The latest updates to TAL Accelerated Protection

Dad and son gardening

 

Flexible cover, focused on the needs of your clients

 

For over ten years, TAL's Accelerated Protection has been a market-leader. And we're committed to keeping it that way, which is why we're introducing some important updates on 27 March 2020.

These updates have been made to improve sustainability in line with guidance from APRA, but we've also taken the opportunity to simplify our disclosure and policy documents, launch some improved features and, as always, review our medical definitions to make sure they're aligned to the latest diagnostic and treatment practices. We're also proud to continue our strong track-record of passing back improvements to existing customers under our Guarantee of Upgrade philosophy*. I'm also pleased to let you know that as part of our commitment to Asteron Life Complete customers, we'll be passing back any definition improvements that don't impact premiums.

These changes will ensure the cover we provide can meet the needs of your clients, now and into the future. Here's what you need to know about the key updates.

Kind regards,

Niall McConville
General Manager, Retail Distribution

 

Removal of Agreed Value IP contracts

By 1 April 2020, APRA requires all insurers to cease the sale of Agreed Value Income Protection policies.

It's important to be aware of some important cut-off dates for any applications in progress ahead of this deadline:

KEY DATES: NEW BUSINESS
TRANSITION ARRANGEMENTS FOR
NEW AND EXISTING BUSINESS
Electronic applications via TAC:
applications must be received by
26 March 2020
If your client wishes to apply for Agreed Value Income Protection, we encourage applications to be submitted as early as possible to allow for processing within these timeframes.

Incomplete applications containing Agreed Value IP that are not submitted by 26 March 2020 will be expired and you will need to start a new quote and resubmit the application.

Customers with existing Agreed Value IP policies can continue to maintain and amend their cover in accordance with existing policy terms – these policies are not subject to any new restrictions as a result of APRA's measures.

Tele-Interview requests submitted via TAC:
must be received by TAL by 26 March 2020, with interview undertaken by 30 April 2020
Paper applications with a quote signed
prior to 26 March 2020:
must be received by TAL by 30 April 2020
Finalise outstanding requirements (all types):
policy with Agreed Value benefit must be issued by TAL by 30 June 2020.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, READ THE FAQ'S

Enhanced Critical Illness Insurance

We've comprehensively reviewed our Critical Illness (CI) definitions with our in-house medical experts, to reflect the latest medical practice and to give you confidence in your recommendations. Some examples include:
  • Revised 29 definitions for improved simplicity and alignment with medical practice
  • Improved coverage for an Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest to allow for other forms of evidence when ECG not available
  • Improved coverage for the severity of congenital /acquired Loss of Hearing and deafness

Check out our Adviser Guide and Upgrade Booklet for more information

Interim Rollover Cover Benefit

Available since July 2019, our Interim Rollover Cover Benefit (IRCB) provides your clients with full cover when they apply and are accepted for a new Accelerated Protection policy that is structured through TAL Super, and their premiums are paid via rollover. We have now updated our PDS to reflect this additional benefit.

The IRCB starts when we agree to insure your client, and have been provided with all the necessary requirements to enable us to issue the policy. It's just another way we're supporting your clients by providing them with the same level of cover they successfully applied for, while we wait for premium payment via rollover from their nominated superannuation fund.

For more information about the IRCB, please check out our adviser FAQ.

Other changes to some product features and maximum limits

From 27 March 2020, we are applying the following changes to selected product features, sums insured and entry age limits:

  • maximum sum insured of $30,000 per month for Income Protection
  • maximum sum insured of $30,000 per month for the Business Expense Option
  • maximum entry age of 60 (next birthday) will apply to Income Protection where there is a Benefit Period to age 70 
  • maximum sum insured of $3 million will apply to TPD insurance, including any increases under the Business Insurance Option 
  • Income Protection Retirement Protection Option will no longer be available

After 26 March 2020, existing quotes that include any of the above features will generate an error message and will need to be revised. In addition, any incomplete applications that are not submitted prior to this date will be expired, meaning you will be required to resubmit the application with a revised quote.

Changes to when cover ends for Critical Illness (CI) and TPD for Attached or Linked policies

We have made some changes to the age that benefits will cease for CI and TPD policies when they are Attached or Linked. Cover will cease at ages 65 for CI and 70 for TPD, meaning that benefits will no longer continue under the 'Loss of Independent Existence' definition from the policy anniversary at these ages.

Combined PDS and Policy Document

In an effort to help your clients better understand their cover, we have merged our Accelerated Protection PDS and Policy Document to create one single point of reference for everything they need to know about their policy. This new combined document has been through a plain-English review.

For your clients who structure their cover through TAL Super, we have developed a new, Accelerated Protection through TAL Super Product Disclosure Statement.

For ease of use and delivery to your clients, we have provided these together in a single document, which includes both:

  1. Combined Accelerated Protection Product Disclosure Statement & Policy Document, and
  2. Accelerated Protection through TAL Super Product Disclosure Statement.

You can  download a digital copy of the new PDSUpgrade BookletAdviser Guide and any updated forms and documents from the TAL Adviser Centre.

Please ensure you use the new forms for all business submitted on or after 27 March 2020. 

For further information

Please contact your local TAL Sales team member, or our Adviser Service Centre on 1300 286 937.

*UNDER OUR GUARANTEE OF UPGRADE FEATURE, WE'LL PASS-BACK FUTURE UPGRADES AND BENEFITS TO EXISTING CUSTOMERS THAT DON'T INCREASE PREMIUM RATES. PASS-BACKS DO NOT APPLY FOR ANY EXISTING SYMPTOM PRIOR TO THE PASS-BACK. SEE THE PDS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS.

THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR USE BY LICENSED ADVISERS IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY ONLY, AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE PROVIDED TO NOR USED BY YOUR CLIENTS FOR THE PURPOSES OF MAKING A DECISION ABOUT ANY FINANCIAL PRODUCT. ANY ADVICE IS GENERAL IN NATURE ONLY AND DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT YOUR CLIENT'S OBJECTIVES, FINANCIAL SITUATION OR NEEDS. BEFORE ACTING ON IT, THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE ADVICE FOR YOUR CLIENT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED, HAVING REGARD TO THOSE FACTORS.

BEFORE DECIDING TO ACQUIRE OR TO CONTINUE TO HOLD ACCELERATED PROTECTION, ADVISERS AND THEIR CLIENTS SHOULD CONSIDER THE ACCELERATED PROTECTION COMBINED PRODUCT DISCLOSURE STATEMENT AND POLICY DOCUMENT, AND WHERE COVER IS STRUCTURED THROUGH TAL SUPER THE ACCELERATED PROTECTION THROUGH TAL SUPER PDS, AVAILABLE AT WWW.TAL.COM.AU. BEFORE DECIDING TO CONTINUE TO HOLD ASTERON LIFE COMPLETE, ADVISERS AND THEIR CLIENTS SHOULD CONSIDER THE ASTERON LIFE COMPLETE PRODUCT DISCLOSURE STATEMENT PROVIDED TO THEM WHEN THEY ACQUIRED THEIR POLICY OR AVAILABLE AT WWW.ASTERONLIFE.COM.AU. The Target Market Determination (TMD) is also available.

THIS INFORMATION IS CURRENT AT 1 OCTOBER 2021 AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

ACCELERATED PROTECTION IS ISSUED BY TAL LIFE LIMITED GPO BOX 5380, SYDNEY NSW 2001 ABN 70 050 109 450 AFSL 237848 (TAL). TAL SUPER IS A PLAN WITHIN THE RETAIL DIVISION IN THE MERCER SUPER TRUST ABN 19 905 422 981. MERCER SUPERANNUATION (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED ABN 79 004 717 533 AFSL 235906 IS THE TRUSTEE OF TAL SUPER. ASTERON LIFE COMPLETE IS ISSUED BY TAL LIFE LIMITED ABN 70 050 109 450 AFSL 237848 (TAL LIFE).

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