Listen to the intro:
Friends, not all Mortgage Protection insurance policies are created equal.
Especially not the one your bank offers you.
And I get the appeal, I do. Buying a house, as we all know, is a pain in the hole as it involves any number of the following:
It’s no wonder you might be tempted just to say ‘feck it’ and go with your bank when they offer you a Mortgage Protection policy.
If you do, however, you’re going to lose out on MUCHO MOOLAH – and, sure look, you’ve made it this far, don’t fall for the bank’s cheap tricks.
See, banks are usually tied to one insurer – which means you’re only getting policy choices from one place. You wouldn’t shop in a supermarket that only offered one brand (Cadbury’s Mushroom Soup anyone) so don’t do it for your mortgage protection.
So, to avoid a bad case of buyer’s remorse, today I’m going to help you choose the best Mortgage Protection policy FOR YOU!
As always, the caveat applies that no two people are the same, so no two policies should be the same either. Instead, use this blog post to find out what’s important to you and go from there.
Well, this is going to be really, really obvious but: any and all policies will pay off your mortgage (to the bank) when you die.
All the insurers also have a reasonably similar batting average in that they all pay around 98% of all death claims
Which means: with all of them, once you’re insured, your mortgage will be paid off if you die. Presuming you haven’t done something silly like tell a whopping lie on your application that’ll get your claim invalidated.
I’m looking at you social smokers who pretend they don’t smoke.
Once you get past the raison d’etre (ooh la la) for Mortgage Protection, you’ll find loads of other bits tacked on although they’re not as important as the actual cover. Still, they can be pretty useful depending on your situation.
A lot of them are a bit meh: for example, the maximum term you can get. Irish Life offers a 50-year term, while the other four (Aviva, New Ireland, Royal London, and Zurich) provide a standard 40-year term. This is relevant if you’re particularly young taking out the policy, but for most of you, it isn’t a big concern.
Likewise, a minimum term length exists – ranging from two years (Aviva and Irish Life) up to five years for the others.
Another is called Maximum Age at Entry Conversion, which sounds a bit like a course you might do to get more in touch with the energies of the world, or some other bullshit.
All of this will likely seem quite confusing – and you’re probably thinking that none of it seems that important.
And honestly, for most people, you’d be right. However, there are about seven bits and pieces that are really, really worth considering.
Remember, if you go with your bank here, you’re only seeing one side of the insurer pentagon. Not to be confused with a pentagram, which is the symbol of all the young wans in black running around in fields with crystals and casting spells.
We all have that one cousin.
So without further ado…
If you’re in perfect health, you can choose any insurer.
Truthfully, I rarely see an application that doesn’t have some health condition or family history of a health issue. In that case, the most important thing is to choose the insurer that is most sympathetic to your particular situation. Forget about the bells and whistles. You need to find an insurer who will offer you cover at the lowest price with the least amount of hassle.
That’s where we come in. We’re the experts if you have a pre-existing condition.
The first thing you should do is complete this medical questionnaire so I can find you the most suitable insurer.
This little bad boy is the dirty secret of insurance. Most people end up with a joint policy, which pays out on the first death only. Dual Mortgage Protection pays out on both. That’s two payments. The bank would get the first payment to clear the mortgage; the second would go to your family.
It’s an excellent way of getting Life Insurance for cheap, basically.
You can’t buy dual mortgage protection from your bank, they’ll try to peddle a joint policy – run, ar nós an gaoithe (like the wind, for my non-Irish speaking friends, which probably includes most Irish people reading 👋)
A conversion option is fantastic.
There, I said it.
It’s great because it lets you add years to your cover without answering medical questions…which probably doesn’t really make much sense on it’s own.
So: example.
Jim is 40 and has 20 years left on his mortgage. 15 years later, he’s near the end of his term, and his mortgage is pretty much paid off. However, he’s 55 now and has a dodgy ticker.
HOWEVER, he has a conversion option, so now he can turn his MP policy into a Life Insurance policy. WITHOUT having to disclose the dodgy ticker, which would otherwise cost him a price hike.
Sound.
New Ireland, Royal London, and Zurich offer a conversion option on their mortgage protection. Aviva and Irish Life do not.
This one is important, so keep an eye on it when you’re making your decision.
For me, New Ireland is the winner here. Let’s say Jim initially took out a policy for €300k but only has €50k left. New Ireland will offer him a new plan for €300k, the others will only give him €50k.
Unless you’re older when applying. If so choose Zurich Life as they will allow you to convert your policy up to your 87th birthday no questions asked. With Royal London, you have to be under 70, and with New Ireland, you have to be under 65.
NB: You will pay a few euros more to add the conversion option (roughly 5% extra), but it’s well worth it.
Guaranteed insurability sounds fancy, but I’m going to break it down for you. It’s basically a second chance saloon in that it lets you increase your cover on special occasions without having to answer health questions.
The special occasions include:
Let’s say you’re 30 and fancy-free when you get your Mortgage Protection first time round.
Fast forward 10 years and you’ve had a kid and decided to move to a bigger house and a bigger mortgage. You’re now 40, have put on a few pounds, your cholesterol is raised as is your BP but apart from that, you’re grand!
Typically, if you reapplied for cover, you might face a loading because of those new health issues.
However, because of guaranteed insurability, you can increase your cover by up to 100 grand or 50 per cent of your original cover without having to answer health questions.
Which is pretty sweet, let’s be real.
Aviva is a little different here in that it lets you increase your cover by €40,000 only when getting a new mortgage. But they also allow you to extend the term so that it’s the same as the new mortgage. SOUND!
Guaranteed insurability is a really great way to increase your cover without having to worry about a significant price increase as you get older/start falling apart.
This is also a biggie.
Zurich will pay your premiums if you’re injured or too ill to work for more than 13 weeks.
Which isn’t a huge help if you’re only paying a tenner a month, though it could be really worth it if you’ve a hefty premium (say €150 a month). That way, you can keep your insurance and spend the €150 on something else, like food or the mortgage.
The other insurers don’t offer it.
If you’re someone who has recently been diagnosed with a medical condition, it will come in handy.
Essentially, it lets you double-check your diagnosis or the treatment you’re on. An independent medic will look into any alternatives or see what other options you have if you’re not getting better.
Plus it’s a free add-on and is available to your children, your parents, your partner and their parents.
Aviva’s Best Doctor is top of the class here:
They also have Family Care, a counselling and support system that covers short-term counselling and carer support services. If you’re someone who might benefit from either, it’s a big plus for Aviva here – so weigh that up when you’re choosing between policies and considering the costs.
Remember, it’s not just about the cost of the insurance – but about the added value of the extras too.
Royal London offers Helping Hand Benefit.
Irish Life has Medcare
Unfortunately, Zurich and New Ireland offer nada.
This one is kind of funny.
So let’s say you’ve JUST filed the papers for your insurance, but it hasn’t come through yet. You’re in insurance limbo not knowing if you’re actually covered.
And then something tragic happens.
A vat of beer in a nearby brewery explodes, and you’re swept away and perish.
(This is based on actual events. Google ‘the London Beer Flood’.)
Technically you’re not covered, but if you have Accidental Death Benefit you’re automatically covered for up to €150,000 should you die in an accident.
All the insurers offer it, except for Royal London.
If you think there’s going to be a long wait for medical reports, then this benefit is worth considering.
As a dad, I know this one is grim.
But it’s there, as a consideration.
Basically, if one of your kids were to die (I know: it’s awful!), you get a lump sum from the insurer. Zurich Life has no children’s cover, while Irish Life has up to €7,000 cover.
Basically: if you forget/can’t make a payment and your policy is then cancelled, the insurer gives you the option to pay the arrears within a certain time. If you do they’ll put you back on cover or even pay out if a death had occurred when premiums were missed.
This one is gas.
So let’s say you’re getting a mortgage with someone who you’re just not that sure about. Maybe it’s grand, but you don’t know if ‘grand’ is enough for you.
Separation Cover would let you cover your bases. Basically, if needs must, you have an out on a joint policy where you can split it into two single plans, without having to answer any medical questions.
A consideration if you don’t actually think your relationship will outlast your mortgage.
That one is on you, buckaroo.
Here the insurer agrees to clear the outstanding balance on your mortgage regardless of interest rates.
Yeah, I bet you didn’t know this was a thing you might have to worry about.
Without this guarantee, there might be a balance leftover to be paid (if your mortgage interest rate creeps above 6 per cent) before your bank officially gives your other half/family the house.
And last but not least.
I talk to a lot of people about insurance. It’s my job. For a lot of them, it comes down to price. A simple comparison of policy a vs b or c or d.
Let’s look at Jim again. He’s 40 and in decent health and wants to get €300,000 cover for the 25-year term of his mortgage.
His options, from my magical quote machine, look like this:
Except for Irish Life, there’s only a couple of euro in the difference. So this is how it falls, all in:
For my money, look out for:
A quick refresher in case you skipped all of the above!
Mortgage Protection is the type of insurance you need when you’re buying a house. It pays off your mortgage if you die.
Now, let’s start with an example to help make this real.
Jesse is 34 and buying a house with his partner. Jesse really likes CrossFit, because who doesn’t (amirite)?
His mortgage is €350,000, and he wants to pay monthly for the 30-year term of his mortgage.
Jesse doesn’t smoke (his body is a temple; I don’t know if you heard, if you haven’t, he’ll tell you soon, but he does CrossFit) and neither does his partner (they’d love to smoke but because Jesse does CrossFit – there’d be murders over smoking).
He goes to the most useful online broker and finds the following quote:
Jesse’s first thought is probably that it’s between Zurich and Royal London, and that Irish Life are robbing feckers, bleeding their customers dry of that extra €17 a month.
So does Jake take the path of least resistance and become a Zurich Lifer?
Should he?
The crucial thing to remember is that you’re not just paying for Mortgage Protection. There’s also a bunch of other stuff included. So let’s look at what the various insurers are offering for your hard-earned.
Pro-tip: you can see all this information yourself when you get a quote – simply scroll down to the comparison charts.
1. Zurich
Cost: Joint lowest premium: +1 for Zurich. They also also offer:
2. Royal London
Cost: Joint Cheapest: +1 for Royal London. They also do:
3. Aviva
Cost: High – no discounts, no price matching. You get:
Cost: Competitive. Hardly a deal-breaker. Also on offer:
5. Irish Life
Cost: Decidedly, the most expensive. -1, chaps. You also get:
With all that in mind, what you do will depend on your circumstances and any other insurance policies you might have. As you can see from this big ole list, it can get quite confusing with lots and plusses and minuses.
However, I stand by my advice: take a look at the cost first. Then look at the list of benefits and choose the ones that you think are important. Rank ‘em by most relevant. From there, scroll back up and see who comes out on top.
If you find that your brain starts to melt out of your ears, you can fill in this short form or give me a buzz on 057 93 20836, and I’ll get back to you with my thoughts!
Thanks for getting this far.
Nick
PS: This blog took AGES as it’s pretty comprehensive so PLEASE feel free to share with your friends or on your socials. TYVM!
As Ireland's leading life insurance broker, we specialise in comparing the rates and policies from the top five Irish life insurance providers and offering the very best value quotes to suit the individual needs of our clients. Our expertise lies in finding a suitable insurance plan for those with specific needs, be it a particular illness, occupation or claim history, we've got you covered in every sense!
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