TAL Income Protection Insurance

TAL are absolutely the worst company to have to deal with (unfortunately they now own basically ALL the life insurance in Australia). They have zero empathy for their clients who pay them over-inflated premiums to have reliable insurance and in return clients have to deal with a money-hungry company who will do anything and everything to deny or… Read more

minimise their payouts to legitimate clients with legitimate claims. It's very unfortunate that they are so powerful, they don't deserve to be. Zero stars.

My experience with TAL Income Protection shows how these claims often turn on process, not just medical evidence. Despite providing information as requested, the claim handling involved delays, changing explanations, and limited clarity around how decisions were being made. Communication was slow and often required follow-ups to get basic… Read more

updates.

What was most difficult was the lack of clear, consistent reasoning provided in writing. This made it hard to understand the status of the claim or what was actually required to progress it.

When income protection is needed, timing and transparency matter. In my experience, both were lacking.

Not legal or financial advice — just my experience.

I’ve got an injury that has stopped me from working, waiting to have surgery. Lodged an Income Protection Claim with these people, 3 1/2 months down the track, they still hadn’t processed it. I was advised 2 months into the claim process that all is in order and my payments will commence in two weeks time. Just when the payment date approached… Read more

they decided more documents needed, when they were supplied then another excuse and so on! I honestly feel these people are there to do everything possible not to pay! All this will incredibly supportive drs reports backing up my claim! Very shifty people to deal with!

Excellent!! – Despite noticing several low-star reviews, my experience with both Income Protection and TPD claims was nothing short of excellent. My Income Protection was approved within a few weeks, while the TPD claim was finalised in just a few months. The process was smooth, timely, and marked by great communication throughout. I truly appreciate the professionalism and efficiency. Thank you, TAL, for delivering such an outstanding experience Show details

Care Courtesy Consideration – Hi I original Had a Westpac life insurance/income protection policy and it was transferred to Tal when they bought the business. I am going through a pretty major health issue at the minute and was a bit apprehensive on what would happen with the policy. I cannot recommend highly enough TAL/Westpac and especially Sue V for the care and empathy… Read more

they have shown myself and my wife during this time.

Sue directed me to medical professionals in my area without asking and genuinely cared about my condition, I didn’t expect this level of care from a insurance company and i must say I am very thankful for the care shown to me!

Again I could not recommend highly enough and especially Sue V who helped immensely.

Cheers Jimmy and Catherine

Wife invome protection – Despite seeing many low star reviews my own experience was really good, everything been so smooth and no daramas , thanks Tal From K.gul Show details

This is a deplorable company. Drag out the process and keep stonewalling claim. Their inaction and complete lack of compassion and care for clients add to what is already a stressful situation and financially devastating. How their employees sleep at night knowing they are contributing to the companies complete lack of moral fibre. They are.a disgrace. Look elsewhere for your.insurance needs. Claim in july. Still waiting. Show details

I had a claim for critical insurance, but it was denied. I've had lung cancer last year and I had a critical insurance(TAL) about 10 years, and when I returned to South Korea after the COVID-19 pandemic, my broker told me that the same company had a critical insurance plan that allowed me to use superannuation, so I switched. I also happened to… Read more

have a routine health check in Korea on that time, but I forgot to tell them because I had the same insurance for 7 years, and I thought it was normal because I did it every year, so I didn't notify them. but they kept delaying for the result for 11 months. Then, they refused to pay now because of I didn't inform it. I already paid for the same insurance (TAL) for 10 years. For what? They ruined my life for insurance, and I couldn't join any other insurance. They just don't want to pay and just figure it out any small reason. I am defiantly not recommended this Tal Insurance Company.

My mother has had Tal life insurance since she was young, she is now 74 and they have her payments at over $1000 per month. She is a pensioner and this has destroyed her. she keeps trying to reduce payout to afford the payments but within a year it goes straight back up with less pay out figure. They are disgusting. They wont allow her to get a… Read more

payout for her illnesses and have absolutely no regard that she has been a customer most of her life. She has paid so much money and now the stress is going to put her in an early grave. She barely makes enough to cover her rent. TAL is a disgrace.

A few months ago, I lodged an income protection claim through Aware Super. Unbeknownst to me, Aware Super outsource all of their claims to an external insurance company- this is where TAL comes in. After months of back and forth, extremely poor communication and mountains of paperwork, I have finally given up. Below is the email I wrote to my… Read more

claims manager, whose job I believe is to delay claims as long as possible before finally denying them. The email speaks for itself.

“This claim process has become too hard for me to continue, and it’s been really quite stressful for me to manage at a time when I desperately needed support. 

It is disappointing that, despite providing countless documents, payslips, medical records, letters and proof of my illness, the claim has been dragged out for months on end only for TAL to request more documents and information and proof of identity, even though I had already submitted my proof of identity through my super fund. 

Unfortunately, it seems the system is not set up to assist or support people such as myself, who came away from a period of workcover only to develop a chronic autoimmune condition that has seen me spend almost an entire year in debilitating pain with crippling fatigue, unable to perform the duties of my usual profession. 

I have made every effort to explain this to TAL, with no real understanding other than to be told about the specific wording in the ‘policy’, which completely disregards anyone who finds themselves in my unique position. 

The fact that it has been so black and white from the beginning makes it clear to me that this claim was never going to be approved, and I have had to jump through hoops every step of the way. I have been asked to provide one thing, only to then have another five things added to the endless list of requirements. 

I made this claim back in June 2025, it is now September 2025. It should not be this difficult for a customer who has consistently paid for income protection cover over many years, who genuinely needs financial support, to be able to access that support within a reasonable timeframe. I needed the help months ago and I’m still jumping through hoops to satisfy a line in a policy that was never set up to consider someone in my position. 

It is disappointing to say the least, and the stress of it all has only made my condition worse. I am sorry for the many other people out there who paid good money to protect their income, only to find themselves drowning in a sea of paperwork and red tape to the point that they simply had to give up. 

I will be sending this as a formal letter of complaint to both TAL and Aware Super, however I do not have high hopes that anything will change as a result of my experience. 

At a time when I have been at my most vulnerable and most disabled, I am left feeling that I am just a number, another person who couldn’t get their claim over the line because of a lack of understanding of the nuance of my situation. 

Please consider this email a formal withdrawal of my claim. I guess TAL won after all.”

No stars for this "insurance" company. I made a claim for income protection and it was denied based on an exclusion that wasn't valid. I now have had to put in a complaint to AFCA(up to a two year wait now) and try and resolve my claim that way. It took them six months to "process" my claim and I got denied. In that process they used the classic… Read more

the insurance "D's", delay, deflect, deny. I spent days collecting paperwork, filling out forms, spending money on doctors having to fill out forms($150), going to a JP to get CTC of documents. It was all unnecessary but I did it because that's what they wanted.

Delayed - six months Deflect - they tried to use a different reason for my claim Deny - they used an exclusion that wasn't relevant trying to say I was blind, but its amazing how I could still read books, drive a car, basically lead a normal life, just not work(medical certificate suspension) in my chosen field.

This insurance company is a scam.

UPDATE:- AFCA were unhelpful and replied that I don't have a case as their exclusion is valid. They wouldn't listen to my whole story properly, they just said the same thing on every reply.

Understand everybody, even the government won't help you

TAL wish me to [Content Removed]. They lied to me. I filled out the form in 2011 truthfull. Sure I had some doctors visits when I born due to being a twin, and some heart interference but so has everyone on checkups. I got the insurance as we had people dying at work with heights. Normal for the transmission powerlines game. Everyone had… Read more

insurance. But of course as soon as I needed it due to my doctor being silly, they’ve left me without payment. Don’t ever sign up with them.

If you had experienced what I’ve been through, you’d understand. I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining, but this has been one of the most difficult insurance companies I’ve ever dealt with Show details

Took out IP Policy via my superannuation with TAL being the insurer and I must say from my point of view the policy is terrible value. Now that I had to make a claim I am shattered to find out that I am only receiving 40% of my actual income despite having policy for 30 years and at a time when I need my income more than ever due to excessive… Read more

medical bills. If you take up insurance with this company make sure you confirm all detail and entitlements before proceeding and read all the fine print.

I have been trying to cancel my Tal life insurance since July 9. Have filled out the form 3 times, waited, then told they need a proof of signature, sent it. Spoken on phone 3 times. Told today they will not accept my application because I can only submit up to 5 days before it is due to renew. Wouldn’t care but for the fact the premium is paid… Read more

from my super. At this point I think the only way I can stop this is by changing super company. TAL are making it up as they go along. Imagine not cancelling a renewal because the request came in the month before the due date. Disgusting, Mary

Worst company to deal with with life insurance claim ended up having to sue them to try get my claim approved 3 years later and still ongoing with them refusing to admit policy that is legitimate insurance claim because of unfair and misleading contract clauses Definitely no value for money in my policy Wouldn’t recommend then at all Show details

Absolutely disgusting conduct! My husband was involved in a motorcycle crash and has been a customer for almost a decade, with no previous claims. He submitted a claim and it’s still “under review” three months on. There is no transparency and they are scratching to find a loop hole to decline the claim. He just received an email stating the… Read more

investigation may take up to 12 months. The claims consultant will not return phone calls. A complaint has now been made to AFCA. DO NOT waste your money paying premiums with TAL (NRMA), total SCAM!

Currently working as a doctor Discriminatory against weight. Dont bother if you are not inside the 'normal' BMI. Would refuse your claim. refused to even join and patients who have had nightmare experiences with Show details

TAL the meanest most heartless bunch of people you will ever come across these people have no moral compass in any way shape or form. I have insurance with TAL part of TWU super which is about to change their name to team super but rest assured they will never change the way they treat people. I have a six year-old daughter we have been left… Read more

homeless with nothing. They take great pride and pleasure in dragging out your claim and finding whatever they can to not pay out they will leave you angry and stressed and depressed. I have never ever in my life hated a person or a group of people like I absolutely hate and despise TAL and TWU super. ( soon to be team super.) I am hoping that very soon current affair will put these people on national television so the whole of Australia knows what sort of people they are. I do have to wonder what do they say to their friends and Family when they get home do they boast with a smile on their face about the lives they have destroyed for that day.

TAL Life Insurance: putting Wealth before Health – Very challenging to ensure continuation of income protection benefit payment. Having the unfortunate experience of relying upon the financial benefit longer than "the normal". Is it my fault that I'm unable to work or gain alternative employment due to liver (prone to blood clots) disease & gastro oesophageal reflux disease. The basic default IP… Read more

benefit policy does not cover medical appts or procedures; with no allowance for any medications. Basically when you run out of medication you run out of hope. Income Protection Insurance is not as great as it is made out to be. Back to the beginning; 5mths without an income while the claim was being processed; in which TAL Insurance claimed was "fair & reasonable". Regardless of the benefit being back paid, the damage had been done: Loss of employment, Partner moved on, Evicted from house (whilst being isolated due to Co-Vid) & Lived in a car (without fuel) for two weeks ..... waiting for the next IP benefit payment to be approved, authorised & released.

Tal Useless – Approved for claim then heard nothing nearly 90 days then told they needed proof of id certified which was impossible person in rehab for stroke then told me they would lodge complaint on my behalf, Nobody complains about themselves so i have now gone to AFCA. They lie and are useless so now we will see AFCA will fine them and also seeking compensation for non payment. Show details

Absolutely useless insurance. Waste of money – They've been absolutely useless in a time of need. Over 10 years of paying insurance protection and when the time came when we needed support, they have done everything possible to avoid paying anything. The number of hoops to jump through and delay tactics used has been disappointing to say the least. For someone who is self-employed, this has been incredibly stressful financially. Time for us to look elsewhere obviously. Show details

Not fit for purpose – Exhausting and poor processes. Non doctors who have no medical training make these big calls on eligibility. Muddle up Fibromyalgia with Myofascial Pain Syndrome: and then because I have trigger points in two places - that’s TWO EXCLUSIONS!! If you are proactive and preventative - that’s EXCLUSIONS! I’m on metformin to prevent type 2 diabetes due… Read more

to a past history (note, not current, past) of PCOS, and that’s an EXCLUSION - but if I go off metformin and increase my risk of developing Tupe 2 Diabetes, they are happier! If I have anxiety and am having counseling - EXCLUSION! Now OOOOO TOO MANY EXCLUSIONS TOO HIGH RISK NO INSURANCE FOR YOU - 4 hours later. The front line staff are great but the non doctors cosplaying doctors up the back making sweeping judgments without any qualifications are not fit for purpose

Stay Away – I have held a policy since 2012 and never made a claim. I recently emailed to cancel as the premiums kept rising. They took another payment after cancellation and when I phoned was told it would be refunded. I rang a few times and they promised the refund of the premium now the policy was cancelled. I rang again a 2 weeks later and was told that… Read more

the case was closed and the premium paid was written off to be kept as arrears. Therefore TAL are liars and thieves who did not even bother to email or ring me to let me know they have stolen my premium without refunding as promised. The policy is no longer in force so this has been effectively stolen. My advice is stay away from these cheats and liars.

They price you out of your policy after long term – I was a customer of TAL for 10 years, I had the same policy for the 10 years. When I Turned 40 they doubled the price of my insurance payments ($950au per month!) and priced me out of my policy on purpose. TAL had no interest whatsoever in helping me keep my policy affordable. I got older, they didn’t want me on my old and fair policy, and the… Read more

only way for them to cancel me out of it was to price me out. Even though I never even had a claim through out the 10 years! Then they offer a sub par policy compared to my original one. These tactics should be against the law but they aren’t.

Do not recommend them at all, they are there for greed with the long term customers. Be very careful with TAL.

Also they have great customer service to suck you into purchasing at the start. Please learn from my experience as it costed me thousands of dollars. I have just switched providers early 2024.

Do not give your hard earned money to these thieves – Avoid. Do not use this Shocking company, using unethical tactics to cheat people out of their insurance policies when they need it most. All so they can protect their company profits. Sooner people wake up and stop using this company the better Show details