Asteron Lifeguard Enhancements Life Cover Super

Transcription

1 Enhancements Life Cover Super

2 Contents 1.0 Summary of changes Improved Included Benefits Improved Special Events Increase Benefit New Trigger Events Improved Removal of $2,000,000 cap for Terminal Illness Improved Guarantee on Life Cover Level Premium Improved Optional Benefits Improved Definition Own Occupation TPD (choice of occupation) New Option TPD No Buyback New Healthy Plus Option New Own Occupation Definition for Part Time Professionals Improved Definition TPD Waiting Period New TPD Waiting Period Eligibility Contact us Inside back cover

3 Enhancements Life Cover Super 1 At Life, we regularly review our policies to ensure that they are at the forefront of industry developments and will continue to meet the financial challenges which may occur as a result of sickness or injury. Providing regular updates is an integral part of our service philosophy at Life. As a result, we have automatically upgraded your policy to reflect some of the innovations we have made to our Life Cover Super product. This ensures that your policy remains at the leading edge of insurance and gives you and your family even better value protection at no extra cost. In this brochure you will find a summary of both the automatic enhancements we have made to your policy plus a series of new optional enhancements that you can apply to have added to your existing Life policy. These improvements offer you an increased number of benefits, improved definitions on benefits and the opportunity to add additional features to your policy. Automatic Enhancements We will enhance your policy without any further cost to you. You will not need to undergo any further medical assessments to benefit from these automatic enhancements, so you can start enjoying your new improved cover today. In the event of a claim, you will be assessed against the most recent, upgraded version of the policy. If, in your opinion, the improvements are less favourable, we will assess you against your previous policy terms. We will work with you and your adviser to ensure that the cover you have is most appropriate to your needs. Optional Benefits Some optional benefits have also been improved. Any optional benefits that you already have will also be upgraded from the effective date of upgrade. We understand that, over time, your needs may change so we have also created some new optional benefits that you may be eligible to have added to your policy. Adding some or all of these options to your policy may result in an increased premium and may also require additional underwriting. We can work with you and your adviser to explain these. Changes to Policy Terms Included within this brochure is a summary of changes to the policy terms. If you have any questions or need any further information on these please contact your adviser or our Life Customer Service on where one of our team will be delighted to help you.

4 2 Enhancements Life Cover Super 1.0 Summary of changes This brochure includes a summary of all of the upgraded benefits for Life Cover Super and additional Total Permanent Disablement (TPD) cover. Depending on the PDS issue number you applied with, some or all of these upgraded terms will already be included in your policy. Included benefits are automatically provided as at the effective date listed below. Where an upgrade: has been applied to your policy the field below will include 3. was already included in your policy terms the field below will note INC (included). issue 1 issue 2 issue 3 issue 4 issue 5 Enhancements Included Benefits Effective Date of upgrade 17 April April August May 2010) 15 November 2010) Improved Special Events Increase Benefit New Trigger Events Improved Removal of $2,000,000 cap for Terminal Illness Improved Guarantee on Life Cover Level Premium Rates until 1 January April INC INC INC INC 10 November INC INC INC INC 19 August INC INC INC issue 1 issue 2 issue 3 issue 4 issue 5 Enhancements Optional Benefits Effective Date of upgrade 17 April April August May 2010) 15 November 2010) Improved Definition Own Occupation TPD (choice of occupation) New TPD No Buyback Option 15 April INC INC INC INC 19 August INC INC INC New Healthy Plus Option 24 May INC INC New Own Occupation TPD definition for part-time professionals New TPD Waiting Period Eligibility Improved TPD Waiting Period 24 May INC INC 15 November INC November INC

5 Enhancements Life Cover Super Improved Included Benefits Below is a summary of changes to included benefits each with a simple description of how it affects you. Some of the terms and expressions used in the policy wording quick reference below have specific meaning and the meaning of these words and expressions can be found in the glossary of our current Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). A copy of our latest PDS is available on our website, or by contacting Life Customer Service on In the event of a claim, you will be assessed against the most recent, upgraded version of the policy. If, in your opinion, the improvements are less favourable, we will assess you against your previous policy terms. We will work with you and your adviser to ensure that the cover you have is most appropriate to your needs. Please note that if you are suffering a pre-existing condition before the effective date that the upgrade is applied to your policy, it will not apply when assessing any claim affected by that pre-existing condition. The effective date for each upgrade is denoted in the summary of changes. 2.1 Improved Special Events Increase Benefit New Trigger Events Your policy already allows you to increase your cover without any further medical assessment when there are certain changes in your personal circumstances, such as marriage, the birth of a child or an increase in your salary. The range of such events where you can increase your cover without any further medical assessment has now been extended to include: commencement of a domestic relationship with a spouse, which continues for 12 months and began within the previous 18 months; a change of tax dependency status because you have ceased to have any tax dependents as defined by current tax law. 2.2 Improved Removal of $2,000,000 cap for Terminal Illness The onset of a terminal illness requires as much cover as possible to be paid as soon as possible to relieve stress and allow proper planning in such a difficult situation. We have removed the payout cap of $2,000,000 on terminal illness and will now pay your full Life Cover Benefit if you become terminally ill. 2.3 Improved Guarantee on Life Cover Level Premium On occasion we may need to review our standard premium rates and as a result premiums may increase or decrease. At Life, we recognise the importance of level premiums and have now guaranteed not to increase the level premium rates that apply to your Life Cover Death Benefit policy until 1 January Policy Wording Quick Reference If you select Life Cover under a level premium structure, we guarantee not to increase our standard level premium rates that apply to the Life Cover Death Benefit any time prior to 1 January Improved Optional Benefits Below is a summary of changes to optional benefits each with a simple description of how it affects you. Some of the terms and expressions used in the policy wording quick reference below have specific meaning and the meaning of these words and expressions can be found in the glossary of our current Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). A copy of our latest PDS is available on our website, or by contacting Life Customer Service on Some or all of these options may be limited to certain occupations only. Where you already have an optional benefit applied to your policy any improvements to that optional benefit will be automatically applied to your policy. All other new options can be applied for and will require underwriting. In the event of a claim, you will be assessed against the most recent, upgraded version of the policy. If, in your opinion, the improvements are less favourable, we will assess you against your previous policy terms. We will work with you and your adviser to ensure that the cover you have is most appropriate to your needs. Please note that if you are suffering a pre-existing condition before the effective date that the upgrade is applied to your policy, it will not apply when assessing any claim affected by that pre-existing condition. The effective date for each upgrade is denoted in the summary of changes.

6 4 Enhancements Life Cover Super 3.1 Improved Definition Own Occupation TPD (choice of occupation) Qualification criteria for Total and Permanent Disablement claims have been improved to cover situations where TPD occurs within 3 months of changing employment or if you become unemployed. You now have the freedom to choose to have your disability assessed against either your current occupation or the occupation you were in at the time of application, whichever is more favourable to you. Policy Wording Quick Reference If you were engaged in your current occupation for less than 3 months immediately before suffering the sickness or injury directly related to the claim event, we will assess you against either: the occupation you were engaged in at commencement date; or the occupation you were last engaged in before becoming unable to work; whichever is more favourable for you. 3.2 New Option TPD No Buyback If you have chosen the TPD option on your Life Cover Super policy, you can reduce your premiums by choosing the TPD No Buyback definition. However, this means you can no longer buy back your Life Cover Super sum insured should it be reduced due to a claim on another benefit. Policy Wording Quick Reference If the schedule states single payout or single payout: no buy back total and permanent disablement applies, and we pay the full sum insured for total and permanent disablement, then: the sum insured for Life Cover Super is reduced by the amount paid; and future premiums are reduced to reflect the reduced sum insured for Life Cover Super. If the sum insured for Life Cover Super is reduced to nil, the cover ends. 3.3 New Healthy Plus Option We are always looking for creative ways to differentiate our products and build in better value for you. One such innovation that is now being offered as an option on your Life Cover policy is the Healthy Plus Option. This option provides rewards for clients who follow a healthy lifestyle and can satisfy certain health criteria. If you qualify you can receive a 20% discount on your premiums for the Life Cover Death benefit. Each year the discount will reduce by 1%, but the full discount can be reinstated if you can continue to provide the relevant health and personal information and this meets the Healthy Plus Option criteria. 3.4 New Own Occupation Definition for Part Time Professionals The benefit of an own occupation TPD definition is now available to professional clients who work less than 20 hours per week or are not working. Own Occupation is also available to all clients working more than 20 hours per week. Policy Wording Quick Reference If your occupation class is AA, AP, LP or MP at the commencement date and you were working 20 hours or less per week when you applied for total and permanent disablement and you were working more than 20 hours per week immediately before suffering the sickness or injury directly related to the claim event, we will pay the sum insured if you satisfy the criteria for own occupation total and permanent disablement. If your occupation class is AA, AP, LP or MP at the commencement date and you were working 20 hours or less per week when you applied for total and permanent disablement and you were working; and were working 20 hours or less per week immediately before suffering the sickness or injury directly related to the claim event, we will pay the sum insured if you satisfy the criteria for any occupation total and permanent disablement. 3.5 Improved Definition TPD Waiting Period In recognition of the significant impact that a serious illness or severe disablement can have on your finances and your lifestyle, we have reduced the waiting period for TPD claims from 6 months to 3 months. This means less delay in lodging a TPD claim and faster decision times in making an assessment. 3.6 New TPD Waiting Period Eligibility TPD Benefit payments have a standard waiting period of 3 months before benefits are released to ensure that all evidence is gathered and validity of claims is established. However, we will reduce the waiting period from 3 months to 14 days in the following circumstances:

7 Policy Wording Quick Reference If the schedule states that own occupation applies: The period of time that you have to have been absent from and unable to work in your own occupation because of the sickness or injury will be reduced from 3 consecutive months to 14 consecutive days where medical evidence clearly indicates that you will be unable to work in your own occupation for a period of at least 3 consecutive months. If the schedule states that any occupation applies: you will also be totally and permanently disabled if (a) or (b) below applies: a) You have suffered a sickness or injury for a continuous period of at least 3 consecutive months; and you have been absent from and unable to work because of the sickness and injury for a continuous period of at least 3 consecutive months; and in our opinion, after consideration of medical and any other evidence, that you are incapacitated to such an extent that you are unlikely ever to be able to work again in any occupation for which you are reasonably suited by education, training or experience which would pay remuneration at a rate greater than 25% of your earnings during your last 12 consecutive months of work. The period of time that you have to have been absent from and unable to work because of the sickness or injury will be reduced from 3 consecutive months to 14 consecutive days where medical evidence clearly indicates that you will be unable to work for a period for at least 3 consecutive months. Payment of the total and permanent disablement benefit due to (a) above will be determined on the sum insured at the date 3 months after you have been unable to work in any occupation as a result of the sickness or injury that resulted in you being totally and permanently disabled. Any premiums received for cover after this date will be refunded. If you are not working immediately before suffering the sickness or injury directly related to the claim event, we will pay the total and permanent disablement benefit if (b) below applies. b) You have suffered a sickness or injury while you have been engaged full-time in normal domestic duties in your own residence for more than 3 consecutive months; and: and you are unable to engage in any normal domestic duties because of the sickness or injury for a continuous period of at least 3 consecutive months; and in our opinion, after consideration of medical and any other evidence, that you are incapacitated to such an extent that you are unlikely ever to be able to: perform normal domestic duties; and engage in any occupation for which you are reasonably suited by education, training or experience. The period of time that you have to have been unable to engage in any normal domestic duties because of the sickness or injury will be reduced from 3 consecutive months to 14 consecutive days where medical evidence clearly indicates that you will be unable to engage in any normal domestic duties for a period for at least 3 consecutive months. Payment of the total and permanent disablement benefit due to (b) above will be determined on the sum insured at the date 3 months after you have been unable to engage in normal domestic duties as a result of the sickness or injury that resulted in you being totally and permanently disabled. Any premiums received for cover after this date will be refunded. 4.0 Contact us If you have any queries about the automatic enhancements to your policy, or want to find out more about the optional benefits, contact your adviser, visit our website or call our Life Customer Service team on Important note This information is general advice and doesn t take into account a person s objectives, financial situation or needs. A person should consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) available at and consider obtaining financial advice before making any decision about this product. This product is not a bank deposit or other bank liability. Products and services are provided by different entities in the Suncorp Group and each entity is not responsible for, does not guarantee and is not liable in any respect for products or services of other Suncorp entities. is issued jointly by Suncorp Life & Superannuation Limited ABN AFSL and Suncorp Portfolio Services Limited ABN AFSL RSE Licence No L

8 Contact Life or the Trustee Mail Life Customer Service GPO Box 68 Sydney NSW 2001 Fax Phone (outside Sydney) Web Life state offices NSW/ACT Level Kent Street Sydney NSW 2000 GPO Box 4252 Sydney NSW 2001 T F NSW callers outside Sydney VIC/TAS Level 8 15 William Street Melbourne Vic 3000 PO Box Collins St West Melbourne VIC 8007 T F Vic callers outside Melbourne & Tasmanian callers QLD Level 4 50 McDougall Street Milton QLD 4064 PO Box 5229 West End QLD 4101 T F QLD callers outside Brisbane SA/NT Level Grenfell Street Adelaide SA 5000 PO Box 429 Unley Business Centre Unley SA 5061 T F SA callers outside Adelaide WA Level 3 37 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000 PO Box 444 West Perth WA 6872 T F WA callers outside Perth Suncorp Life & Superannuation Limited ABN AFS Licence No Level Kent Street Sydney NSW 2000 Suncorp Portfolio Services Limited ABN AFS Licence No RSE Licence No. L Level 18 Suncorp Centre 36 Wickham Terrace Brisbane QLD 4000 AS /01/12 B