Does income protection cover stress and burnout?
It depends on the policy. Many modern income protection policies do cover stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions — but not all. The key is whether the policy includes mental health conditions under the "own occupation" definition and whether there are any mental health exclusions in the policy terms.
Policies that cover mental health
The best income protection policies cover mental health conditions including stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression in the same way they cover physical conditions. If you're unable to do your job due to a mental health condition, these policies will pay out after the deferred period. Providers like The Exeter, LV=, and Vitality are known for strong mental health coverage.
Policies that exclude mental health
Some income protection policies apply a mental health exclusion — either as standard or because of a disclosed history of mental health conditions. This means claims arising from stress, depression, or anxiety would not be paid. You would still be covered for physical causes of inability to work.
What if I have a history of stress or burnout?
A previous history of stress-related illness may result in a mental health exclusion on your policy. However, if your mental health history is mild or well in the past, standard terms may still be available. Always disclose your full history honestly — and use a whole-of-market adviser to find the insurer most likely to offer the best terms for your profile.
How to make sure you're covered for mental health
- Check the policy wording explicitly for mental health coverage
- Look for "own occupation" definitions without a separate mental health exclusion
- Compare multiple insurers — mental health underwriting varies widely
- Disclose any history honestly — non-disclosure can void the policy
Frequently Asked Questions
If your policy covers mental health conditions and burnout prevents you from working in your own occupation, you can make a claim. Not all policies cover mental health — check your policy wording carefully.
It may result in a mental health exclusion — meaning claims related to stress, anxiety, or depression are excluded. All other causes of inability to work remain covered. Some insurers apply no exclusion at all for mild, historical stress.