What is life insurance?

Life insurance or life assurance?

These are similar but different.

  • A life insurance policy will pay a benefit if you die during the period the policy is in force – known as the term. If you die after this term, then there’s no payment made.
  • A life assurance policy is open-ended (doesn’t have a fixed term) so provided the policy is in force at the time of death, a payment is made.  Therefore, your policy is assured to be paid.

What life insurance products do Aviva offer?

  1. Life insurance is generally taken out for family protection or where a loan is on an interest only repayment basis. The payment is made as a lump sum and Aviva offers one of the longest terms in the market, up to age 90.
  2. Mortgage protection is generally taken out with a mortgage from a lender*. The term of the policy is based on the duration of the loan and the benefit reduces year on year, generally in line with the mortgage repayments.  This suits a loan that is on a capital and interest repayment plan.  The payment is made as a lump sum and is generally payable directly to the lender* to pay off the loan. 
  3. Specified illness pays a lump sum payable on the diagnosis of one of about 65 medical conditions. 
  4. Income protection cover is payable when you are unable to work due to illness or disability and we pay a monthly benefit for the duration of the claim, up to NRA (Normal Retirement Age) or return to work.
What is Life Insurance - couple holding hands

Do I really need all four life insurance products? Which is most important?

Each product is important and offers a different type of protection for you or your family. Discussing your personal needs with a Financial Advisor will help identify which is most important to you and where your protection gaps are.

When should I consider life insurance? Is it cheaper the younger you are?

Life insurance costs are based on several factors, one of which is age.  The younger you are, generally the cheaper it is.  Everyone should have some life cover in place but how much you need will vary during your lifetime.

I have mortgage protection – why would I need life insurance?

Lots of people have mortgage cover and think they’re covered in the event of death, but that mortgage cover is usually payable directly to the lender* to pay off loans on your home. It’s important to consider how your family would cope with other debts or expenses. How would childcare be paid? Are children yet to go to college? All these costs need to be considered when establishing how much cover you actually need.

LIFE INSURANCE CLAIMS

If I have life insurance and I die, do the bank or my family get the money first?

It depends;

  • If the policy is assigned, such as to a lender*, then the payment is made to the assignee as the legal owner of the policy.
  • If there’s no assignment, and the policy is joint/dual or has a grantee than we’ll pay the surviving policy holder.
  • If there’s no assignment and the policy is a single life policy only, then we’ll pay your Personal Reps – to do this we may need for the grant of probate to be provided to ensure we pay the right person.

To find out the benefits of life insurance lump sum click here. There’s only one you, make sure to safeguard your family’s financial security.

This article is based on an interview that took place in February 2018 between interviewer Jane Kelly (Aviva Ireland Marketing Assistant) and interviewee, Jean Larkin (Aviva Ireland Underwriting and Claims Manager).

*As a requirement of the Consumer Credit Act 1995, the ownership of your mortgage protection policy will be assigned to your mortgage lender.

Life insurance from €10 per month

Ready to get cover? Talk to us today!1

For a new quote

1800 555 255

Monday to Friday: 9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.

Life insurance articles

Take a look at our library of helpful articles and news.

Contact Us

Existing Customers

1800 159 159

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 9:00a.m. - 4:00p.m.

Wednesday 10:00a.m. - 4:00p.m.

Saturday - Sunday Closed

Bank Holidays Closed

For a new quote

1800 555 255

Monday to Friday: 9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.

Saturday - Sunday Closed

Bank Holidays Closed

1. Acceptance criteria, terms and conditions apply. These monthly premiums are based on single life cover of €165,000 for a person aged 31 next birthday and a non-smoker, over a 10 year term, total amount €10.06. Source: Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland DAC as at July 2020.

Aviva Direct Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. A private company limited by shares. Registered in Ireland No 374895. Registered Office: Cherrywood Business Park, Dublin, Ireland, D18 W2P5.

Life and Protection Cover is underwritten by Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland DAC.

Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland Designated Activity Company, a private company limited by shares. Registered in Ireland No. 165970. Registered office at Building 12, Cherrywood Business Park, Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin, D18 W2P5. Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland Designated Activity Company, trading as Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland and Friends First, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Tel (01) 898 7950.