Critical Illness

Important Update

We’re pleased to advise that the Federal Court of Australia has confirmed the transfer of Integrity Life Australia Limited's retail life insurance business to AIA Australia under Part 9 of the Life Insurance Act 1995 (Cth) is now complete. Please note that the contents of this website remain relevant to your new AIA Priority Protection policy and any changes you might experience due to the transfer, effective 1 March 2025.

Proposed changes to your cover

If you hold Cover under Integrity’s Here For You Policy (Integrity policy), your benefit cover amount will be transferred to an AIA Priority Protection Policy (AIA policy) when your policy is transferred, or 'migrated', from Integrity to AIA under the Scheme.
 
Subject to confirmation by the Federal Court of Australia, the retail life insurance business of Integrity Life Australia Limited (Integrity) will transfer to AIA Australia Limited (AIA) by way of a Scheme under Part 9 of the Life Insurance Act 1995 (Cth).
 
AIA Priority Protection Policy is a comparable product to your transferring Integrity policy. AIAA and ILAL have sought to minimise the extent of the changes to the cover provided by carefully mapping the existing insurance benefits of your policy to AIA policy insurance benefits.
 
If the Scheme transfer goes ahead, you will receive similar coverage and features under your new AIA Priority Protection policy. However, there are some differences in coverage between the two policies, and we recommend you read the AIA Priority Protection Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) in full to understand your new policy's terms.
 

Summary of key differences

To help you better understand the changes that will occur to your cover (assuming the Scheme is confirmed by the Court), please read the below summary of key differences between your Integrity Critical Illness cover and the AIA Priority Protection Crisis Recovery Cover.
 
This is a summary only. If you have any questions in relation to changes to your cover, you can contact us on 1800 333 613 between 9am and 5pm (AEST/AEDT), Monday to Friday or, via email at au.customer@aia.com

Integrity – Here For You
 
The expiry age for Critical Illness Cover is your 75th Birthday.
 
AIA – Priority Protection
 
The expiry age for Crisis Recovery Cover is the AIA policy’s last anniversary before you turn 70, at which time, Crisis Recovery cover converts to a Loss of Independence until the policy’s anniversary before you turn 100. This does not apply if you have Crisis Recovery Standalone or if you are in occupation class E. 

Integrity – Here For You
 
The minimum sum insured amount is $30,000 and maximum is $2 million for Critical Illness cover.
 
AIA – Priority Protection
 
The Minimum Sum insured amount is $10,000 and maximum is $2 million for all occupation class excluding home duties which has a maximum of $1 million for Crisis Recovery Cover.

Integrity – Here For You
 
Terminal Illness and Death Benefits are not included within the Critical Illness cover.
 
AIA – Priority Protection
 
The AIA policy gives you access to the Terminal Illness and Death benefit, where;
  • The terminal Illness benefit will pay you a lump sum payment equal to the sum insured for the Crisis Recovery sum insured as long as you meet the 3-month qualifying period (this is outlined in the AIA Priority Protection PDS AIA Priority Protection – Version 29 12/05/2024
  • If you pass away and no benefit is payable for a Crisis event, the Death Benefit will pay you the lesser of the Crisis Recovery sum insured or $5,000.

The below comparison table sets out the conditions that are covered under your Integrity – Here For You policy, and whether or not there is similar coverage under the AIA Priority Protection policy.
 
Please note that the dark shaded cells with no text indicate that a condition is not covered under either your Integrity – Here For You policy or your AIA Priority Protection policy, as relevant.
 
Please note that there are conditions that are covered under the Integrity – Here For You policy that are not covered by the AIA policy.
 
This type of cover pays a lump sum for specified conditions such as cancer, heart attack and stroke. These conditions are medically defined in the PDS, and a benefit is only payable if you meet the precise meaning of the condition. Even though the name of the condition may be similar between the two policies, the definitions may be different. It is important to read the AIA Priority Protection PDS to fully understand the differences.
Categories AIA - Priority Protection - Effective 04 May 2024 Here for you - Effective 30 January 2023
Cancer Events Cancer1 (including sarcoma, lymphoma, leukaemia, and other malignant bone marrow disorders) Cancer^ – excluding early-stage cancers
Carcinoma in situ (limited to certain bodily sites)1,2 Breast carcinoma in situ (with specified treatment)^
Carcinoma in situ (specified)^ - Partial Payment (Extra Medical Conditions - Paid Optional extra)
Skin Cancer1,2 Melanoma (early stage)^ - Partial Payment (Extra Medical Conditions - Paid Optional extra)
Prostate Cancer1 Prostate Cancer (early stage)^ - Partial Payment (Extra Medical Conditions - Paid Optional extra)
  Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia – Rai Stage 0^ - Partial Payment (Extra Medical Conditions - Paid Optional extra)
Coronary Events Cardiac Arrest Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest^
Cardiomyopathy with permanent and serious impairment Cardiomyopathy – severe and permanent
Coronary Artery Angioplasty1,2 Coronary Artery Angioplasty^*
Coronary Artery Angioplasty – Triple Vessel^
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery1 Heart Bypass Surgery (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery)^
Heart Attack1 Heart Attack^
Heart Valve Surgery1 Repair or Replacement of a Heart Valve
Open Heart Surgery
Other Serious Coronary Artery Disease1  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (Primary) with serious functional impairment1,3 Pulmonary arterial hypertension (idiopathic or familial) of specified severity
Stroke (acute) with serious functional impairment1 Stroke – excluding transient ischemia attacks and other events^
Subdural Haematoma (acute and subacute) requiring surgical intervention1  
Surgery to the Aorta1 Open Surgery to the Thoracic or Abdominal Aorta (excluding its branches)
Other Serious Crisis Events Accidental HIV Infection1 Medically Acquired HIV
Occupationally Acquired HIV
Alzheimer’s Disease with significant cognitive impairment3  
Aplastic Anaemia Aplastic anaemia – chronic bone marrow failure requiring specified treatment
Bacterial Meningitis with serious functional impairment3  
Benign Brain or Spinal Cord Tumour with serious functional impairment1,2 - Partial Payment Benign Tumour of the Brain or Spinal Cord (excluding pituitary gland tumours) – with severe permanent neurological Impairment or requiring specified treatment
Blindness3 Blindness in Both Eyes (total and permanent, best corrected)
Blindness in One Eye (total and permanent, best corrected)^ - Partial Payment (Extra Medical Conditions - Paid Optional extra)
Coma Coma - with specified severity and requiring mechanical ventilation
Dementia3 Dementia, including Alzheimer’s Disease
End Stage Kidney Failure3 End stage chronic kidney failure – requiring regular renal dialysis or kidney transplantation
End Stage Liver Failure3 End stage chronic liver failure
End Stage Lung Failure3 End stage lung disease – requiring long term oxygen therapy
Intensive Care Intensive Care – requiring specified treatment
Loss of Hearing3 Deafness in Both Ears (total and permanent, best corrected) – Including requiring cochlear implant
Deafness in One Ear (total and permanent, best corrected^ - Partial Payment (Extra Medical Conditions - Paid Optional extra)
Loss of Independence3 Loss of Independent Existence – permanent and irreversible
Loss of Use of Limbs and/or Sight2,3 Total and Permanent Loss of Limb/s or Sight
Loss of Speech (complete and irrecoverable)3 Loss of Speech (total and permanent)
Major Burns of specified severity Severe Burns to the Skin – of specified severity or requiring specific treatment
Major Head Trauma with serious functional impairment Major Head Trauma – resulting in permanent and significant neurological impairment
Major Organ Transplant1,3 Major Organ Transplant – specified organs or being on a transplant waiting list
Motor Neurone Disease3 Motor Neurone Disease
Multiple Sclerosis3 Multiple Sclerosis – with specified severity
Muscular Dystrophy3 Muscular Dystrophy
Paralysis (total and permanent)3 Paralysis (total and permanent) – specified
Parkinson’s Disease3 Severe Parkinson’s Disease
Pneumonectomy Pneumonectomy – complete removal of one lung due to lung disease or disorder
Severe Diabetes1,3 Advanced Diabetes – with at least two complications of specified severity
Type 1 diabetes complications – with at least two complications of specified severity^ - Partial Payment (Extra Medical Conditions - Paid Optional extra)
Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis (failed conventional DMARDs)2,3 Severe rheumatoid arthritis – with specified treatment
Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis (failed conventional DMARDs and one bDMARD)3  
Terminal Illness (Stand Alone only)1  
Viral Encephalitis with serious functional impairment Encephalitis – with significant permanent neurological impairment
  Severe cognitive loss (total and permanent) – requiring permanent caregiver
  Invasive Meningococcal Disease – of specified severity
  Occupationally Acquired Hepatitis B or C Virus
  Hydatidiform Mole - requiring surgical removal^ - Partial Payment (Extra Medical Conditions - Paid Optional extra)
  Premature (early onset) osteoporosis – severe with bone fracture^ - Partial Payment (Extra Medical Conditions - Paid Optional extra)
  Total and Permanent Loss of Use of One Specified Limb^ - Partial Payment (Extra Medical Conditions - Paid Optional extra)
  Colostomy/Ileostomy (permanent and irreversible)^ - Partial Payment (Extra Medical Conditions - Paid Optional extra)
  Severe Crohn’s Disease - requiring permanent immunosuppressant or biologic medication^ - Partial Payment (Extra Medical Conditions - Paid Optional extra)
  Severe Ulcerative Colitis - requiring permanent immunosuppressant or biologic medication^ - Partial Payment (Extra Medical Conditions - Paid Optional extra)
Notes: Integrity – Here For You policy
 
^A 90-day qualifying period applies for the Medical Conditions.
 
*In the case of Coronary Artery Angioplasty, Integrity – Here For You will pay 25% of the Critical Illness Cover Amount up to maximum of $50,000. If 25% of the insured amount is less than $10,000, Integrity – Here For You will increase the amount payable to $10,000.
 
You may make multiple claims for Coronary Artery Angioplasty until the full Cover Amount for the Critical Illness Cover on the Life Insured has been paid. If a payment reduces the remaining Critical Illness Cover Amount for the Life Insured below $10,000, Integrity – Here For You will also pay the remaining Cover Amount.
 
Notes: AIA policy – Priority Protection
 
1Qualifying period applies (see below).
2Partial payments apply, refer to Partial Benefit Payments in this section or go to Section 12.2 Medical Definitions in the AIA PDS AIA Priority Protection – Version 29 12/05/2024
3This Event is considered a Progressive Event.

Integrity – Here For You
 
Under your Integrity – Here For You policy, if you had selected either the Reset or Relapse option you would have had the following conditions:
 
Reset: allows you to reinstate the Critical Illness cover that has been paid in full after 12 months without the further medical evidence. There are restrictions on the conditions you can claim for under the reinstated cover.
 
Relapse: allows you to reinstate the Critical Illness cover that has been paid in full after 12 months without the further medical evidence and allows you to claim against a medical condition you have previously claimed against if the specific medical condition is listed under:
  • Heart and vessels conditions, or
  • Cancer and tumours conditions
You can claim up to 100% for an unrelated condition and up to 10% for a related “cancer and tumours” or “heart and vessels” condition.
 
If you had a Critical Illness Standalone policy with either the Relapse or Reset option, your cover would have been reinstated after 12 months.
 
Under the Reset or Relapse option the Critical Illness cover can only be reinstated once. There are restrictions on the conditions you can claim for under the reinstated cover.
 
AIA – Priority Protection
 
Under your AIA policy, you will be provided the Crisis Recovery Reinstatement option if you hold at time of transfer Integrity’s reset or relapse option which allows you to claim against the policy twice for different conditions. For example, if you make a claim against cancer, the cover will then reinstate 12 months after the claim payment, and you would be able to claim against another condition excluding a cancer condition. If you have a Crisis Recovery Standalone Policy with the Crisis Recovery Reinstatement option, your cover will be reinstated 30 days after the payment of a claim.
 
Under the Crisis Recovery Reinstatement Option for the Crisis Recovery Cover can be Reinstated twice.

Integrity – Here For You
 
The Life Events benefit allows an increase to the policy benefit if there is a ‘Life Event’.
 
The increase is limited to the lessor of 25% of your current benefit, or $200,000, with the total of all increase not exceeding the original sum insured and $1 million.
 
The following Life Events under the Integrity policy are:
 
  • Marriage or Divorce
  • Completion of an undergraduate degree at a government recognised Australian University.
  • First Anniversary of Permanent Separation
  • Death of a Spouse
  • Birth or adoption of a child
  • Dependant child commences Secondary Education
  • Becoming a Carer for an immediate family member the first time
  • Take out or increase a mortgage over principal place of residence with an accredited mortgage provider (In the case of new or increase in an existing mortgage, the increase in Cover is limited to the new mortgage amount or the increase)
  • Receive an increase of 15% or more to base annual salary (excluding irregular items like bonuses and commissions) the increase in Cover is limited to10 times the amount of the increase
AIA – Priority Protection
 
The Guaranteed Future Insurability (GIF) benefit is only available for Life cover and TPD where it is a rider to Life and is not applicable to Crisis Recovery cover. 

Integrity – Here For You
 
The Business Events benefit feature allows an increase to the policy benefit due to a ‘Business Event’.
 
This increase is limited to the lesser of 30% of your current benefit, or $500,000.
 
Business Events under Integrity – Here For You are:
 
  • When the value (being revenue or capital) of a key person in the business increases;
  • When a loan guarantee or other business-related debt to the business has increased; or
  • When the business has increased in value (where Cover forms part of a written buy/sell, share purchase, or business succession agreement).  
AIA – Priority Protection
 
The Guaranteed Future Insurability (GFI) benefit for business events is only available for Life cover and TPD where it is a rider to Life and is not applicable to Crisis Recovery cover.

Integrity – Here For You
 
Where 100% of the cover amount is paid, the Professional Services Benefit reimburses you up to $3,000 for costs associated with obtaining financial advice.
 
AIA – Priority Protection
 
On payment of a claim for the full sum insured, AIA offers a similar benefit called the Financial Planning Reimbursement which reimburses you up to $3,000 for costs associated with obtaining financial advice.
 
This is a combined, aggregate limit across all AIA policies you hold.

Integrity – Here For You
 
You can access this benefit if you worked in any health or medical occupation. A benefit would be paid to you if you acquired one of the following while working in your usual health or medical occupation:
 
  • Occupationally Acquired Hepatitis B or C, or
  • Occupationally Acquired HIV.
A maximum payment of $500,000 would be paid if you made a successful claim.
 
AIA – Priority Protection
 
AIA offers a similar option at an additional cost called the Needlestick Injury Benefit.
 
Needlestick Injury is only available if you have an Occupation Category of “M-Medical”.
 
The Needlestick Injury option is only available if you hold Life cover. The sum insured for the Needlestick Injury option will be the same as your sum insured for your life cover, up to a maximum of $1 million.
 
For further information on AIA’s Occupation Categories, please see the AIA PDS AIA Priority Protection – Version 29 12/05/2024

Integrity – Here For You
 
Your Integrity – Here For You policy has no minimum premium requirement.
 
AIA – Priority Protection
 
If after transfer to your AIA Priority Protection policy the new premium calculated is under $300, AIA will waive the minimum premium requirement of $300 per annum.
 
Please note if you request an alteration of any kind to your Policy, for example an increase or decrease in your sum insured, the AIA minimum premium of $300 per annum will be enforced.

Integrity – Here For You
 
Under the Integrity – Here For You policy, you can elect to pay your premiums either Monthly or Annually, at no extra cost.
 
AIA – Priority Protection
 
Offers Monthly, Half-yearly and Yearly premium frequencies, which are subject to a premium frequency charge applying to the premium and policy fee.  The charge is calculated as a percentage of the yearly premium, being 0% for Yearly, 5% for Half-yearly and 8% for Monthly.

AIA offers the same premium options as Integrity – Here For You.
 
However, the names (or labels) of AIA premium options have recently been updated in line with the Council of Australian Life Insurers (CALI) recommendations.
Integrity – Here For You Premium Labels AIA Priority Protection Premium Labels
Stepped premiums Variable age-stepped premiums
Level premiums Variable premiums

As part of the transfer your premium rates may alter based on the Premium Structure you are transferred into under the AIA policy.
 
  • Variable age-stepped

    If all cover under your Integrity – Here For You policy has a ‘stepped’ premium structure, your policy will be transferred to AIA with the same sum insured and will be based on ‘variable age-stepped’ premiums.

  • Variable

    If all cover under your Integrity – Here For You policy has a ‘level’ premium structure, your policy will be transferred to AIA with the same premium rates and same sum insured and will be based on ‘Variable’ premiums.

    Please note if you request an alteration of any kind to your Policy, for example an increase or decrease in your sum insured, your premium rates will change from Integrity – Here For You’s Level premium rates to AIA’s Variable premium rates and the amount of premium you pay may change (and may increase).

    Both AIA and Integrity may increase the premium rates, regardless of whether you have Stepped Premium or Level Premium but, and you we will give you at least 30 days’ notice in writing. Premium rates may not be altered individually and your policy cannot be singled out for an increase.

  • Combination of Variable and Variable age-stepped

    Integrity – Here For You

    If you have a combination of Level and Stepped premium structures under your Integrity – Here For You policy, all covers will be transferred to AIA’s Variable premium.

    This means that when your policy is migrated to AIA, your premiums will be recalculated on AIA’s current Variable rates, based on the age you were when your Integrity – Here For You policy commenced.

    AIA – Priority Protection

    The AIA policy does not allow a combination of Premium Structures on multiple covers held under the one policy.

The Premium and Cover Pause benefit is available to support customers who are experiencing financial hardship. For AIA policies with a monthly premium, you can apply to pause premiums and cover for a period of 3, 6, or 12 months and for yearly premium frequency you can request a 12 month pause. However, the Premium and Cover Pause can only start on the next premium due date.
 
A full list of Premium and Cover Pause benefit conditions is available in the AIA Priority Protection PDS and Incorporated by Reference document available AIA Priority Protection – Version 29 12/05/2024 and Priority Protection - Incorporated by Reference

The Premium Freeze benefit allows you, at each Policy Anniversary, to elect to pay the same premium for the following Policy year as you paid for the previous Policy year. You must be at least 35 years old and have a Variable age-stepped premium structure to exercise a Premium Freeze.
 
If you elect to apply the Premium Freeze benefit your sum insured will be decreased the next Policy year to match the premium with the amount you paid in the previous Policy year.
 
A full list of Premium Freeze benefit conditions is available in the AIA Priority Protection PDS and Incorporated by Reference document available AIA Priority Protection – Version 29 12/05/2024 and Priority Protection - Incorporated by Reference