24/03/2026
You update your life often.
New job. Travel. New habits. Your insurance does not update itself.
In a recent review with a dad, who has coverage in place, as a single parent for his kids, we found a few concerns on his current insurance policy.
This is where “notifiable events” come in. Let me unpack for you.
A notifiable event is any change in your life that your insurer expects you to report.
If you don’t, your claim might not pay. In some cases, your policy could be cancelled.
Here are common examples:
* Changing your job or industry
* Starting a risky hobby like diving or flying
* Starting or stopping smoking
* Spending long periods outside South Africa
* Changes in how you earn or how much you earn
Think of it like this:
* You insure your life based on your current risk
* If your risk changes, your insurer needs to know
* If they don’t know, they assess your claim on old information
That gap creates problems at claim stage.
What stands out, is that this is often missed by both client and adviser. Many clients don’t know these rules exist and forget to inform their adviser.
Requirements differ across insurers, not everyone is the same.
Some changes must be reported within a set time, often 30 days. Missing a notification can lead to declined claims.
What you should do:
* Tell your adviser when your life changes
* Ask, “Does this affect my cover?”
* Review your policy at least once a year
* Insurance works well when your cover matches your life.
If your life has changed in the last 12 months, your policy might need attention.
