Real life ready. Introducing the latest updates to Accelerated Protection
With your input, we’ve updated our products to meet the real needs of Australians today.
|
Shaped by what we’ve heard from you and your clients, along with insights from customer claims, the medical community and our in-house experts, we’re excited to introduce the latest updates to Accelerated Protection. Our latest improvements are focused on making it easier for you to support your clients in the moments that matter so they can be ready for the realities of real life—both today and in the long run:  The TPD Support Option is a new optional feature designed to support recovery where it’s possible as well as providing long-term security for customers who remain permanently unable to work.  A new take on how our Income Protection products support your self-employed clients, protecting their financial future and recognising the particular needs of business owners during a claim. The latest Accelerated Protection (AP) upholds our focus on innovative, sustainable product design that ensures we’ll be here to help you create the best possible outcomes for your clients. Ready for today and resilient for tomorrow. |
 For your diary
9 February 2026Last day to submit applications (including for tele-interviews) under the previous AP (started prior to 12 December 2025). Quotes and unsubmitted applications will expire on 10 February 2026. |
Our new TPD Support Option
Targeted support when tomorrow’s uncertain
Australia has changed a lot since Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) cover was first introduced, particularly in the ways we live and work and we’re committed to evolving our product design to reflect changing customer needs.
The TPD Support Option (TSO) is a new optional feature designed to support recovery where it’s possible as well as provide long-term security for customers who remain permanently unable to work.
The TSO design recognises that certain conditions, including some mental health, fatigue and functional disorders may have variable recovery outcomes. Acknowledging that an individual’s specific workplace environment may contribute to their inability to work, where the option is selected, we will assess claims for TPD Support conditions using an any occupation definition.
Upon acceptance, customers receive 20% of the sum insured at 12-month intervals, provided they continue to meet the TPD eligibility criteria at each assessment.
Importantly, for disability not contributed to or caused by a TPD Support Condition, claims will be assessed using the customer’s selected TPD definition and paid in a single lump sum as usual.
The TSO can be selected within the TPD Product you’re already familiar with, providing additional ways to tailor protection to your clients’ specific needs. We’ve taken an evidence-based approach to ensure meaningful support for those who need it, while maintaining value for all customers.
Income Protection updates
Ready for the unique needs of your self-employed clients
All our Income Protection (IP) products focus on helping your clients get back to the life they love and, in time, to work. For self-employed business owners, that journey can look quite different than it does for others and what they need in their IP is different too. Recognising the importance of your self-employed client’s business continuing to operate during a claim, we've updated two features in our IP products, providing a competitive, balanced solution for self-employed Australians.
Redesigned offsets for ongoing income
The first change is how we treat offsets when your client is Totally Unable to Work, recognising that, in some cases, the business will still generate income while they’re on claim.
Understanding IP Offsets
Offsets are how we adjust benefit payments when your client is receiving income from their business or other sources while on claim. Used industry-wide, they help maintain the sustainability of IP products, by ensuring claimants aren’t receiving more in benefits than they would from work.
We have updated the Ongoing Income Offset applying to Totally Unable to Work Benefits so that:
- During the first two years on claim, clients can receive ongoing business income without it being offset in full. The offset will only be applied to ensure the combined total of income and benefit payments doesn’t exceed 70% of pre-claim earnings.
- After two years, the full offset applies.
This evolved approach to offset ongoing income gives your clients more certainty about their finances and reflects what lies at the heart of all our IP products: supporting recovery and return to work.
Updated waiting period requirements
At the start of a claim, self-employed clients often have a range of incidental admin tasks to tackle, like contacting clients to reschedule appointments. Historically, this could impact their ability to satisfy waiting period requirements without compromising the continuity of their business.
With this update, your clients can now undertake minimal admin tasks during the waiting period and still be able to meet the eligibility criteria. This helps ensure the stability of their business, so it’s more likely to still be operating when their health improves and they can get back to work. This only applies during the waiting period.
What else is coming with the latest Accelerated Protection
Pricing adjustments for new business
We regularly review our pricing to make sure AP remains fair for all customers including for those who claim and those who don’t.
Our latest review has led to some changes to premiums for new business applications, which will vary based on the quoted scenario. Please note, this review does not impact existing policies.
We’re confident that the changes continue to deliver long term value for your clients.
A new limit for TPD indexation
Our optional Inflation Protection Benefit automatically increases your client’s benefit amount at policy anniversary to keep pace with inflation.
Also informed by our sustainable design principles and long-term view of risk management, that benefit will no longer apply on TPD cover when it would cause the total benefit to exceed $5 million.
The change only applies to new TPD policies; your existing clients will retain their current indexation benefit.
Affordability tips, new resources and a hand if you need it
More affordable cover, today and tomorrow
One of the most generous and accessible BMI-based discounts around, TAL Health Sense1 can save your clients up to 15% off their premiums – for life.
All new clients also receive a 5% TAL Health Sense Plus2 discount for up to two years, which they can maintain by having a health check with their GP.
Both discounts are available on your clients’ lump sum cover. We recently extended TAL Health Sense Plus to include eligible new and existing Income Protection policies too.
The latest resources
The latest forms and documents, including the PDS, Policy Document and Adviser Guide, are available in the Forms and Documents section of the TAL Adviser Centre.
You can download the PDS and Change Summary directly too.
Need a hand?
Your Business Development Manager is here to answer any questions you have about the latest AP. Reach out to make an appointment with them whenever you need.
You can also contact your local TAL sales team or the Adviser Service Centre on 1300 286 937 (Monday to Friday 8am–7pm AEST).
Note: The TPD Support Option is not available to be selected in conjunction with the Double TPD Option. If we apply a mental health exclusion as a result of our Underwriting assessment, the TPD Support Option will not be available.
Please refer to the PDS for more information.
1. A maximum 15% Health Sense discount applies to non-smokers meeting the BMI criteria that hold 4 benefit types (Life; Critical Illness; TPD and Income Protection (IP)) and meeting minimum sum insured amounts for all benefit types. Lower discounts will apply for other benefit combinations and smokers. The discount does not apply to per-mille loadings, policy fees and government duties. More information is available on request from TAL.
Assumes the policy owner makes no changes to the policy, benefit types or amounts, and that the policy or any benefits have not ended (e.g after payment of a claim or the expiry of a benefit).
For customers with loadings, the Health Sense discounts apply to premiums including loadings (except loadings applied on a per-mille basis) and apply to Life Insurance, TPD Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance benefits only. Where a per-mille loading has been applied, the discount will not apply on additional premium resulting from the per-mille loading (an example of a per-mille loading is $5.00 extra premium per $1,000 sum insured). Health Sense discounts only apply to Life Insurance, TPD Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance benefits only. Please contact TAL for a pre-assessment or if you wish to check the loading basis (for Health Sense and Health Sense Plus eligibility) for any client.
2. TAL Health Sense Plus is subject to the Terms and Conditions, offer and eligibility criteria.
The TAL Health Sense Plus discount applies to the premiums for Accelerated Protection Life Insurance, TPD and Critical Illness Insurance and (where applicable) Income Protection plans only. Eligible existing customers with a policy issued under a PDS and Policy Document dated on or after 24 September 2021 and who receive the TAL Health Sense Plus offer on or after 1 October 2025 are eligible to receive the discount on Income Protection (in addition to Life Insurance, TPD Insurance and Critical Illness Insurance).
Existing customers with a policy issued under a PDS and Policy Document before 24 September 2021 are eligible for a discount on Life Insurance, TPD and Critical Illness Insurance only.
The discount does not apply to the policy fee, government duties or per-mille loadings.
For the applicable Plan the discount will apply for two years and will reduce to nil for the third year and thereafter, unless you qualify for the Health Sense Plus discount in future.