Does MetLife Protect and MetLife Protect Super have any exclusions in relation to COVID-19?
No.
Will your client still be covered by their MetLife Protect and MetLife Protect Super policy if they travel internationally?
Yes. MetLife Protect and MetLife Protect Super provides worldwide insurance cover 24 hours a day. Travel arrangements are required to be disclosed as part of any application for new or increased cover. Travel will be excluded while government enforced travel bans are in place and for travel to countries rated DFAT level 3 & 4 (which was the case prior to the government enforced travel ban) once the ban is lifted.
Can a client who is diagnosed with COVID-19 apply for life insurance?
Yes, a client may apply for cover. MetLife will defer the underwriting decision for at least three months until the client has received a clean bill of health from their doctor confirming they are illness and symptom free, and have no ongoing respiratory complications.
Can a client apply for life insurance cover who has visited a country or region considered a COVID-19 risk?
MetLife will defer the underwriting decision until the client has received a clean bill of health from their doctor confirming they are illness and symptom free, after a minimum 14 day period of self-isolation.
If a client’s dependent child contracts COVID-19, is there any way for the client to claim on their MetLife Protect policy while they take time off work to care for their dependent child?
Yes. Provide & Care Extras under Income Cover pays up to 50% of the Life Insured’s monthly benefit to a maximum of $5,000 per month for up to three months if the Life Insured takes unpaid carers leave to look after a Dependent Child aged 2 to 16, under the Income Cover - Child Illness or Injury Benefit. The benefit becomes payable after the first 30 days of unpaid carer’s leave.
If a client contracts the COVID-19 virus, can they claim on their Trauma Cover?
Not for the COVID-19 virus, as it is not one of the conditions listed for this benefit. However, if the virus results in more severe medical conditions that are covered and they meet the definition and any other policy terms, then the life insured would be eligible to make a claim under their Trauma Cover policy.
If a client contracts the COVID-19 virus, can they claim on their Income Cover?
In many circumstances, COVID-19 runs its normal course in approximately 14 days. If a client is illness and symptom free after 14 days and is not Partially disabled, then they will not meet the Excess Period (waiting period) under the MetLife Protect or MetLife Protect Super policy, and a benefit would not be paid. If the virus persists past the Excess Period and the Life Insured is unable to work at full capacity due to COVID-19, then they may be eligible to be paid a benefit under their Income Cover policy.
If a client contracts the COVID-19 virus, can they claim on their TPD Cover?
The current information available suggests most individuals who contract COVID-19 recover within 14 days and return to their normal activities. The long term health impacts or complications of COVID-19 remains unclear. If clients have long term permanent health complications resulting from COVID-19 infection, then they may be eligible to make a claim under their TPD policy. If they have long term permanent health complications resulting from COVID-19 infection, then please contact us to discuss.
Will a client’s beneficiaries get paid the Life Cover benefit if they die from COVID-19?
Yes, subject to normal policy conditions.