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

What happens to life insurance and funeral cover at 85 in NZ

Turning 85 does not automatically end a New Zealand life or funeral policy. What changes depends on the product. NZ Seniors and OneChoice funeral premiums stop after 85 and cover continues to age 100. Momentum Life's Funeral Insurance premiums stop at the 89th birthday and cover continues for life. NZ Seniors Life, on the other hand, is published as cover to 85. We found no insurer selling new cover to a person aged 85.

In short

Does life insurance expire at 85?

Not as a rule. A common belief is that nearly all life policies end by 80 or 85. The documents say otherwise for the main adviser-channel products, though some policies do end at a set age, so your own schedule decides.

Our page on whether life insurance expires covers the general question. Note that a policy with no expiry age can still become very expensive, which is the next section.

What happens to the price?

Stepped premiums rise every year with age, and the Financial Markets Authority says cover that is cheaper at first can cost more over time (FMA). Some policies fix the price for a period and then convert. AIA offers "Level for 10 years, to 65 or to 80", after which the premium converts to Rate for Age (AIA Living umbrella wording, version 8). In a case published by IFSO, a "level to age 80" policy converted to "Rate for Age" at 80 and the monthly premium went from $49 to $190; the complaint was not upheld (IFSO). If your policy has a conversion point near 85, find out the new premium in writing before it arrives.

Funeral cover at 85, product by product

Funeral policies behave differently from life cover. Each one below is from the insurer's own page or wording, read on 17 or 20 October 2026.

Product Premiums stop Other point the insurer states
Momentum Life, Funeral Insurance 89th birthday Cover continues for life
NZ Seniors and OneChoice funeral cover After 85 Both list 25% Bonus Cover at 85 and an Early Cash Out from 85 (75% of the cover amount, which ends the policy); cover ends at 100 with a payout
Chubb Life, Funeral Cover At 90, at claim, or after an accepted long-term care premium waiver (per the policy wording) Accidental death covered at once, all causes after 24 months
AA Life, Funeral Cover Anniversary after the 90th birthday Premiums refunded for a natural-cause death in the first 24 months
Greenwich Funeral Plan When total premiums paid equal the funeral benefit The only product we read with premiums capped at the benefit
Momentum Life, Quick Life Stepped to 75, then fixed At 75, $20,000 of the benefit becomes free; indexation stops

Sources: Momentum Funeral wording, Momentum Quick Life wording, NZ Seniors, OneChoice, Chubb, AA Life and Greenwich Life. Stopping premiums earlier is not the same as being cheaper, because the price at entry differs. Funeral premiums can add up to more than the benefit, and the benefit may not meet the whole cost of a funeral. For more detail see when funeral insurance premiums stop.

How the Momentum provision works: the Funeral Insurance rate is fixed each year until the 89th birthday, then premiums end and cover continues for life. The rate can change for everyone on the same offer only for a change in tax or other law, or claims experience that differs significantly from expected, on 30 days' written notice. In the first 24 months only accidental death within 90 days of the accident is paid, and for any other death in that window all premiums for that person are refunded. A.M. Best rates Momentum Life B (Fair); see its financial strength page. Momentum's wording says the policy is not a savings or investment plan.

Can you buy new life or funeral cover at 85?

We found none. The highest published entry ages were 80 (Chubb Life Funeral Cover and Golden Insurance) and 79 (NZ Seniors, OneChoice and AA Life funeral cover). Momentum's Funeral Insurance stops at 75 and Quick Life at 65, so do not expect to find a Momentum application on this page. An adviser may know of an arrangement we cannot see, but nobody can promise that an insurer will accept you. Read life insurance over 85 for what is available and the practical steps, and life insurance over 80 for the age band below.

Five dates to find on your policy schedule

Rather than guessing, find these on the schedule or in the wording. If a date is missing, ask the insurer in writing.

  1. Expiry age. Does cover end at a set age, and what happens to it?
  2. Premium stop age. Do premiums end, and does cover carry on?
  3. Conversion age. Does the premium type change, for example from level to Rate for Age, and what is the new amount?
  4. Benefit change at a given age. Does the sum insured change, or does a bonus or free component start (for example the Quick Life $20,000 free component at 75)?
  5. Any early window. Funeral policies pay only for accidental death for 12 or 24 months after starting or after an increase; check whether a recent increase has started a new window.

If your cover ends or premiums stop, what next?

Getting help from a licensed adviser

A licensed adviser can read your existing policies and tell you what happens at each age. Our guide to finding a life insurance broker explains what to ask, including how they are paid. The FMA says most insurance advisers receive commission from the insurer, built into the premium (FMA).

Advice is provided by Craig Smith Business Services Limited, trading as Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931). This page is general information, not advice. QuoteHub is a Momentum Life partner, and Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver may receive a commission on Momentum products; see how we are paid. If you have a complaint about a Momentum policy, go to Momentum first, then the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO), a free scheme that Momentum belongs to. See the funeral insurance hub for the full set of products. Last reviewed 20 October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Does my life insurance end at 85?

Not automatically. AIA, Chubb and Fidelity publish life covers with no expiry age, though NZ Seniors Life is published as cover to 85. Check your schedule.

Do I still pay premiums on funeral insurance at 85?

It depends on the insurer. NZ Seniors and OneChoice stop after 85, Momentum at the 89th birthday and Chubb Life at 90.

Can I buy funeral cover at 85?

We found no insurer selling it. The highest published entry age was 80.

References

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