ASK NOEL

Ask Noel: should we switch our super to pension mode?

Noel Whittaker Financial expert Noel Whittaker answers readers' questions.

Private health insurance: run for cover before the end of the tax year

Laura Crowden Amid the mid-year stocktake sales and car dealership runouts is a notion that it is rather important - to sort out private health insurance before June 30.

INSURANCE

Muzzle the bite of vet bills with pet insurance

John Collett Dogs may be our best friends, but they can also be expensive.

NOEL WHITTAKER

Why it pays to read the fine print of insurance forms

Noel Whittaker Knowing your policy inclusions can save a lot of time and angst.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Travel insurance is for home as well as abroad

Leo D'Angelo Fisher Chances are travel insurance for domestic ski holidays is not on most to-do lists.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Income insurance protects your biggest asset

Thabojan Rasiah We all know insurance is something we have "just in case", yet most of us don't insure our biggest asset.

TAKE COVER

Do we really need insurance – and why is it so pricy?

Catherine Robson Our natural optimism means we don’t believe that we are likely to suffer hard times in the future, so we are not inclined to prepare for them.

PREMIUM SERVICE

Ride-sharing can void insurance

John Collett Industry body says insurers could decline claims made by Uber’s drivers.

ASSETT CHECK

Policy switch on life insurance is long overdue

Daryl Dixon When it comes to insurance, the benefits of shopping around can be substantial.

Planners divided on life insurance reforms

Ruth LIew Financial planners are split over the impact incoming regulatory changes will have on their life insurance businesses, with some arguing the proposals will deal serious blows to the profitability of...

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Credit card travel insurance under the spotlight

John Collett Those heading overseas during the upcoming school holidays could be buying travel insurance they do not need.

CARE COVER

Still time to beat private health insurance premium rises

John Collett As private health insurance premiums rise, many policyholders are looking to reduce their cover to cut costs.

CLEVER COVERAGE

Online insurance doesn't come cheap

John Collett When it comes to life insurance, buying directly from the insurer is usually the most expensive route.

Insight

Duopoly drives rising insurance costs

Clancy Yeates 'Bill shock'' normally refers to the unpleasant experience of receiving an enormous phone or electricity bill. But it could just as easily apply to insurance.

SUPER

Large funds have life insurance covered

John Collett Most of us don't have enough life insurance, so it's good that large superannuation funds provide ''default'' death and total and permanent disablement insurance to their members, who otherwise may...

PLANNING

We all have a little life insurance, but most of us need more

Penny Pryer Insurance companies have been raving about Australia's "chronic" underinsurance problem for decades.

INSIGHT

Shop around for a good insurance deal

Clancy Yeates This year's devastating start to the bushfire season has underlined the value of insuring the biggest asset many people own: their home.

Credit insurance risks uncovered

Lesley Parker Consumer credit insurance - marketed alongside credit cards and personal loans as a way to protect your ability to meet repayments - remains on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission's...

Step 3: Other types of insurance

What you’ll learn: pets, your cleaner and landlords can be insured too.

Step 1: Do I need health insurance?

What you'll learn in this step: Private health insurance can be expensive but there are things Australia’s Medicare system does not cover.