COVID-19 update and FAQs

Under the terms of our current standard policy UK employees (members under a policy) can be based outside of the UK. This is subject to:

• The member having a contract of employment with a UK resident employer and remain on the UK payroll
• Premiums continuing to be paid
• The terms and conditions of the policy being met for these members
• In normal circumstances these members cannot be based in a country on the UK Governments Financial Crime Red List. This list may change from time to time.
• If a member is based in a Red Listed country on a temporary basis during the coronavirus pandemic, they must return to the normal working arrangements (as per the risk accepted by us) as soon as reasonably practicable when restrictions are lifted. 

Premium and claim benefit must continue to be paid from and to a UK bank account.

We would consider claims in the normal way and subject to us being able to obtain satisfactory medical evidence.

Details of employees working overseas must be provided at the quote stage and at each rate review.

Cover would remain in place in respect of eligible members as long as premiums continue to be paid by the policyholder.

Yes.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme ended on 30th September 2021. For employees who were placed on furlough, had their hours reduced or were requested to take a temporary pay cut for a period up to the end of September 2021 we can continue cover at the pre-reduction level as follows:

• Reduced hours - we are able to provide cover on the basis of the normal contractual hours rather than the reduced hours. This also applies if hours were reduced to zero.
• Reduced salaries - for employees requested to take a temporary pay cut, we can continue to insure benefits based on their salary immediately prior to such a reduction. This also applies if salary was reduced to zero.
• Furloughed employees - for employees who were furloughed we can continue to insure benefits based on their salary immediately prior to being placed on furlough salary.

This is subject to:

• Premiums continuing to be paid for the full benefit.
• The employee remaining employed.
• Our normal terms and conditions.
• We must continue to receive member data stating employees' pre-reduction salaries and not their reduced levels. Please note that where the salary definition includes bonuses and other fluctuating elements and these have been reduced due to the employee being placed on:
  • Furlough; or
  • Reduced hours; or
  • A reduced salary
• It is important that the data reflects the cover the employer wants to provide e.g. averaged over the 3 years prior to the reduction or averaged over the period stated in the policy.
• Benefits cannot be increased during this period other than for salary related increases in line with the employer’s general pay increases.

The above is:

• Our default position.
• Only applies in response to the coronavirus.
• Can apply for renewals up to 31st January 2022.
• We must be notified if the employer wishes to take a different approach.

In these circumstances, the employee would be regarded as being actively at work as long as they have not received medical advice to refrain from work.

For clarity, an employee who is self-isolating or shielding would not be considered actively at work if they have symptoms and have received medical advice to refrain from work.

No, there would be no impact on cover as along as the employer continued to pay premiums. The policy terms and conditions would apply.

There are no general exclusions under our Group Life policies. All causes of death are covered for eligible members. However, there is a restriction on travelling on business against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (please see below).

The FCDO Travel Advice service uses a traffic light system of:

• Red: Advise against all travel
• Amber: Advise against all but essential travel
• Green: Normal safety precautions.

Under the terms of our current standard policy, there is a restriction on travelling on business where the FCDO advises against all travel (red zone). Where the FCDO has advised against all travel to an area, our Group Life policies will not cover individuals subsequently travelling to that area on business. We will, however, cover any individuals who travelled on business to an area which was not a red zone when they travelled, but has since become a red zone.

A catastrophe means one or a series of originating causes or events which results in more than one death, irrespective of the period of time or area over which they take place.

The catastrophe clause could be invoked if the catastrophe provisions under the policy are met. The coronavirus pandemic would be considered as one originating cause.

However, as the catastrophe limit is usually at least £100 million per policy, it is very unlikely that the limit would be reached. Please check policy documents for the catastrophe limit applying to a particular policy.