How To Get A Pure Life Insurance Policy

Transcription

1 Pure Life My plan. Heading goes Their future. here. Powered by Citi. Powered by Citi. Product Disclosure Statement Issued 025 March? April 2011 Issuer: Distributor: MetLife Insurance Limited Citigroup Pty Ltd ( Citibank )

2 What is a Product Disclosure Statement? A Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) is a document which will assist you to make an informed decision about whether or not to purchase a particular insurance product. You should read it carefully before you make your final decision to purchase. You must have received this PDS in Australia. This PDS contains general information about Pure Life which will help you decide whether it s right for you. It explains the significant benefits, premiums, significant risks, our complaints handling process, cooling off period and other rights, and terms and conditions relating to this product. It has been prepared without taking into account your financial situation, needs and objectives. You should read and consider the information contained in this PDS to understand the extent of the cover provided by this policy and its limitations to decide whether it s appropriate for you. You may wish to consult a financial adviser. Pure Life is distributed by Citigroup Pty Limited (Citibank). ABN AFSL/ACL Park Street, Sydney NSW Pure Life is not a product of, nor is it guaranteed by, Citibank. Cover is issued from MetLife s No.1 Statutory Fund. Pure Life is not a savings plan. The information contained in this PDS is current at the time of issue. From time to time we may change or update information that is not materially adverse by providing a notice of changes on You can also obtain a paper copy of the updated information by calling us If there is a materially significant change or omission to this PDS, we will issue a supplementary or replacement PDS. Pure Life is issued by MetLife Insurance Limited (MetLife). ABN AFSL Level 9, 2 Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Phone: MetLife, an affiliate of MetLife Inc., is a specialist provider of life insurance to affinity partners, superannuation trustees and employers in Australia. MetLife has expertise in designing and executing both direct insurance programs for partners customers and insurance solutions to meet the needs of specific member groups. MetLife has been a specialist provider of life risk insurance products in Australia since MetLife Inc., through its affiliates (collectively the MetLife companies ), operates in the Asia Pacific, Americas and Europe and has over 140 years of experience.

3 Table of contents Eight great reasons to choose Pure Life 2 About Pure Life 4 What are the significant benefits? 7 What benefit does Pure Life provide if I die? What benefit does Pure Life provide if I become terminally ill? Does Pure Life provide assistance to meet expenses if I die? Does Pure Life have a loyalty benefit? Can I decide who will receive the death benefit? Can I change my cover level if my circumstances change? When will a benefit not be paid? Applying for cover 10 Am I eligible to apply for cover? How much cover can I have? How can I apply? Am I covered from the date I apply? When will my cover commence? When will my cover end? Premiums 12 What does Pure Life cost? Am I eligible for any discounts? What happens if I don t pay my premiums? Additional information 15 Cooling off period How do I make a claim? Are there any risks in taking out a Pure Life policy? Are Pure Life benefits taxed? Who can own a Pure Life policy? Is my policy guaranteed renewable? What if I have a problem with my policy? What happens with the personal information I give to you? Your Duty of Disclosure Register of alternative forms of remuneration Direct Debit Service Agreement 19 Definitions 20 Eight great reasons to choose Pure Life 1. From $100,000 to $1 million cover with no medical or blood tests Up to $1 million protection for your family s future. 2. Terminal Illness Benefit 100% of your death benefit paid on diagnosis of terminal illness, so that you can arrange your financial affairs the way you want. 3. $10,000 Funeral Expenses Benefit A $10,000 additional benefit, payable to your beneficiaries within one business day of lodging a death claim, to assist with immediate financial needs such as funeral expenses while we process your claim. 4. Free interim Accidental Death cover Up to $1 million interim Accidental Death cover for up to 14 days while your application is being assessed. 5. Loyalty Bonus Benefit Receive a 15% refund of your Pure Life premiums already paid every five years, as a reward for your loyalty. 6. Cover and Family Discount Enjoy a range of premium discounts if you apply for $300,000 or more cover as well as an additional 10% premium discount if two or more family members apply for Pure Life. 7. Easy to apply Applying for Pure Life is easy. For your convenience, you can apply over the phone or by simply completing the Pure Life Application Form. 8. Future Insurability Benefit Increase your cover level without the need for a further health assessment if certain events occur, such as purchasing a home or the birth of a child.

4 About Pure Life If you have a family or other loved ones who depend on you financially, it s important to think about how they would cope in the event of your death because the financial implications of the death of a family member can be significant and immediate. In the midst of everything else, there is still the mortgage or rent to pay, utilities, car payments, school fees or other education costs, plus all the other day to day living costs. Pure Life is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to secure your family s future, providing a financial safety net for your family and peace of mind for you. Pure Life is life insurance cover that pays your chosen benefit, up to $1 million, as a lump sum to your nominated beneficiaries (if any) or your estate in the event of your death, or to you in the case of your terminal illness. The benefit can be used to manage major debts or to provide an ongoing income for your family s future. You choose the cover level to suit your needs and budget, and while your application is being assessed, you ll enjoy the peace of mind of free interim Accidental Death cover for up to 14 days. Applying for Pure Life cover is easy too. For your convenience you can apply online or over the phone. There are absolutely no blood tests or medical exams, so provided you are aged 18 to 60 years (inclusive) and eligible to apply, you could be covered as soon as we receive your application. 3 4

5 Protect the ones you love with Pure Life I want to know that if I m not there, my family will be taken care of. With Pure Life you have the peace of mind knowing that should the worst happen, your family could have up to $1 million to use however they want, such as to pay off the mortgage and other loans or to invest and provide for an ongoing regular income. If something happens to me, how will my family cope financially while the claim is being sorted out? Pure Life provides a $10,000 additional Funeral Expenses Benefit so that in the tragic event of your death, your family does not have to worry about how to pay the bills during this difficult time. Our life is changing all the time. If we take out life insurance now, will it still be right for us in the years to come? Pure Life s Future Insurability Benefit means that when you have a significant change in your life, such as purchasing a new home or having a baby, you have the option to increase your cover level without any medical or health tests. We ve had other insurance policies for years and never made a claim. I feel as though we don t get any benefit from them. With Pure Life you have the benefit of real peace of mind, but in addition, every five years that you keep your policy, you will receive a refund of 15% of your premiums paid during that time to spend however you like. Terms and conditions apply. Please read the PDS for full details of benefits payable and any exclusions or limitations. 5 6

6 What are the significant benefits? What cover is available under Pure Life? Pure Life provides a lump sum benefit in the event of your death or if you are diagnosed as terminally ill. What benefit does Pure Life provide if I die? In the event of your death, your Pure Life policy will pay your nominated beneficiaries (if any) or estate, a lump sum amount equal to your cover level (plus any indexation) as at the date of your death. This is called your Death Benefit. What benefit does Pure Life provide if I become terminally ill? If you are diagnosed as terminally ill, with less than 12 months to live, your Pure Life policy will advance your Death Benefit in full, which will allow you the opportunity to arrange your financial affairs. This is called your Terminal Illness Benefit. Does Pure Life provide assistance to meet expenses if I die? Pure Life provides an immediate benefit of $10,000 in the event of your death to cover costs such as funeral expenses and other bills faced by the family, whilst the Death Benefit claim is being processed. This benefit is paid in addition to the Pure Life Death Benefit and is paid to the primary nominated beneficiary usually within one business day of us receiving the death certificate and completed claim form. This is called your Funeral Expenses Benefit. Does Pure Life have a loyalty benefit? If you have continuously held your policy for five years, we will refund 15% of the premiums you have paid during that period. If you continue to hold your Pure Life policy thereafter, we will continue to pay a loyalty benefit every five years, meaning that on the 5th, 10th, 15th etc anniversary of your policy commencement date you will receive 15% of the premiums back that you have paid in the previous five years. This is called your Loyalty Bonus Benefit. Can I change my cover level if my circumstances change? There are certain events in our lives that generally create an increased need for life insurance. These events are: getting married having or adopting a child having a child start high school purchasing a home, and/or the death of a spouse/de facto. If any of these events occur before you reach 60 years of age, you can increase your Death Benefit by $100,000 irrespective of any changes in your health, providing that at the time of applying for the increase you have not made or are entitled to make a claim under this policy. This is called your Future Insurability Benefit. To take advantage of this benefit, you only need to write to us or call us within 30 days of your policy anniversary, following the event. You can use this benefit to increase your cover once in any year, and up to three times over the life of your policy. You can apply to increase your cover at any time. If we agree to increase your cover level, it will be subject to the maximum entry age, cover level available and your health conditions disclosed, as part of your application. Additionally, to ensure that your protection keeps pace with the rising cost of living, each year on your policy anniversary, we will automatically increase your cover level by the greater of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 5%. Your premium will increase accordingly. If you believe your cover remains sufficient to meet your needs, you do not have to take this increase. You can reduce or cancel your cover at any time subject to the minimum cover level available. Can I decide who will receive the Death Benefit? You can nominate to whom your Death Benefit will be directly paid by completing a Nomination of Beneficiaries Form. This form will be sent to you when you commence your cover. 7 8

7 Applying for cover When will a benefit not be paid? In order to keep premiums affordable, certain events are excluded from cover. You will not receive any benefit for any claim which arises as a result of: 1. An intentional self-inflicted act during the first 13 months from the time you purchase your cover or reinstate or increase your cover (for the increased component of your cover only, including any increases under the Future Insurability Benefit). 2. You being involved in one of the following activities: engaging in an occupation where you are: - working at heights of more than 15 metres - working underground - carrying a firearm - handling explosives - working offshore in the oil, gas or petroleum industry - working in the armed forces. engaging in activities such as: - aviation or aerial pursuits except as a fare paying passenger on a commercial airline - motor racing on land or water - mountaineering - diving below 45 metres or on wrecks, potholing or caving, or 3. Your travel to any destinations that the Australian Government has issued a do not travel or reconsider your need to travel warning. Am I eligible to apply for cover? You can apply for a Pure Life policy if you are: a citizen or permanent resident of Australia, currently residing in Australia, and aged 18 to 60 years (inclusive). We will assess the health information you provide us in your application. If we consider that you are a higher risk due to factors like poor health or lifestyle we will, in most cases, still offer you cover but it may be at a higher premium or with some limitations applied. We do, however, reserve the right to decline to offer you cover if we believe your risk factors are too high. How much cover can I have? You select the cover level that you believe will suit your family s protection needs, from $100,000 to $1,000,000, in increments of $100,000. How can I apply? Applying for Pure Life is easy and there are absolutely no medicals or blood tests to take. You can apply by: 1. Completing the application at 2. Calling between 8am and 6pm (AEST), Monday to Friday. When applying for Pure Life you must be truthful in everything you tell us (please refer to Your Duty of Disclosure on page 18). We will assess your application based on the information you give us about your health. If additional information is required, we will contact you. Am I covered from the date I apply? While your Pure Life application is being processed, we will provide you with free interim cover for accidental death (at the same cover level as that for which you are applying). Your interim Accidental Death cover ceases when we issue your Pure Life policy, decline your application, make you an alternative offer of insurance, or 14 days after we receive your application, whichever event occurs first. 9 10

8 Premiums When will my cover commence? Your cover will commence once your application has been accepted by us. You will receive a policy document and policy schedule detailing the cover level and the policy commencement date. What does Pure Life cost? Your premium payable for this policy is based on your chosen cover level, your age, gender and smoking status. The table below lists how these factors will affect your premium: The policy document along with the policy schedule forms the basis of your contract. If there is any inconsistency between this PDS and the policy document, the full terms and conditions contained in the policy document will prevail to the extent of the inconsistency. When will my cover end? Your cover ends on the earliest of the following events: you reach 99 years of age your insurance is cancelled due to non-payment of premium you cancel your insurance when we pay a Terminal Illness Benefit, or your death. Factor Cover level Age Gender Smoking status Effect on premium Premiums increase as your cover level increases. Higher cover levels will receive a discount. Premiums usually increase as your age increases. Premiums are generally lower for females than for males. Premiums are lower if you have been a non-smoker for the past three years. Premium illustration: If you are a 35 year old male, non-smoker, requiring $100,000 cover, your first monthly premium (assuming you are in good health), will be $14.54 per month. If you are a 45 year old female, smoker, requiring $200,000 cover, your first monthly premium (assuming you are in good health), will be $89.75 per month. Your premium may also be affected by your responses to health, lifestyle and family history questions in your application. Your individual premium will be advised during your application over the phone or you can call for a quote. Your premiums must be paid monthly in advance through either your nominated bank account or credit card (Diners, American Express, Visa or MasterCard)

9 Premiums are recalculated based on your age at each policy anniversary. The premium you pay includes any compulsory government charges, eg. stamp duty. We will notify you of any additional charges due to legislative changes. We will send you a notice prior to each policy anniversary confirming your premium. We may amend the premium rates that apply to Pure Life at any time and, as a result, your premium may increase or decrease. However, your premium can only change if we change the rates for all Pure Life policies like yours and you cannot be singled out for an increase. If we amend the premium rates, we will provide you with at least 30 days written notice. Am I eligible for any discounts? You may be eligible for the Cover Discount and/or the Family Discount. Illustration of Cover Discount and Family Discount Eg. If you purchase a $800,000 Pure Life policy and your spouse purchases a $200,000 Pure Life policy, you will be entitled to a 50% discount (40% Cover Discount + 10% Family Discount) and your spouse will be entitled to a 10% discount (Family Discount). What happens if I don t pay my premiums? You must pay your premiums throughout the life of the policy when they are due. If you do not pay a premium within 30 days of it being due, we will cancel your policy. However, we will provide you with 30 days written notice before we cancel it for this reason. Cover Discount Cover levels of $300,000 and over attract a discount of 20% to 40%. Please see the table below. Cover Level $100,000 $200,000 $300,000 $400,000 Cover Discount Not applicable 20% discount $500,000 $600,000 30% discount $700,000 $800,000 $900,000 40% discount $1,000,000 Family Discount Should your spouse/de facto, parents, siblings or children also purchase a Pure Life policy, you and your family members will enjoy a 10% discount

10 Additional information Cooling off period For your added peace of mind, Pure Life comes with a 30 day cooling off period. You have 30 days from the policy commencement date to review your policy and make sure that it meets your needs. If you change your mind and wish to cancel your policy during that time, provided that you have not made a claim, you will be entitled to a full refund of premiums paid up to that time. How do I make a claim? If you, your family or estate needs to make a claim, please contact us as soon as possible on or visit Additional information about the claims process is set out in the policy document. You should read this information carefully. Are there any risks in taking out a Pure Life policy? Some of the risks associated with taking out a Pure Life policy include that: the policy may not suit your needs the cover level may be insufficient a benefit may not be paid because of one of the listed exclusions (refer to When will a benefit not be paid? on page 9), and Pure Life is not a savings plan so if you cancel the policy after the cooling off period, you will not receive any premiums back. It s important that you ensure that the policy meets your needs both now and in the future. You may wish to seek assistance from a financial adviser if you are not sure about whether Pure Life suits your personal circumstances. Are Pure Life benefits taxed? Generally, the benefits paid under this policy will not be assessable for income tax purposes nor will the premiums be tax deductible where Pure Life is purchased for personal reasons. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) does not currently apply to these insurance premiums. If the tax laws are altered, we reserve the right to increase premiums or charges to reflect any applicable GST or any other Government taxes and charges that may be introduced. This information is based on current interpretation of tax law. If you have any concerns, we recommend that you seek advice from a qualified professional in relation to your own circumstances. Who can own a Pure Life policy? As the insured person, you will be the owner of this policy. While this policy remains in force, you cannot assign your policy to another person or entity. Is my policy guaranteed renewable? We guarantee to renew your policy on each policy anniversary until your cover ends (refer to When will my cover end? on page 11). This guarantee applies regardless of any change in your health or personal circumstances, provided premiums are paid when due. What if I have a problem with my policy? We have established a complaints resolution process and are committed to working with you to resolve your concerns. If you have any concerns in relation to your policy or MetLife, please contact us by: Phone: Mail: Dispute Resolution Officer MetLife Insurance Ltd Reply Paid 3319 Sydney NSW 2001 If you are not satisfied with how we respond to your complaint, you may contact the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), an independent and impartial body, who will investigate the matter. FOS can be contacted by: Phone: Mail: Website: The Executive Officer Financial Ombudsman Service GPO Box 3 Melbourne VIC 3001 info@fos.org.au

11 What happens with the personal information I give to you? If you want to purchase Pure Life cover, we will need to collect personal information from you so we can: assess your application set up and administer your policy provide you with service, and assess any claims you may have. Additionally, we may use the information you give us to: improve our financial products and services, and provide you with information about other MetLife products and services. In some circumstances this may mean that will need to share your information with a third party, eg. your doctor in the event of a claim. We may also need to send your personal information overseas or collect personal information about you from overseas. You may request a copy of the information we hold about you at any time. For our full Privacy Statement please visit or call us. Citibank may provide your personal information to us in accordance with its Privacy Policy, which can be viewed at Your Duty of Disclosure Before you enter into a contract of life insurance with an insurer, you have a duty, under the Insurance Contracts Act 1984, to disclose to the insurer every matter that you know, or could reasonably be expected to know, that is relevant to the insurer s decision whether to accept the risk of the insurance and, if so, on what terms. Your duty, however, does not require disclosure of a matter: that diminishes the risk to be undertaken by the insurer that is of common knowledge that your insurer knows, or in the ordinary course of their business, ought to know, or as to which compliance with your duty is waived by the insurer. Non-disclosure If you fail to comply with your duty of disclosure we may not pay a claim. This duty continues to apply until the insurer notifies you that the risk has been accepted. It also applies when you extend, vary or reinstate a contract of life insurance. Register of alternative forms of remuneration We maintain a register of alternative forms of remuneration paid to intermediaries as required by the Financial Services Council (FSC), of which we are a member. The purpose of this register is to provide an outline of the alternative types of remuneration paid and received. You can obtain a copy by calling us on

12 Direct Debit Service Agreement Definitions The following terms and conditions relate to the use of direct debit payments from your nominated bank account or credit card. You (or the Account Holder if different to you) will need to keep this document with your records. 1. You are responsible for ensuring the nominated account can accept direct debits and there are sufficient clear funds available in the nominated account to permit payments on the due date. 2. MetLife will initiate debits from your nominated bank account or credit card in accordance with your application. 3. MetLife agrees to provide not less than 14 days notice to you if it proposes to vary these arrangements. 4. You may request deferment of/or alteration to the agreed drawing schedule by writing to: MetLife GPO Box 3319 Sydney NSW 2001 MetLife reserves the right to decline this request. 5. You (or the Account Holder if different to you) can cancel, defer the direct debit, or suspend an individual debit from taking place under it, by notifying MetLife by phone, fax, or by notice in writing. You need to allow MetLife 14 days to process any cancellation, deferment or suspension. 6. In the event that you should disagree with any debit under the arrangement with MetLife, you should call us on or write directly to The Dispute Resolutions Officer at the address in point Direct debits will be done on the same date of the relevant month unless otherwise agreed. When the due date for payment falls on a day that is not a business day, MetLife will debit your account on the next business day. 8. In the event that your financial institution refuses to pay any direct debit made under the arrangement, MetLife will write to you requesting alternative payment. 9. Any information supplied by you (or the Account Holder if different to you) will remain confidential and will only be disclosed if authorised by you (or the Account Holder if different to you) or where required by law. Some of the words in your PDS have special meanings wherever they appear. These words and their meanings are defined below. Cover level: means the amount you apply for and we accept as varied (for example if you apply for a decrease or through increases under the Automatic Indexation Benefit) by agreement. Insured person: means the person who has been accepted by us and shown on the policy schedule as the insured person under this policy. Nominated beneficiary: means the person(s) you nominate using the Nomination of Beneficiaries form to receive the Death and Funeral Expenses Benefit under this policy. Policy: means your Pure Life insurance, which consists of the policy document, policy schedule and information provided in your application. Policy anniversary: means the anniversary of the policy commencement date. Policy commencement date: means the date we accept your application for cover as shown on the policy schedule. Policy owner: means the person shown on the policy schedule as the owner of this policy. Policy schedule: means a document issued by us which shows important information about your policy, including your policy number, cover level, premium, special conditions (if applicable) and policy commencement date. Premium: means the amount you pay us for the insurance. Primary nominated beneficiary: means the person you list first on your Nomination of Beneficiaries form. Terminal illness: means a sickness which you have been diagnosed with, that in our opinion, having considered any other evidence we may require, means that your life expectancy is not greater than 12 months, regardless of any available treatment. We, us and our: means MetLife Insurance Limited, ABN AFSL You and your: means the policy owner who is also the insured person who has been accepted by us and is shown on the policy schedule. 10. Initially, you should direct any request for stops or cancellations to MetLife

13 For enquiries call Citibank CITI PL /11