Apia

Apia, insurance for over-50s and retirees in Australia

Apia is an Australian insurer that targets people over 50 and retirees. The company states it has more than 30 years' experience in selling insurance to this audience and presents itself as an alternative with personalised service, with a claims service available 24 hours a day, every day.

Insurance products

Apia's range covers car and vehicle, home and property, health and funeral insurance. The company also offers cover for recreational vehicles and boats.

• Car and vehicles: comprehensive car insurance, third party, third party fire and theft, and roadside assistance. It also has insurance for caravans, motorhomes, motorcycles and boats (comprehensive and third party).
• Compulsory insurance: NSW CTP (Green Slip) and ACT MAI.
• Home and property: home owner occupiers insurance (building and contents), building insurance, contents insurance, apartment insurance, landlord insurance, assisted living insurance and village insurance.
• Health and funeral: health insurance and funeral insurance.

Additional cover and optional services

The insurer details a series of complementary covers for car and home. In the car section, it offers excess-free windscreen and window glass replacement once per period of insurance, and a hire car for unlimited days if the car cannot be driven safely after an incident, is being repaired or has been stolen, with a limit of $90 per day. It also covers expenses after an incident, such as emergency repairs, emergency accommodation if the vehicle is not roadworthy and the insured is more than 100 km from home, and accidental loss or damage to personal items inside the car, with a limit of $1,500 per incident. If the vehicle is stolen and not recovered, Apia replaces it with a new one when it is less than 10 years old and valued at up to $40,000, provided the insured is the first registered owner and other policy conditions are met.

For the home, cover includes loss or damage from fire, theft, storm, flood and vandalism. If the home cannot be lived in after a covered incident, the company pays for temporary accommodation up to 10% of the insured building sum. It also covers the burning out or fusion of electric motors up to $2,000 per incident in equipment or appliances that form part of the home or its contents, and the spoilage of refrigerated or frozen food and refrigerated medicines due to refrigerant leak, electrical failure or power cut, with a limit of $750 per incident. If keys are stolen in Australia or New Zealand, it covers excess-free the replacement or re-coding of locks on external doors and windows up to $1,000 per incident. It also covers excess-free the fraudulent use of transaction cards physically stolen from the home, with a limit of $1,500 per period of insurance, and damage to visitors' contents for a maximum of 30 consecutive days and up to $2,000 per incident.

As optional extras, Apia offers Apia Home Assist, an emergency assistance service with plumbers, electricians, locksmiths and carpenters, available 24 hours after adding it to a new or existing policy and subject to geographical limitations; and excess-free glass cover for accidental breakage of fixed glass in windows, doors, skylights, shower screens or fixed mirrors in the home.

Awards and service approach

The company was awarded the 2023 gold medal for highest quality service in the car insurance category and the 2022 gold medal in the home and contents insurance category at the Reader's Digest Quality Service Awards. Apia states that its network of consultants is made up of professionals over 50, with the aim of understanding its customers' needs based on shared life experiences. The company also highlights a lifetime guarantee on repair work it authorises after an incident, covering the quality of workmanship and materials.

Policy and claims management

Apia allows policies to be managed online through Apia Online Services, where customers can renew, update details, pay the excess, cancel the policy, view documents and find the policy number. It is also possible to make and track claims online. For those who prefer phone service, the company offers a contact number. The claims service is available 24 hours a day, every day.

Informative content for over-50s

The insurer maintains an editorial section with articles aimed at this audience, such as tips for decluttering the home, exercise routines for over-60s and a guide to preparing caravan trips around Australia.