Medical underwriting.

We’ll normally underwrite any members:

• Whose benefit exceeds the scheme’s free limit at the start of the policy, renewal or following a significant benefit increase.
• Who are joining outside of the policy’s normal eligibility conditions.
• Who are joining on a discretionary entrant basis.

• For future increases up to £5 million benefit for Group Life Assurance.
• Where the insured basis is changed at a future date for all members.
• Where the insured basis is changed at a future date for all members in a category of five lives or more provided the policy does not cover equity partners or limited liability partnership members or include a flexible benefit category.
• Even where the member’s benefit is subject to a premium loading or exclusion (provided no premium loading has ever been declined).

• If a member of a flexible benefit policy flexes up other than a lifestyle event.
• If a member’s underwritten benefit exceeds £5 million and accepted at ordinary rates or loaded at 50% or less, we’ll next need medical evidence when the benefit increases by another £300,000, and thereafter at each further £300,000 increment.
• Cover is accepted with a loading above 50%, we’ll need medical evidence for all increases in benefit above £5 million.

Medical evidence will be required if a member of a flexible benefit policy flexes up other than a lifestyle event.

• When the member’s benefit is more than the free limit.
• Employees who are joining outside of the policy’s normal eligibility conditions.
• Employees who are joining on a discretionary entrant basis.
• If their benefit entitlement increases at a later date after providing medical evidence, we may need to ask for more depending on the amount of the increase and any special terms that already apply.
• We may set terms and conditions that specify when medical evidence maybe needed outside the normal requirements.

If we ask for medical evidence, we’ll need the following so that when a claim is made, the benefit level is not affected:

• completed tele-interview,
• or a completed member’s declaration form, and
• a completed discretionary entrant application form (if applicable).

Member’s can take advantage of our tele-interview service, where a qualified nurse will call at a time convenient to the member to help fill in the member’s declaration form over the phone. The nurse will fill in the member’s declaration form and send it to the member to sign before returning to us.

Often company medical reports will give us the information we need. We can accept medical reports from examinations taken within the last two years, as long as they meet our requirements.

We’ll consider the following when deciding if a medical examination is needed:

• The level of cover requested.
• The age of the member.
• The information supplied in the member’s declaration form.

Nurse screening. If we need a further medical examination, we can offer nurse screening to take place at a convenient time at the member’s home or their office.