Home / Reviews / Golden Insurance
⭐ In-Depth Review | Updated September 2026

Golden Insurance Reviews

Golden Insurance sells Golden Life Insurance to New Zealanders aged 40 to 80, with cover from $10,000 to $250,000 and no medical examinations. Policies are issued by Hallmark Life Insurance Company Limited. Right Life Insure is a referral website that passes enquiries to Golden Insurance. We've looked at the policy document, the licensing records and more than 2,700 Trustpilot reviews to give you the full picture.

Visit Golden Insurance Alternatives
Last reviewed: 28 September 2026 • Sources: Trustpilot, Golden Life Insurance Policy Document, FMA, Hallmark Insurance
4.9/5
Poor Average Excellent
2,700+
total reviews
"The person on the phone was very clear and easy to talk to. Good customer service from start to finish."
Trustpilot, 2026 ★★★★★
"Staff were helpful and friendly, and the price for the cover felt very reasonable."
Trustpilot, 2026 ★★★★★
"Worried about the two-year waiting period that applied to my policy before illness would be covered."
Trustpilot, 2026 ★★★☆☆
"The application was quick and simple, and I understood everything that was explained to me."
Trustpilot, 2026 ★★★★★
"The salesperson was too persuasive and didn't really listen to the level of cover I said I needed."
Trustpilot, 2026 ★★★☆☆
"My first policy was cancelled because of my medical history, then I was offered less cover for the same premium, so I cancelled."
Trustpilot, 2026 ★☆☆☆☆
98%
Positive
1%
Mixed
1%
Negative

In This Review

Company Overview Ratings Breakdown Customer Review Highlights Products Offered Pricing Deep-Dive Pros & Cons How Golden Insurance Compares Alternatives to Golden Insurance Who Is Golden Insurance Best For? Our Verdict Frequently Asked Questions Our Methodology

Company Overview

What is Golden Insurance, who issues the policy, and how does Right Life Insure fit in?

Golden Insurance is a direct-to-consumer life insurance brand for New Zealand residents aged 40 to 80. It launched in New Zealand in early 2026 and is a trading name of Neilson Financial Services Pty Ltd, an Australian company (ABN 52 668 314 896) that distributes and promotes the policy as an agent of the insurer. The Neilson group was founded in 2012 and runs insurance brands in the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Its other New Zealand brands include Just Insurance (funeral cover) and Cover Smart (family life cover).

The policy itself is issued by Hallmark Life Insurance Company Limited (NZBN 9429039172631, FSP 13701), the New Zealand branch of an Australian-incorporated life insurer. Hallmark Life is a licensed insurer in New Zealand, holds an active financial institutions licence from the Financial Markets Authority, and is a member of the St Andrew's Insurance Group. Hallmark reports a BBB+ financial strength rating from Standard & Poor's. Insurance Business NZ reported in February 2026 that St Andrew's had partnered with Neilson to re-enter the New Zealand life market, with Golden Insurance as the first product.

Right Life Insure. If you have seen ads for Right Life Insure offering up to $250,000 of life cover, that is not a separate insurer. Right Life Insure is a trading name of Uleads Digital, which runs a campaign to generate life insurance enquiries for Golden Insurance. Its own site says it is not a life insurance or financial services provider and operates only as a referral service. A policy taken out after a Right Life Insure enquiry is a Golden Life Insurance policy, issued by Hallmark Life, so the reviews, terms and pricing on this page apply to it.

Golden Insurance currently offers one product:

Applications are taken over the phone after a short online quote. Complaints that cannot be resolved with the insurer can go to the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO) Scheme, which is free for consumers. Because the brand is new, most of its customer reviews describe the sales call rather than claims.

Ratings Breakdown

How customers rate Golden Insurance across review platforms

Trustpilot
4.9
★★★★★
2,738 reviews
Google Reviews
4.9
★★★★★
Brand-reported
Figure shown on Golden Insurance's awards page. We could not check the review count directly.
Feefo
Gold Award
★★★★☆
Trusted Service 2026
Brand-reported Gold Trusted Service Award for 2026
Canstar
N/A
☆☆☆☆☆
Not yet rated
Golden Insurance is not currently rated by Canstar

Note on ratings: Golden Insurance's Trustpilot score (4.9/5 from 2,738 reviews in September 2026) is the largest sample we could check directly and carries the most weight here. Almost all of these reviews are left shortly after the phone application, so they mainly rate the sales call and the clarity of the explanation. The brand only launched in 2026, so there is very little public feedback yet on claims. The Google and Feefo figures come from Golden Insurance's own awards page. We do our best to keep all data up to date and accurate. If you've noticed something incorrect, please let us know.

What Customers Are Saying

Common themes from Golden Insurance reviews on Trustpilot

The representative was very clear and easy to talk to, and took the time to make sure I understood the policy before I agreed to anything.

Trustpilot, 2026 ★★★★★

Helpful, friendly staff and the premium for my level of cover felt very reasonable.

Trustpilot, 2026 ★★★★★

Premiums felt expensive for what I was getting, but when I cancelled the refund came through quickly.

Trustpilot, 2026 ★★★☆☆

My policy came with a two-year waiting period, which was a concern. Illness would not be covered until that time had passed.

Trustpilot, 2026 ★★★☆☆

Received too many follow-up phone calls after my first enquiry and was left unsure about some of the policy terms.

Trustpilot, 2026 ★★☆☆☆

My original policy was cancelled because of my medical history. I was then offered a lower amount of cover at the same premium, so I decided not to continue.

Trustpilot, 2026 ★☆☆☆☆
91%
Rate Golden Insurance 5 stars
8%
Rate it 4 stars
1%
Rate it 3 stars
<1%
Rate it 1 or 2 stars

Reviews are paraphrased summaries of verified customer feedback. Theme percentages are the Trustpilot star distribution for Golden Insurance (2,738 reviews) as shown in September 2026. Critical reviews are over-represented in the quotes above so both sides are visible.

Products Offered

What you can (and can't) get from Golden Insurance

🛡️ Golden Life Insurance

Available

Simplified-underwriting life cover for New Zealand residents aged 40 to 80. You answer health and lifestyle questions over the phone, with no medical examinations or blood tests. The benefit is paid as a lump sum on death or on diagnosis of a terminal illness. Depending on your answers, a waiting period can apply during which only accidental death is covered.

Cover from $10,000 to $250,000
Maximum $250k (age 40-60), $200k (61-70), $150k (71-80)
100% early payout for terminal illness
Optional 3% yearly benefit increase
Age-stepped premiums, fortnightly or monthly
Free Will Kit and 30-day cooling-off period
Quote required
Visit Website Compare Life Insurance

⚱️ Golden Funeral Insurance

Not Available

Golden Insurance does not sell a separate funeral policy. Its sister brand Just Insurance offers guaranteed acceptance funeral cover for ages 50 to 80.

💼 Golden Income Protection

Not Available

Golden Insurance does not offer income protection, trauma or disability cover. Its only product is life cover with a terminal illness benefit.

🏥 Golden Health Insurance

Not Available

Golden Insurance does not offer health or medical insurance.

Pros & Cons

The good and the not-so-good based on the policy document, customer reviews and our analysis

👍 Pros

  • Available to New Zealand residents up to age 80 at application, later than many life policies
  • No medical examinations or blood tests, just health and lifestyle questions
  • Up to $250,000 of cover for applicants aged 40 to 60
  • Terminal illness benefit pays 100% of the benefit amount early
  • No expiry age listed in the policy document, so cover continues while premiums are paid
  • Optional 3% yearly benefit increase without further health questions
  • Issued by Hallmark Life, a licensed NZ insurer, with access to the free IFSO complaints scheme
  • Very high Trustpilot score (4.9/5 from 2,700+ reviews) for the sales experience

👎 Cons

  • Premiums are age-stepped and generally rise every year, and premium rates are not guaranteed
  • Depending on your health answers, a waiting period (24 months in the policy's own example) can apply, during which only accidental death is covered
  • Some applicants may be declined or offered less cover after the health questions
  • Maximum cover drops to $200,000 from age 61 and $150,000 from age 71
  • No surrender value, and premiums are not refunded after the 30-day cooling-off period
  • Sold over the phone by an Australian distributor, and some reviewers mention pushy sales or repeated calls
  • New to New Zealand in 2026, so there is little public evidence yet on claims handling

Pricing Deep-Dive

How much does Golden Insurance cost? Indicative ranges based on our NZ life insurance cost guide

Golden Insurance does not publish premiums on its website. The price depends on your answers to the health and lifestyle questions, your age at the start of the policy and at each anniversary, your sex, your smoker status and the benefit amount you choose. Premiums are recalculated each year, and the optional 3% benefit increase also adds to the premium. The ranges below are rough guides built from our life insurance cost guide, not Golden Insurance prices:

👩

Life Cover - Age 45

Female, non-smoker
$100,000 benefit
No waiting period applied
$20-45
/month
Fully underwritten guide for $250k at 45-49 is $45-85/mo
Indicative only
👨

Life Cover - Age 55

Male, non-smoker
$100,000 benefit
No waiting period applied
$50-110
/month
Fully underwritten guide for $250k at 55-60 is $100-220/mo
Simplified cover can cost more
👴

Life Cover - Age 70

Male, non-smoker
$50,000 benefit
Premium rises every year
$120-250+
/month
Few fully underwritten policies accept new applicants at 70
Get a quote to confirm

Disclaimer: These are indicative estimates derived from our general NZ life insurance cost guide, not Golden Insurance quotes or published prices. Golden Insurance sets premiums after health and lifestyle questions, and your actual premium may be higher or lower. Premiums generally increase each year. Get an accurate quote at goldeninsurance.co.nz. We do our best to keep all data up to date and accurate. If you've noticed something incorrect, please let us know.

What Affects Your Golden Insurance Premium?

🎂

Age

Your age at the start of the policy and at each anniversary. Premiums are 'variable age-stepped', so they are recalculated every year and generally go up.

📋

Health and Lifestyle Answers

If you are assessed as a higher risk, the policy can be issued at a higher premium rate, with a waiting period, or not offered at all.

💵

Benefit Amount

Cover runs from $10,000 up to $250,000, with lower maximums from age 61 and 71. A higher benefit means a higher premium.

📈

3% Yearly Increase

The optional Automatic Benefit Amount Increase adds 3% of your original benefit each year, and the premium rises to match. You can opt out.

🚬

Smoking Status

Smokers pay more than non-smokers of the same age and sex.

⚖️

Sex

The policy document says men pay more than women of the same age for the same cover.

How Golden Insurance Compares

Golden Insurance vs. other NZ life insurance brands that sell direct

Feature Golden Insurance NZ Seniors Momentum Life Cover Smart OneChoice
Overall Rating 4.9/5 2,700+ reviews 3.9/5 4.0/5 4.8/5 3.8/5
Life Cover $10k-$250k Up to $200k Up to $1M $100k-$1.5M Available
Entry Ages 40-80 45-79 Varies 18-70 Varies
Medical Exams None None None None Depends on cover
Terminal Illness Benefit 100% early payout Check policy Included Included Check policy
Insurer Hallmark Life Pinnacle Life Momentum Life Hallmark Life Pinnacle Life
Premium Type Age-stepped Increases with age Check policy Age-stepped Check policy
Price Range $$$ $$ $$ $$ $$

Disclaimer: Golden Insurance and Cover Smart details come from their current NZ policy documents. Details for other providers come from our existing reviews of those brands. Ratings for Golden Insurance and Cover Smart are Trustpilot scores, while other brands' ratings aggregate several platforms, so they are not directly comparable. Features may change, so always verify current terms and pricing directly with the provider. We do our best to keep all data up to date and accurate. If you've noticed something incorrect, please let us know.

Alternatives to Golden Insurance

Other NZ life insurance brands worth considering

New Zealand Seniors logoNew Zealand Seniors
★★★★★

Specialist over-50s brand with life cover up to $200,000 for ages 45 to 79 and no medical tests, plus guaranteed acceptance funeral cover. Policies are insured by Pinnacle Life. Worth comparing if you are over 45 and want a brand with a longer NZ track record.

Life cover up to $200k
Ages 45-79
No medical tests
Funeral cover also available
Read Full Review
Momentum Life logoMomentum Life
★★★★★

NZ life and funeral insurance brand with online applications, life cover up to $1,000,000 and a terminal illness benefit. May suit people who want higher cover than Golden Insurance's $250,000 limit.

Life cover up to $1M
Terminal illness benefit
No medical tests
Online application
Read Full Review
Cover Smart
★★★★★

Sister brand to Golden Insurance, also sold by Neilson and issued by Hallmark Life. Aimed at younger families aged 18 to 70, with cover from $100,000 up to $1.5 million. Worth a look if you are under 70 and need more than $250,000.

Cover $100k-$1.5M
Ages 18-70
No medical exams
Same insurer as Golden
Read Full Review
Pinnacle Life logoPinnacle Life
★★★★★

NZ-based life insurer selling direct online, with life cover from $50,000 to $1,500,000 and full medical underwriting. Healthy applicants may find fully underwritten cover cheaper than simplified cover.

Life cover up to $1.5M
Direct online
Full underwriting
Income protection too
Read Full Review
Are you an insurance marketing manager?Add or boost your brand on Compare.org.nz and reach thousands of Kiwis comparing insurance.
Advertise With Us

Who Is Golden Insurance Best For?

Golden Insurance may suit some people well, but not everyone

🧓

Kiwis Aged 40 to 80

Golden Life Insurance accepts applications up to age 80, which is later than many life policies, and has no expiry age in its policy document.

📞

People Who Want to Avoid Medicals

If you would rather answer questions over the phone than attend a medical, the simplified application may suit you.

💬

Those Who Prefer a Phone Explanation

Reviews consistently praise how clearly the phone staff explain the policy, which may suit people who want to talk it through.

⚠️

Not Best For

Healthy people who would qualify for fully underwritten cover at a lower price, anyone needing more than $250,000, people wanting level premiums, or anyone who dislikes phone sales.

Our Verdict

Compare.org.nz's editorial assessment of Golden Insurance

6.8
out of 10
Good
Our editorial score for cover, price and claims. It is separate from the customer rating.

Golden Insurance offers accessible life cover to New Zealanders up to 80, but it is new and its stepped premiums will rise over time.

Golden Insurance fills a real gap for older New Zealanders who want life cover without a medical. Entry up to age 80, cover up to $250,000 for people in their 40s and 50s, a full early payout on terminal illness and no stated expiry age make it one of the more accessible life products for this age group. The policy is issued by Hallmark Life, a licensed NZ insurer with an FMA licence and access to the IFSO scheme.

The trade-offs are cost and certainty. Premiums are age-stepped, so they rise each year, and premium rates are not guaranteed. Depending on your health answers, you may be charged more, offered less cover, or given a waiting period (the policy's own example uses 24 months) during which only accidental death is covered. Healthy applicants may find fully underwritten cover from providers such as Pinnacle Life cheaper.

Customer sentiment is very strong, with a 4.9/5 Trustpilot score from more than 2,700 reviews. These reviews mostly rate the phone sales call, though, and the brand only arrived in New Zealand in 2026, so there is not yet much evidence on claims. Right Life Insure is simply a referral site for this product. It may be worth comparing Golden Insurance quotes with NZ Seniors and Momentum Life before deciding.

Accessibility
8.5
Ease of Sign-Up
8.0
Customer Service
8.2
Claims Track Record
5.0
Value for Money
5.5
Product Range
4.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Golden Insurance

Yes. Golden Insurance is a trading name of Neilson Financial Services Pty Ltd (ABN 52 668 314 896), which distributes the policy as an agent of the insurer. Golden Life Insurance is issued by Hallmark Life Insurance Company Limited (FSP 13701), a licensed insurer in New Zealand with an active licence listed by the Financial Markets Authority. Unresolved complaints can go to the free IFSO Scheme.
Golden Life Insurance is underwritten by Hallmark Life Insurance Company Limited (NZBN 9429039172631, FSP 13701), the New Zealand branch of an Australian-incorporated life insurer. Hallmark is part of the St Andrew's Insurance Group and reports a BBB+ financial strength rating from Standard & Poor's.
Right Life Insure (rightlifeinsure.co) is a trading name of Uleads Digital, which runs an advertising campaign to generate life insurance enquiries for Golden Insurance. It is not an insurer or a financial services provider and says it operates only as a referral service. If you apply after a Right Life Insure ad, the policy you get is Golden Life Insurance, issued by Hallmark Life.
The product is the same, so Golden Insurance's reviews are the most useful guide. We could not find a separate Right Life Insure profile on Trustpilot NZ. Golden Insurance itself had a 4.9/5 Trustpilot score from 2,738 reviews in September 2026, mostly about the phone application.
New Zealand residents aged 40 to 80. You answer health and lifestyle questions as part of the application, but there are no medical examinations or blood tests.
From $10,000 up to $250,000 if you are 40 to 60 when the policy starts, up to $200,000 at 61 to 70, and up to $150,000 at 71 to 80. Depending on your health answers, the maximum offered to you may be lower.
It depends on your health answers. If a waiting period applies, it is shown in your policy schedule, and during it only accidental death is covered. The policy document's example uses a 24-month waiting period. If you die from a non-accidental cause during the waiting period, premiums paid are refunded. Self-inflicted injury is excluded for the first 13 months.
Yes. Premiums are 'variable age-stepped', meaning they are recalculated at each policy anniversary and generally rise as you get older. Premium rates are not guaranteed and can change for a group of customers. If you keep the optional 3% yearly benefit increase, your premium also rises to reflect the higher cover.

Our Review Methodology

How we research and rate insurance companies

Data Sources

This review is based on data collected from the following sources, last verified in September 2026:

How We Calculate Scores

Our editorial scores (out of 10) are calculated using a weighted methodology that considers:

  • Customer ratings (40%): aggregated scores from review platforms, weighted by review volume, with an adjustment where reviews mainly describe the sales process rather than claims.
  • Product features (25%): entry ages, cover limits, waiting periods, terminal illness benefit and premium structure compared with similar NZ products.
  • Pricing competitiveness (20%): based on published information and our general NZ life insurance cost guide, since Golden Insurance does not publish premiums.
  • Claims experience (15%): customer-reported claims feedback and IFSO records. Little claims evidence exists yet for a brand launched in 2026, which limits this score.

Disclaimer: This page is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Scores are editorial opinion based on publicly available data. Life insurance is an important financial decision, so always verify details directly with the provider and consider seeking professional advice for your situation. We do our best to keep all data up to date and accurate. If you've noticed something incorrect, please let us know.

Get a Golden Insurance Quote

Check your price with Golden Insurance, then compare it with other NZ life insurance options before you decide.

Visit Golden Insurance →