking about trauma reinstatement, which isn't the same thing as buy-back.

Buy-back puts the Life Cover back.

Reinstatement puts the trauma cover back.

Similar names. Completely different job. Insurance does love its jargon.

Reinstatement is available on attached cover from 7 of 8 insurers in the comparison. Not available from: Acenda.

InsurerAvailable on attached coverTiming overviewPolicy terms and limitations
TALAvailable12 months — conditions apply
Read benefit terms

Critical Illness Reinstatement Option If we pay a Critical Illness Benefit, Advancement Benefit, Needlestick Benefit, or Female Critical Illness Benefit, the Critical Illness Insurance Benefit Amount will reduce by the amount paid. The Critical Illness Reinstatement Option allows you to repurchase this amount of Critical Illness cover on the Life Insured. The repurchased cover will be the same type of Critical Illness cover held immediately before the claim. The Critical Illness Reinstatement Option can be exercised without having to provide evidence of health, occupation, income or pastimes, or any other Underwriting information. You must notify us in writing of your intention to exercise the Critical Illness Reinstatement Option. Notification must occur during the 30 days following the 12-month anniversary of the date we were notified formally of a claim, and in relation to a claim which was subsequently paid. Any further requirements must be submitted to us within 30 days of the date we received your notification, or the Critical Illness Reinstatement Option will expire. If payment of the claim occurs more than 12 months after the formal notification was made to us, reinstatement will be available for 30 days from the date of payment. If you fail to exercise the Critical Illness Reinstatement Option in the prescribed period, the Critical Illness Reinstatement Option will expire. The Critical Illness Reinstatement Option will expire on the Policy anniversary before the Life Insured’s 65th birthday. The premium for the reinstated Critical Illness Insurance will be calculated using our standard premium rates for the age of the Life Insured at the time the option is exercised and will take into account any extra premiums charged and special provisions that previously applied to the Critical Illness Insurance Plan for the Life Insured.

AIAAvailable12 months — conditions apply
Read benefit terms

Crisis Reinstatement automatically reinstates the Crisis Recovery Sum Insured that was reduced if a full benefit is paid for Crisis Recovery, or a restricted benefit is paid for the diagnosis of Prostate Cancer, before the Premium Expiry Date. The Reinstatement Date for Crisis Recovery purchased as a Rider Benefit for Life Cover is the date 12 months after your claim was paid. The Reinstatement Date for Crisis Recovery Stand Alone is the date 30 days after your claim was paid.

EncompassAvailable12 months — conditions apply
Read benefit terms

Critical Illness Cover Reinstatement Option. This option allows you to reinstate your Critical Illness Cover by the same amount as the Critical Illness Benefit or Partial Critical Illness Benefit paid, without you having to provide additional evidence of health, occupation or pursuits. Your cover can be reinstated 12 months after the date the Critical Illness Benefit, or Partial Critical Illness Benefit is paid. You can apply to have your Critical Illness Cover reinstated up to 30 days after this date.

OnePathAvailable6 months / 12 months — conditions apply
Read benefit terms

Trauma Cover Reinstatement Option This option only applies to Trauma Cover for a life insured if shown on the Policy Schedule. It is not available under Severity Trauma Cover. We offer Trauma Cover Reinstatement if we pay or begin paying the full Trauma or TPD Cover amount insured where the life insured’s TPD Cover is attached to Trauma Cover. The TPD Cover may also be attached to both Trauma and Life Cover. We will offer you the opportunity to reinstate the full Trauma Cover amount insured that we paid, are paying or that applied before reduction, for the life insured. In order to reinstate Life Cover and linked Trauma Cover at the same time, Life Cover Buy Back Option (Trauma) or the Double Trauma Option will need to be selected in conjunction with this option. The condition causing the TPD Cover claim must satisfy one of the Trauma Cover condition definitions. We will offer Trauma Cover Reinstatement either: * six months after the later of the date we receive your completed claim form and the date the life insured first satisfies any of the following trauma conditions: * blindness (permanent in both eyes) * deafness (permanent in both ears) * dementia including Alzheimer’s disease (diagnosed and with cognitive impairment) * loss or paralysis of limb (permanent) * multiple sclerosis (recurrent episodes) * Parkinson’s disease (diagnosed) * Parkinson-Plus Syndrome (specified). * 12 months after the later of the date we received your completed claim form and the date the life insured first satisfied any other trauma condition not listed above. We must receive your written acceptance of our offer within 30 days of the offer being made. You cannot exercise the Trauma Cover Reinstatement Option if we have either: * previously paid a Terminal Illness Benefit in respect of the life insured * we have previously paid an Extended Terminal Medical Condition Benefit for the life insured * paid or begun to pay less than 100% of the Trauma Cover amount insured or instalment amount insured. However, if we subsequently pay or begin paying 100% of the Trauma Cover amount insured or instalment amount insured for another trauma condition, you can exercise this option for the total Trauma Cover amount paid * previously paid a benefit under TPD Cover in respect of a life insured that did not relate to a defined trauma condition under this policy. The premium for the reinstated Trauma Cover will be based on the premium rates applying when you exercise this option. We will apply any loadings and exclusions that applied to the original and subsequent Trauma Covers to the reinstated Trauma Cover. The reinstated Trauma Cover will also have the same benefit payment type as the original and subsequent Trauma Covers. Indexation, Future Insurability, Premium Waiver Disability Option, Business Guarantee Option, Value Protector Option and the Double Trauma Option are not available under the reinstated Trauma Cover. We will not pay a claim under the reinstated Trauma Cover for the following: * the same trauma condition for which we paid a claim under the original or subsequent Trauma Cover(s) * the trauma condition for which we paid a claim under the TPD Cover which resulted in the Trauma Reinstatement Option being triggered

AcendaNot available——
MetLifeAvailable12 months — conditions apply
Read benefit terms

Trauma Cover Reinstatement Benefit * This option reinstates the Trauma Cover Amount after we have paid a benefit under Standard Trauma Cover without the need to provide us with any additional health or other evidence. After you have been paid your Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3 Trauma Cover Amount, your Trauma Cover remains in place and continues to provide protection for any conditions that arise as a result of Accidental Injury. Twelve months following your full or partial benefit payment, the Trauma Cover Amount is automatically reinstated without you needing to do anything (i.e. cover becomes available once again for new Trauma Conditions, and not just those arising from Accidental Injury). This means you are able to claim on your Trauma Cover multiple times over the life of your Policy and are continually provided with protection. The premium for the reinstated Trauma Cover will be based on the current premium rates that apply. Any loading or exclusion that you agreed to that applied to the original Trauma Cover will continue to be applied to the reinstated Trauma Cover. Indexation applies on the reinstated Trauma Cover Amount.

NeosAvailable6 months / 12 months — conditions apply
Read benefit terms

Critical Illness Cover Reinstatement Benefit You can reinstate your Critical Illness Cover sum insured after we pay you a Critical Illness Benefit, or Partial Critical Illness Benefit, without the need to provide medical, pastimes or occupational evidence to us. If you’ve claimed for one of the following Critical Illness Events: * dementia including Alzheimer’s disease (permanent and irreversible with severe cognitive impairment) * blindness (total and irrecoverable) * loss of hearing (profound and irrecoverable) * loss of use of limbs (total and irrecoverable) * multiple sclerosis (with multiple episodes of neurological deficit and persisting neurological abnormalities); or * Parkinson’s disease (permanent), you can apply to reinstate your cover within 30 days of the later of: * six months after the date we receive your valid Critical Illness Cover claim form; and * six months after the date you satisfied the relevant Critical Illness Event definition. If you’ve claimed for a Critical Illness Event not listed in the previous paragraph, you can apply to reinstate your cover within 30 days of the later of: * 12 months after the date we receive your valid Critical Illness Cover claim form; and * 12 months after the date you satisfied the relevant Critical Illness definition. If your premium type is variable age-stepped, your premium for the reinstated Critical Illness Cover will be based on your age at the time of the reinstatement. If your premium type is variable, your premium for the reinstated Critical Illness Cover will be based on your age at your cover start date. Any premium loadings, exclusions, limitations or varied terms that applied to your original Critical Illness Cover, as well as the Indexation Benefit, will also apply to your reinstated Critical Illness Cover.

ZurichAvailable12 months — conditions apply
Read benefit terms

Reinstates trauma cover 12 months after a full or partial trauma claim. To reinstate death cover and linked trauma cover at the same time, select the buy-back death option (trauma) or the double trauma option in conjunction with this option. This option restores the trauma cover to the pre-claim amount. Only unrelated conditions are covered after the reinstatement.

Depending on the product, reinstatement can have timing requirements, application windows and restrictions on claiming again for the same or related conditions.

So a tick beside Trauma reinstatement doesn't tell you nearly enough.

So what else is different?

Less than you might expect.

Most of the core Trauma Cover features are the same whether the cover is standalone or linked. There are, however, a handful of differences in individual products, and they run in both directions.

Linking Trauma to Life Cover gives you these features

InsurerBuy-backDouble
TAL

Death Buy-Back Benefit

View benefit

Death Buy-Back Benefit Only available when Critical Illness Insurance is Attached or Linked to Life Insurance. If we pay 100% of the Critical Illness Benefit, Paralysis Support Benefit or TPD Benefit, Critical Illness Insurance will end. When this occurs, under the Death Buy-Back Benefit, you can repurchase Life Insurance on the Life Insured. The amount you can repurchase is the amount of Critical Illness Benefit paid or the Benefit Amount, in the case of the Paralysis Support Benefit. The Death Buy-Back Benefit can be exercised without having to provide evidence of health, occupation, income or pastimes, or any other Underwriting information. You must notify us in writing of your intention to exercise the Death Buy-Back Benefit during the 30 days after the 12 month anniversary of the date we were notified formally of a claim in accordance with our claim requirements (see Section 3) in relation to a claim which was subsequently paid. Any further requirements must be submitted to us within 30 days of the date we received your notification or the Death Buy-Back Benefit will expire. If payment of the claim occurs more than 12 months after the formal notification was made to us, repurchase will be available for 30 days from the date of payment. If you fail to exercise the Death Buy-Back during this 30 day period, the Death-Buy Back Benefit will expire. The Death Buy-Back Benefit will expire if not exercised before the Policy anniversary before the Life Insured’s 70th birthday. The premium for the repurchased Life Insurance will be calculated using our standard premium rates for the age of the Life Insured at the time the option is exercised and will take into account any extra premiums charged and special provisions that apply to the Life Insurance Plan for the Life Insured. The repurchased Life Insurance will not be eligible for increases under the Inflation Protection Benefit, Guaranteed Future Insurability Benefit, or Business Insurance Option (if applicable). The Death Buy-Back Benefit does not apply: * unless Critical Illness insurance is Attached or Linked to Life Insurance; or * when ‘Double Critical Illness’ or ‘Double TPD’ is shown in your Policy Schedule.

Double Critical Illness Option

View benefit

Double Critical Illness Option Only available if Critical Illness Insurance is Attached or Linked to Life Insurance. The Life Insured must survive a Critical Illness Event for at least 14 days to be eligible to claim under this option. If the Double Critical Illness Option is indicated in your Policy Schedule, and 100% of the Critical Illness Insurance Benefit Amount becomes payable: * the Life Insurance Benefit Amount will not be reduced; * all future premiums due in respect of that part of the Life Insurance Benefit Amount equal to the Critical Illness Insurance Benefit Amount paid will be waived; and * the Life Insurance Benefit Amount equal to the Critical Illness Insurance Benefit Amount paid will continue until the Life Insurance Plan end date The portion of Life Insurance where the premiums are waived will not be eligible for the following benefits and options: * Inflation Protection Benefit; * Guaranteed Future Insurability Benefit; * Premium Relief Option; or * Business Insurance Option (if applicable). The Double Critical Illness Option will expire on the Policy anniversary before the Life Insured’s 70th birthday

AIA

Crisis Recovery Buy-back

View benefit

Crisis Recovery Buy-back Your optional benefit Crisis Recovery Buy-back automatically reinstates the Life Cover Sum Insured that is reduced after the payment of a full Crisis Recovery claim, a restricted benefit for the diagnosis of Prostate cancer or a Crisis Extension claim. The Life Cover Sum Insured is automatically reinstated on the date 12 months after the payment of the claim. Availability The minimum Sum Insured for Crisis Recovery Buy-back is $10,000. * Crisis Recovery Buy-back can be purchased as a Rider Benefit to: - Crisis Recovery, and - Crisis Extension when Crisis Recovery is purchased as a Rider Benefit to Life Cover (Ordinary Plan or Linked Benefit). * Crisis Recovery Buy-back cannot be purchased as a Rider Benefit to Crisis Recovery Stand Alone cover. * The Crisis Recovery Buy-back benefit is not available where your Crisis Recovery is limited to one of the three Crisis Recovery modules (i.e. Cancer and Coronary, Cancer Plus and Coronary Plus).

Double Crisis Recovery

View benefit

Double Crisis Recovery will pay a lump sum if you are diagnosed with one or more of the Crisis Events. In addition, if a full Double Crisis Recovery benefit is payable, the Life Cover Sum Insured will not be reduced and future premiums for Life Cover will be waived until the expiry of the Double Crisis Recovery benefit.

Encompass

Life Cover Buy Back Option

View benefit

The Life Cover Buy Back Option allows you to reinstate your Life Cover sum insured by the same amount as the benefit paid under the TPD Cover or Critical Illness Cover, without you having to provide additional evidence of health, occupation or pursuits. You can apply to reinstate your Life Cover to the amount you had before your claim from the later of: * 12 months after we receive your claim form (the date the form is received by our claims department); and * 12 months after you first meet the critical illness event (or partial critical illness event) definition (the date your condition is confirmed in writing received by our claims department). This option is not available on TPD Cover if you select the Accelerated Life Cover Buy Back Option.

Not available
OnePath

Life Cover Buy Back Option (Trauma)

View benefit

Life Cover Buy Back Option (Trauma) Only available if Trauma Cover is attached to Life Cover as shown on the Policy Schedule. Not available for Severity Trauma Cover, stand‑alone Trauma Cover or Trauma Cover attached to TPD Cover only. If we pay or begin to pay the full trauma amount insured for a life insured, we will reinstate Life Cover for the life insured. We will reinstate Life Cover up to the amount of the Trauma Benefit we paid or are paying. We will reinstate Life Cover Buy Back Option either: * six months after the later of the date we receive the completed claim form and the date the life insured first satisfies any of the following trauma conditions: * blindness (permanent in both eyes) * deafness (permanent in both ears) * dementia including Alzheimer’s disease (diagnosed and with cognitive impairment) * loss or paralysis of limb (permanent) * multiple sclerosis (recurrent episodes) * Parkinson’s disease (diagnosed) * Parkinson-Plus Syndrome (specified). * 12 months after the later of the date we receive your completed claim form and the date the life insured first satisfies any other trauma condition not listed above. If you do not wish for the Life Cover to be reinstated, simply let us know before the Cover is reinstated.

Double Trauma Option

View benefit

Double Trauma Option Only available where Trauma Cover is attached to Life Cover as shown on the Policy Schedule. Not available for Severity Trauma Cover, stand‑alone Trauma Cover or Trauma Cover attached to TPD Cover only. If the Double Trauma Option is selected, it replaces the Life Cover Buy Back Option. Under this option, if we pay or begin paying the full Trauma Cover amount insured for a life insured, we will reinstate once only the Life Cover amount insured that was reduced when we paid the Trauma Cover amount insured. The life insured must survive for eight days without life support after the date of diagnosis of the condition, or the date of the procedure, for which we paid the Trauma Benefit. The life insured must meet this survival period as well as any time requirement under the relevant trauma condition definition. However, we will not reinstate Life Cover under this option if any of the following apply: * we have previously paid a Terminal Illness Benefit for the life insured or the life insured is terminally ill * we have previously paid an Extended Terminal Medical Condition Benefit for the life insured * we pay or begin to pay less than 100% of the Trauma Cover amount insured or instalment amount insured. However, if we subsequently pay or begin to pay 100% of the Trauma Cover amount insured or instalment amount insured for another trauma condition, we will reinstate Life Cover up to the Trauma Cover amount insured. We will waive premiums for the reinstated Life Cover from the date we pay or begin to pay the full Trauma Cover amount insured. We waive premiums until the life insured dies. Any exclusions under the original Life Cover will apply to the new Life Cover. Indexation, Future Insurability and the Business Guarantee Option are not available under the reinstated Life Cover. This option ends at the policy anniversary when the life insured is age 65.

MetLife

Life Cover Buy Back Option (Trauma)

View benefit

Life Cover Buy Back Option (Trauma) The option applies if shown on the Policy Schedule or any other Important Documents. This option restores your Linked Life Cover 12 months following a full or partial Linked Trauma Cover benefit payment, without the need for medical evidence. Where Life Cover and Linked Trauma Cover have been purchased, an Accidental Injury Cover definition applies to Linked Life Cover following a Linked Trauma Cover benefit payment. This definition will cease to apply 12 months following the benefit payment and then your Life Cover coverage is restored. The Life Insured must survive without the use of a life support system for at least 14 days. The Life Cover Buy Back Option (Trauma) expires on the date the Life Insured turns 75.

Double Benefit (Trauma)

View benefit

Double Benefit (Trauma) • This option restores your Linked Life Cover 14 days following a Linked Trauma Cover benefit payment. Following a full Linked Trauma Cover benefit payment, Linked Life Cover is not cancelled or reduced. Instead, the cover is subject to an Accidental Injury Cover definition. This means that the benefit under Life Cover will only be payable if death is the direct result of an Accidental Injury. The Accidental Injury Cover definition will be removed 14 days following the full Linked Trauma Cover benefit payment. • We will waive future premiums for the portion of your Life Cover Amount that is restored under this option, up until you turn 65. This option can only be exercised once. Indexation, the Life Events Increases Feature and Premium Waiver Disability Option are not available on the restored Life Cover.

Neos

Life Cover Buy Back Option

View benefit

Life Cover Buy Back Option This option is only available if you have Critical Illness Cover or TPD Cover, attached or linked to your Life Cover. This option allows you to reinstate your Life Cover sum insured after it has been reduced as a result of a benefit being paid on your attached, or linked, Critical Illness Cover or TPD Cover, without having to provide further evidence of medical, pastimes or occupation to us. You may apply to reinstate your attached or linked Life Cover sum insured within 30 days of the later of: * 12 months after the date we received your fully completed claim form in relation to which the full or partial Critical Illness Cover or TPD Cover sum insured is paid; or * 12 months after the date you satisfied the: * Critical Illness Event definition in respect of the Critical Illness Benefit paid; or * the TPD definition in respect of the Total and Permanent Disability Benefit paid. If your premium type is variable age-stepped, the premium for your reinstated Life Cover will be based on your age at the time of the reinstatement. If your premium type is variable, the premium for your reinstated Life Cover will be based on your age at your plan commencement date. Important things to note * Any premium loadings, exclusions or varied terms that applied to your original Life Cover, will also apply to the reinstated Life Cover. * The Indexation Benefit will apply to the reinstated Life Cover. * The Future Increase Benefit is not available under your reinstated Life Cover. * This option expires on the plan anniversary immediately after you turn 65.

Accelerated Life Cover Buy Back Option

Zurich

Buy-back death option (trauma)

View benefit

Buy-back death option (trauma) Reinstates death cover 12 months after a trauma claim. If the full trauma benefit amount is paid, death cover is reduced by the trauma claim amount. This option restores the death cover to the preclaim amount.

Double trauma option

View benefit

Double trauma option Reinstates death cover 14 days after a trauma claim. If the full trauma benefit amount is paid, death cover is reduced by the trauma claim amount. This option restores the death cover to the preclaim amount. Premium for the reinstated death cover is waived for the remaining life of the policy.

These features are available standalone but change or disappear when linked

InsurerBenefitStandalone
AIATrauma death benefit
View benefit

Maximum benefit: $5,000

EncompassTrauma death benefit
View benefit

Maximum benefit: $5,000

OnePathTrauma cover conversion options
View benefit

Life Cover Purchase Option (Trauma) Only available with stand-alone Trauma Cover and Trauma Cover with attached TPD Cover, if shown on the Policy Schedule. Not available for Severity Trauma Cover or Trauma Cover attached to Life Cover. If we pay or begin paying the full Trauma Cover amount insured for a life insured, we will offer you the opportunity to purchase Life Cover for the life insured. You can purchase Life Cover up to the amount of the Trauma Benefit we paid or are paying. We will offer Life Cover Purchase either: * six months after the later of the date we received your completed claim form and the date the life insured first satisfied any of the following trauma conditions: * blindness (permanent in both eyes) * deafness (permanent in both ears) * dementia including Alzheimer’s disease (diagnosed and with cognitive impairment) * loss or paralysis of limb (permanent) * multiple sclerosis (recurrent episodes) * Parkinson’s disease (diagnosed) * Parkinson-Plus Syndrome (specified). * 12 months after the later of the date we received your completed claim form and the date the life insured first satisfied any other trauma condition not listed above. We must receive your written acceptance of the offer within 30 days of the offer being made. You can only exercise this option once. You cannot exercise the Life Cover Purchase Option if either: * we have previously paid a Terminal Illness Benefit for the life insured * we have previously paid an Extended Terminal Medical Condition Benefit for the life insured * we have paid or begun to pay less than 100% of the Trauma Cover amount insured or instalment amount insured. However, if we subsequently pay or begin to pay 100% of the Trauma Cover amount insured or instalment amount insured for another trauma condition, you can exercise this option for the total Trauma Benefit paid. The premium for the new Life Cover will be based on the premium rates applying when you exercise this option. Where relevant, any loadings and exclusions under the original Trauma Cover will apply to the new Life Cover. The new Life Cover will also have the same benefit payment type that applied to the original Trauma Cover. Future Insurability, Serious Disability Premium Waiver, Premium Waiver Disability Option and the Business Guarantee Option are not available under the new Life Cover.

ZurichTrauma death benefit
View benefit

Maximum benefit: $5,000

ZurichTrauma other optional benefits
View benefit

Buy-back TPD option This option reinstates the TPD benefit after we pay the trauma benefit. We’ll reinstate the TPD benefit to the pre-claim amount over three years if the: * trauma definition is met before the policy anniversary when the life insured is 65 * life insured is working full time in their usual occupation * trauma condition occurs more than 90 days after the option starts if the option is added after the policy start date. The TPD benefit can’t be reinstated if it is reduced after we pay a partial trauma benefit. The three-year reinstatement works like this: * 1/3 of the trauma benefit amount is reinstated as TPD benefit 12 months after we pay the trauma benefit, if the life insured has returned to full-time work in their usual occupation for at least six continuous months * a further 1/3 of the trauma benefit amount is reinstated as TPD benefit 24 months after we pay the trauma benefit, if the life insured has returned to full-time work in their usual occupation for at least 18 continuous months * the final 1/3 of the trauma benefit amount is reinstated as TPD benefit 36 months after we pay the trauma benefit if the life insured has returned to full-time work in their usual occupation for at least 30 continuous months. We’ll contact you to confirm the life insured is working ahead of the relevant dates. You can tell us then if you don’t want the cover to be reinstated. Or you can choose to reduce the proportion of TPD cover reinstated each year. Under this option, ‘usual occupation’ means the occupation the life insured spent the most time working in during the 12 months before sickness or injury. However, a different definition applies if the life insured has been unemployed or on long service or parental leave for more than 12 consecutive months immediately before the sickness or injury. In this case, usual occupation is any occupation they are reasonably suited for by education, training, or experience. After the TPD benefit is reinstated, you can’t: * make a claim under the reinstated TPD benefit for an event which is the same as, or is related to, the event that we paid the trauma benefit for * increase the reinstated cover using the future insurability feature Not available Not available

The useful question isn't whether linked or standalone has the longer feature list. It's whether changing the structure changes something you actually care about.

These are differences between the named products below. Product tiers and options matter as well as structure. Products with an unconfirmed tier match are excluded from this comparison.

What's the same whichever way you buy it?

Some things aren't worth spending your Sunday afternoon comparing PDSs over.

Where our product data shows a feature is genuinely consistent across all the products being compared, we'll say so.

Survival period

InsurerBenefit wording
TAL

If Critical Illness Insurance is not Attached or Linked to Life Insurance, no benefits will be paid under Critical Illness Insurance unless the Life Insured survives the Critical Illness Event for at least 14 days.

AIA

Survival period You must survive for a period of 14 days from the date of suffering the Injury or Sickness that caused your Crisis Event.

Encompass

you survive for at least 14 days from when you first suffer the critical illness event.

OnePath

If the life insured has stand-alone Trauma Cover, Trauma Cover attached to TPD Cover or SuperLink Trauma with TPD – the life insured survives without life support for eight days after the date the trauma condition is met. The life insured must meet both the survival period and any time requirement of the trauma condition definition while their Trauma Cover is in force.

Acenda

14 Days

MetLife

Survival period The following exclusion applies to Standalone Trauma Cover and associated Individual Extras. We won’t pay any benefits if the Life Insured suffers a Trauma Condition but does not survive for at least 14 days from the date they first meet the definition of the Trauma Condition.

Neos

14 days

Zurich

14 days

Exclusions

Exclusions by insurer and structure
InsurerScopeBenefit wording
TALPolicy wording
Read exclusions

When we will not pay No payments will be made under any included or optional benefits (if applicable) if the claim arises directly or indirectly because of an intentional, self- inflicted act by the Life Insured. If Critical Illness Insurance is Attached or Linked to Life Insurance, the Critical Illness Benefit will not be paid if you are also eligible for the Terminal Illness Benefit under Life Insurance.

AIAPolicy wording
Read exclusions

Exclusions Any crisis event or disablement, directly or indirectly, wholly or partially, caused by intentional self-inflicted injury or any such attempt by the life insured. An event directly or indirectly caused by intentional self inflicted injury or any such attempt by the life insured.

EncompassPolicy wording
Read exclusions

We won’t pay any benefit under Critical Illness Cover arising from or contributed to by: intentional self-inflicted injury or attempted suicide, or sickness or injury that first appeared, happened or was diagnosed, and which you were aware of or a reasonable person in your circumstances could be expected to have been aware of, before your cover started, or was last reinstated (unless disclosed to and accepted by us as part of the application or reinstatement process). We won’t pay any benefit under the Critical Illness Death Benefit arising from or contributed to by suicide or attempted suicide within 13 months after the Critical Illness Cover: started, or was last reinstated.

OnePathPolicy wording
Read exclusions

Trauma Cover 1. We will not pay any benefit under Trauma Cover for a trauma condition which arises as a result of the life insured’s intentional act or omission. 2. We will not provide, or pay any benefit under, Trauma Cover for HIV (occupationally acquired) or HIV (medically acquired) if a medical ‘cure’ is found for AIDS or the effects of HIV. ‘Cure’ means any Australian Government approved treatment, which renders HIV inactive and non-infectious. 3. We will also not provide, or pay any benefit under, Trauma Cover for HIV (occupationally acquired) or HIV (medically acquired) if a medical treatment is developed that prevents AIDS occurring. 4. We will not pay any benefit under the Limited Death benefit if, as a result of the life insured’s intentional act, the life insured dies during the first 13 months from the Cover start date for Trauma Cover.

AcendaPolicy wording
Read exclusions

Critical Illness – When won’t a benefit be paid? We won’t pay a benefit or partial benefit for any critical condition arising from or contributed to by: * intentional self-inflicted injury or attempted suicide, or * sickness or injury that first appeared, happened or was diagnosed, and which you were aware of or a reasonable person in your circumstances could be expected to have been aware of, before your insurance started, or was last reinstated (unless disclosed to and accepted by us as part of the application or reinstatement process). For stand-alone Critical Illness insurance, you won’t receive the death benefit of $5,000 if you die by suicide within 13 months after this insurance started, or was last reinstated*.

MetLifePolicy wording
Read exclusions

Trauma Cover (including Extra Cost Options and Extras Cover) Exclusions The below exclusions apply to Trauma Cover and associated Extra Cost Options, Individual Extras and Family Extras cover, as specified. Survival Period We will not pay any benefits under Standalone Trauma Cover and Linked Trauma Cover (including associated Trauma Plus Extras) if the Life Insured does not survive for at least 14 days after the date they first meet the definition of the relevant Trauma Condition. No-Claim Period (Trauma Cover) The following exclusion applies to Trauma Cover and associated Individual Extras, in relation to any Trauma Conditions which fall into the below Trauma Categories, or any Related Conditions: * Cancer Conditions; * Heart Conditions; and * Neurological Conditions. No benefits are payable for any such Trauma Conditions for which the symptoms, Diagnosis, treatment or surgery occurred prior to the end of the No-Claim Period. The No-Claim Period runs for 90 days from Cover Commencement (or Reinstatement of cover or when increasing cover and only to the increased portion of the cover). If this Policy is replacing similar existing cover (held with MetLife or another insurer), we will reduce the No-Claim Period which otherwise applies for an equivalent amount of cover as that which is being replaced. We will reduce your No-Claim Period by the number of complete days in which your previous cover was continuously in force immediately before your Cover Commencement, or for the full exclusion period, whichever is less. Note, that there must be continuity of cover between your previous policy ending and the Cover Commencement under this Policy. Multiple Trauma Cover claims - impact of claim order and cause of claim The following exclusion applies to Trauma Cover and associated Individual Extras. If a benefit is paid for a Trauma Condition, and we are notified of a subsequent claim for a Trauma Condition with a Claim Event Date that precedes the date of the aforementioned benefit payment, any benefit payable under the second claim will be no greater than the amount that would otherwise be payable, had the claims been notified and paid in the Claim Event Date order of occurrence. If you are claiming for two or more Trauma Conditions which have occurred as a result of one single event, occurrence, or incidence, we will pay you for the Trauma Condition which offers the greatest benefit payment. Accidental Injury Cover definition following Linked Trauma Cover benefit payment The following exclusion applies to Life Cover and associated Buy/Sell Extras (only applies if the Life Cover Buy Back Option (Trauma) or Double Benefit Option (Trauma) is purchased with Standard Trauma Cover). An Accidental Injury Cover definition will apply following a benefit payment under Linked Trauma Cover (including associated Extra Cost Options and/or Extras Cover), which means that benefits will only be payable for events that arise as a direct result of an Accidental Injury. The portion of Life Cover impacted by this limitation will directly correspond with the Linked Trauma Cover Amount paid. The Accidental Injury Cover definition remains in place for 12 months from the date we paid the benefit under Linked Trauma Cover (or associated Extra Cost Options and/or Extras Cover) provided the Policy includes the Life Cover Buy Back Option (Trauma) and the Accidental Injury Cover definition remains in place for 14 days provided the Policy includes Double Benefit Option (Trauma).

NeosPolicy wording
Read exclusions

Exclusions We’ll not pay any benefit under Critical Illness Cover: * if the event giving rise to the claim is caused or contributed to by: * anything that is specifically excluded on your plan schedule; or * any intentional, self-inflicted injury or attempted suicide. * if you don’t survive for at least 14 days following the Critical Illness Event * for any illness or injury that occurred before the Critical Illness Cover commencement date of which you were aware or someone in your position could have been expected to be aware. This doesn’t include an illness or injury you disclosed to us and we accepted; and * for Critical Illness Events subject to the 90-day qualifying period – unless we’ve waived the qualifying period – if the event first occurred, was diagnosed, or symptoms leading to the event occurred, were diagnosed or first became apparent, within the 90- days immediately following: * the Critical Illness Cover commencement date * an increase in your Critical Illness Cover sum insured (but only in respect of the increased amount with the exception of any increase in cover as a result of the Indexation Benefit); and * the date your cover is last reinstated. When your Critical Illness Cover has been reinstated through the Critical Illness Reinstatement Benefit, we’ll not pay a claim for certain Critical Illness Events. We’ll not pay any benefit under your Critical Illness Cover following the plan anniversary immediately after you turn 70 for any Critical Illness Event except for loss of independent existence (permanent and irreversible).

ZurichPolicy wording
Read exclusions

Exclusions under trauma cover We won’t pay the trauma benefit if the trauma condition is caused by either of the following: * directly or indirectly by an intentional self-inflicted act or attempted suicide * any event or medical condition specified as an exclusion on the policy schedule. A 90-day elimination period applies to some trauma conditions. Some insured trauma conditions have a 90-day elimination period. The start of the elimination period can vary: New cover For new trauma cover applications, the elimination period starts on the benefit start date for that cover. We won’t ever pay a claim for those trauma conditions if during the elimination period either of the following happens: * the condition occurs or is apparent. ‘Apparent’ means the life insured is aware of symptoms or a diagnosis relating to the condition * surgery for the conditions is recommended to the life insured. Cover increases For cover increases, the elimination period starts on the benefit start date of any increase in trauma benefit, and only applies to the increase portion of the cover. We won’t ever pay a claim for those trauma conditions if during the elimination period, either of the following happens: * the condition occurs or is apparent. ‘Apparent’ means the life insured is aware of symptoms or a diagnosis relating to the condition * surgery for the condition is recommended to the life insured. Reinstated cover or cover suspension When there is a break in cover and the policy re-starts, the elimination period starts from the date the policy is reinstated or, if after cover suspension, from the cover suspension end date. We won’t ever pay a claim for those trauma conditions if during the elimination period, either of the following happens: * the condition occurs or is apparent. ‘Apparent’ means the life insured is aware of symptoms or a diagnosis relating to the condition * surgery for the condition is recommended to the life insured. In all circumstances, we won’t pay a benefit for any trauma condition that is directly or indirectly related to a condition that we won’t pay a claim for in the elimination period. For example, where loss of independence is caused by stroke (of specified severity) that occurs in the 90-day elimination period. We won’t apply the 90-day elimination period if immediately before the trauma benefit started, the life insured held cover for the same trauma condition with us or another insurer for more than 90 days, and we replaced it. We’ll only waive the elimination period on the amount of trauma cover we replaced. This waiver can also apply to any increases in the trauma benefit that meet the same criteria.

Financial planning benefit

InsurerBenefit wording
TAL

The maximum benefit available: $5,000

AIA

The maximum benefit available: $5,000

Encompass

The maximum benefit available: $5,000

OnePath

The maximum benefit available: $3,000

Acenda

The maximum benefit available: $5,000

MetLife

The maximum benefit available: $5,000

Neos

The maximum benefit available: $3,000

Zurich

The maximum benefit available: $6,000

Qualifying life events for future increases

Qualifying life events for future increases by insurer and structure
InsurerScopeBenefit wording
TALStandalone and linked
Read qualifying life events for future increases

Includes birth or adoption of a child; Includes child starting school; Includes child starting secondary education; Includes marriage; Includes divorce; Includes an increase in salary; Includes the completion of a degree by the life insured; Includes taking out or increasing a mortgage; Includes life insured becoming a carer; Includes a change in tax dependency

AIAStandalone
Read qualifying life events for future increases

Not available

AIAAttached
Read qualifying life events for future increases

Includes birth or adoption of a child; Includes child starting secondary education; Includes child starting tertiary education; Includes marriage; Includes the first anniversary of marriage; Includes de facto relationships; Includes divorce; Includes the first anniversary of divorce; Includes the separation of a de facto relationship; Includes the death of a spouse; Includes an increase in salary; Includes the completion of a degree by the life insured; Includes taking out or increasing a mortgage; Includes life insured becoming a carer

EncompassStandalone and linked
Read qualifying life events for future increases

Includes birth or adoption of a child; Includes child starting secondary education; Includes marriage; Includes de facto relationships; Includes divorce; Includes the separation of a de facto relationship; Includes an increase in salary; Includes the completion of a degree by the life insured; Includes taking out or increasing a mortgage

OnePathStandalone and linked
Read qualifying life events for future increases

Includes birth or adoption of a child; Includes child starting secondary education; Includes marriage; Includes divorce; Includes the death of a spouse; Includes an increase in salary; Includes the completion of a degree by the life insured; Includes taking out or increasing a mortgage; Includes life insured becoming a carer; Includes the option of an increase on some policy anniversary

AcendaStandalone and linked
Read qualifying life events for future increases

Includes birth or adoption of a child; Includes child starting secondary education; Includes marriage; Includes divorce; Includes an increase in salary; Includes the completion of a degree by the life insured; Includes taking out or increasing a mortgage

MetLifeStandalone
Read qualifying life events for future increases

Not available

MetLifeAttached
Read qualifying life events for future increases

Includes birth or adoption of a child; Includes child starting school; Includes marriage; Includes de facto relationships; Includes the death of a spouse; Includes an increase in salary; Includes the completion of a degree by the life insured; Includes taking out or increasing a mortgage; Includes life insured becoming a carer

NeosStandalone and linked
Read qualifying life events for future increases

Includes birth or adoption of a child; Includes child starting school; Includes marriage; Includes de facto relationships; Includes divorce; Includes the separation of a de facto relationship; Includes the death of a spouse; Includes an increase in salary; Includes the completion of a degree by the life insured; Includes taking out or increasing a mortgage; Includes life insured becoming a carer; Includes the option of an increase on some policy anniversary

ZurichStandalone and linked
Read qualifying life events for future increases

Includes birth or adoption of a child; Includes child starting secondary education; Includes marriage; Includes de facto relationships; Includes divorce; Includes the separation of a de facto relationship; Includes the death of a spouse; Includes an increase in salary; Includes taking out or increasing a mortgage; Includes life insured becoming a carer

Fewer things for you to research.

What does the choice actually cost?

This is where the argument gets considerably less theoretical.

Compare standalone, attached and attached-with-buy-back quotes using the same Life Cover baseline. Add your details below to see the premiums returned for each structure.

Gender
Smoker?
Use the same life cover amount for each structure, at least equal to your trauma cover.

We think linked + buy-back belongs in this comparison. Comparing bare linked cover with standalone tells you the maximum price difference. It doesn't necessarily tell you the cost difference between two structures that leave you with similar options after a claim.

Run your own numbers rather than taking anyone's word for it - including ours.

Read the trauma insurance cost guide →

So, linked or standalone?

Forget the jargon. Start with what the trauma money is there to do.

If you're using it to wipe out something like the mortgage, reducing your Life Cover by the same amount may make perfect sense. That financial need has already been dealt with.

If you're expecting the trauma money to fund treatment, recovery, time away from work, caring, childcare and the general upheaval that comes with serious illness, spending that money doesn't necessarily make your family's need for Life Cover any smaller.

And there's a middle ground.

Linked cover with buy-back or one of the faster Double/Accelerated options can give you the cost advantages of linking while providing a way to preserve or restore Life Cover after a claim.

There isn't a clever answer hiding somewhere on page 84 of a PDS.

Work out what you need the trauma money to do first.

Then ask whether you need to be able to spend that money twice.

This is general information and does not take account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and consider whether the cover is appropriate for you.

How we compare

Structured product research derived from insurer Product Disclosure Statements. The PDS dates in this comparison span 26 Sept 2025 – 30 Sept 2026. Check each product's terms and options before choosing cover.

Products and PDS dates used in the comparison
InsurerStructure and productPDS dateDocuments
TALStandalone - Critical Illness Insurance Standard - TPD12 Dec 2025
TALAttached - Life Insurance - TPD - Critical Illness Standard12 Dec 2025
AIAStandalone - Crisis Recovery Stand Alone Plan - TPD31 Aug 2026
AIAAttached - Life Cover Plan - TPD - Crisis Recovery31 Aug 2026
EncompassStandalone - Critical Illness Cover26 Sept 2025
EncompassAttached - Life Cover - TPD - Critical Illness Cover26 Sept 2025
OnePathStandalone - Trauma Cover Comprehensive - TPD28 Mar 2026
OnePathAttached - Life Cover - TPD - Trauma Comprehensive28 Mar 2026
AcendaStandalone - Critical Illness Plus11 Apr 2026
AcendaAttached - Life Cover - TPD - Critical Illness Standard11 Apr 2026
MetLifeStandalone - Trauma Cover Standalone16 Nov 2025
MetLifeAttached - Life Cover - TPD - Trauma16 Nov 2025
NeosStandalone - Critical Illness Cover30 Sept 2026
NeosAttached - Life Cover - TPD - Critical Illness Cover30 Sept 2026
ZurichStandalone - Protection Plus Trauma without Term - TPD1 Nov 2025
ZurichAttached - Protection Plus - TPD - Trauma1 Nov 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy trauma insurance without life insurance?

Yes. Standalone trauma insurance has its own sum insured and does not need to be attached to a life insurance policy. Product eligibility and policy terms still apply.

Does a trauma claim reduce my life insurance?

With linked cover, a trauma payout generally reduces the linked life sum insured by the amount paid. A preservation or restoration benefit may change this. A standalone trauma claim does not reduce a separate life policy.

What is a life cover buy-back?

A buy-back benefit lets you restore life cover reduced by a trauma claim without new medical underwriting, subject to the policy's conditions. Check whether it is included or optional and when you must apply.

How long before my life cover is restored after a trauma claim?

The timing depends on your insurer and the benefit selected. Check the buy-back waiting period, survival requirements and application window in the Product Disclosure Statement. Do not assume restoration is immediate or automatic.

Is standalone trauma insurance more expensive?

Standalone trauma cover generally costs more than linked cover because a trauma payout does not reduce separate life cover. Compare quotes for the same benefits and include any optional buy-back premium in the linked price.

Is trauma insurance the same as critical illness insurance?

Trauma insurance is also sold as critical illness insurance. Both describe cover that pays for specified serious medical conditions, subject to the policy definitions. The name alone does not tell you which conditions are covered.

Understand the structure. Then compare the cover.

Explore trauma insurance premiums and policy options for your circumstances.