Written by · Reviewed by Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver — licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931) · Last updated 2026-10-20

Life insurance options over age 85

We found no New Zealand insurer selling new life or funeral insurance over 85. The highest published entry age on the insurer pages we read on 20 October 2026 was 80. Momentum Life takes no new applicants over 75. At 85, 90 or older, the practical steps are to find and read any cover already in place, put funeral money aside or pre-pay, and sort out the will and the enduring power of attorney.

In short

Can you get new life insurance over 85?

Insurers set their own entry ages. The highest we found published were Chubb Life's Funeral Cover (50 to 80) and Golden Insurance (40 to 80). NZ Seniors, OneChoice and AA Life publish to 79, Fidelity Life's life cover to 75, and Momentum Life's Funeral Insurance to 75. We did not find a product at 81 or over, whether guaranteed acceptance or underwritten. The product-by-product table is on our page for over 80, and the funeral-specific version is at funeral insurance over 80.

That finding is limited to what insurers publish. An adviser may know of a special arrangement, and we cannot rule one out. We also cannot tell you that any insurer would accept you. If someone offers new life cover to a 90-year-old, ask who the insurer is, look it up on the Financial Service Providers Register (being listed there does not mean it is licensed or regulated by the FMA), and ask a licensed adviser to read the terms before you pay anything.

Cover that is already in place

For most people over 85 the useful question is what they already have.

  1. Find the policies. Look in the filing cabinet, email, bank statements showing regular insurance debits, and the will file.
  2. Ask the insurer, or a licensed adviser, what each policy does now. Check the benefit amount, whether premiums are still being paid, and whether premiums stop at a set age. Policies differ: Momentum Life's Funeral Insurance premiums stop at the 89th birthday with cover for life, Chubb Life's funeral premiums stop at 90, and NZ Seniors and OneChoice funeral premiums stop after 85.
  3. Check who gets paid. A payout goes to the policy owner, the nominated beneficiary or the estate, depending on the policy. Momentum Life, for example, pays the owner, then the nominated beneficiary, then the executor (Momentum FAQs). Read who gets a life insurance payout.
  4. Look for money that was never claimed. Inland Revenue holds unclaimed money, which can include life insurance, for 20 years (Inland Revenue). See unclaimed life insurance.

Do not cancel or change a policy without advice. A lapsed policy may not be restartable, and new cover at this age is not on sale.

If you are the policyholder and still paying premiums at 85, consider how long. On funeral policies, total premiums can add up to more than the benefit, and the benefit may not meet the whole cost of a funeral. For a Momentum Funeral Insurance policy, only accidental death pays in the first 24 months, and for other deaths in that time premiums are refunded. A.M. Best rates Momentum Life B (Fair); see its financial strength page.

Other ways to pay for a funeral

FDANZ's 2026 report gives $11,700 as the average full funeral with cremation and $14,300 for burial (50 guests), and $4,700 for a cremation with no service (FDANZ). It also says 74% of deaths had no pre-arrangement or pre-payment. The prepaid-versus-account comparison is set out on our over 80 page; in short:

Getting the paperwork ready

At this age a small amount of preparation helps a family more than a policy.

Advice

A licensed adviser can read your existing policies and tell you what they do. They cannot get you new life cover that insurers do not sell. Advice is provided by Craig Smith Business Services Limited, trading as Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931). QuoteHub is a Momentum Life partner, and Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver may receive a commission on Momentum products; see how we are paid. For how guaranteed acceptance products work in general, read our guaranteed acceptance hub and funeral insurance hub. Momentum's products are not open to a new applicant at your age.

Frequently asked questions

Can a 90-year-old have life insurance?

A 90-year-old can hold it if it was bought earlier and is still in force. We found no insurer selling new cover to that age. Some policies, such as Fidelity Life's life cover and Chubb's Assurance Extra, state that they have no expiry age.

Can I get life insurance on my 90-year-old parent?

We found no insurer selling it. Check whether your parent already has a policy, and plan for the funeral through a prepaid plan or an account.

Is there low-cost life insurance for someone over 85?

We found no new policy on sale at that age. QuoteHub publishes no price for this age.

Does the Funeral Grant depend on age?

The Work and Income page we read sets tests on who arranges the funeral, residence and, in some cases, income and assets. It lists no upper age.

References

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