Rising Home Insurance Costs Heat Up Household Finances
Rising Home Insurance Costs Heat Up Household Finances
Sharanjit Paddam, who spearheaded the report at the Actuaries Institute, highlights a troubling trend: home insurance premiums are outpacing wage growth. The median premium for home insurance has soared by 9% in just one year, squeezing household budgets tightly.
One significant driver of these rising premiums, according to Paddam, is the increasingly evident impact of climate change. Extreme weather events, such as devastating bushfires and severe floods, have heightened the risk associated with insuring homes, prompting insurers to hike their prices.
Some households are responding to these changes by searching for cost-saving measures, such as increasing their deductibles or shopping for cheaper coverage options. However, others find themselves forced to forgo home insurance altogether, exposing them to far greater financial risk in case of disaster.
This trend isn't confined to Australia alone. Similar patterns can be observed globally, where rising natural disasters are causing insurance costs to escalate, putting additional financial strain on families already grappling with stagnant income growth and increasing living expenses.
The Actuaries Institute’s findings underline the pressing need for a multifaceted approach to mitigate the impacts of rising insurance costs. This approach could include:
- Investing in improved climate resilience strategies to minimize the damage from natural disasters.
- Proposing policy reforms to balance the insurance markets and protect consumers.
- Encouraging public-private partnerships to develop affordable insurance solutions.
- Enhancing consumer awareness regarding available options and making informed decisions.
The issue underscores an essential challenge for policymakers, insurers, and consumers alike. On one end, there's an urgent need to adapt to the financial reality shaped by climate change, and on the other, ensuring that essential services remain accessible without unduly burdening household finances.
Published:Tuesday, 17th Sep 2024
Source: Paige Estritori
Share this news item:
| TAL's Health Sense Plus Now Covers Income Protection Policies 04 Feb 2026: Paige Estritori In a significant development for policyholders, TAL has expanded its Health Sense Plus program to encompass income protection (IP) policies. This initiative, effective from August 8, 2025, aims to incentivise proactive health management by offering premium discounts to clients who engage in preventative health checks. - read more |
| Surge in Mental Health Claims Puts Pressure on Australia's Insurance Industry 04 Feb 2026: Paige Estritori Australia's insurance sector is facing unprecedented challenges as mental health conditions have become the leading cause of total and permanent disability (TPD) claims. Recent data from the Council of Australian Life Insurers (CALI) reveals that mental health issues now account for nearly one-third of all TPD claims paid out. - read more |
| Rest Super Faces Class Action Over Alleged Wrongful Deduction of Income Protection Premiums 04 Feb 2026: Paige Estritori Shine Lawyers has initiated class action proceedings in the Federal Court against Rest Superannuation, alleging that the fund wrongfully deducted income protection premiums from members' accounts between December 2008 and June 2019. The lawsuit claims that up to 500,000 Rest members may have been affected by these deductions. - read more |
| Marine Skippers Insurance Expands to International Waters 04 Feb 2026: Paige Estritori Marine Skippers Insurance has recently unveiled a new international coverage plan tailored for captains navigating vessels to and from Australia. This development is particularly timely, coinciding with preparations for the upcoming Sydney to Hobart yacht race. - read more |
| The Importance of Life, Trauma and Income Protection Insurance for Families When it comes to protecting your family's financial future, understanding the basics of life, trauma, and income protection insurance is crucial. These insurance types provide a safety net during challenging times and offer peace of mind for families. - read more
|
| Trauma Cover: Calculating Adequate Protection for Life's Unexpected Moments The financial fabric of our lives consists of both planning and safeguarding against the unforeseen. Trauma cover, a lesser-known but crucial aspect of personal insurance, provides this protection by offering a lump sum payment upon diagnosis of specific serious illnesses or injuries. In the tapestry of financial planning, it acts as a vital safety net, ensuring that unexpected health crises do not lead to monetary distress. - read more
|
| Loss of income insurance: Case Study Rebecca is a single, self-employed graphic designer who works from home. Aged in her mid-30s, she has monthly commitments of a mortgage and car payments and the usual living expenses. - read more
|
| Income Protection Insurance for Personal Trainers: What You Should Know Imagine waking up to find you're unable to work for an extended period due to an unexpected injury. For personal trainers, whose livelihood depends on their physical ability, this scenario can be both financially and emotionally daunting. - read more
|
An insurance carrier may reserve the "right of subrogation" in the event of a loss. This means that the company may choose to take action to recover the amount of a claim paid to a covered insured if the loss was caused by a third party.