COVID-19: Changes to our Underwriting process

COVID-19 is having a profound impact on life in Ireland and all over the world. At Zurich, we are continuing to assess its impact for you and your customers.

From next Tuesday, 21 April, we are making a change to our underwriting approach for Protection business. We are still open for business, so you can be confident that when you choose Zurich, you are choosing the strongest protection plan available.

Medical Evidence – still being received

Our approach on medical requirements remains unchanged. Given the pressures on the health service, their priorities are rightly focussed on COVID-19. We will continue to do our best on all individual applications to see if there are any alternatives available. However, we do need to highlight that there will be cases where we will be unable to underwrite until there is access to medical examinations and GP reports. It is good to note that currently we are still seeing a high level of Private Medical Attendants Reports being returned. 

New Business – additional COVID-19 Questionnaire now required

We are unable to accept terms for customers that have either:

1. Tested positive for COVID-19 in the last three months
2. Been advised to self-isolate, developed symptoms or been in contact with someone confirmed / suspected to have COVID-19.

For these cases, we will postpone acceptance for one month or until they have received an all-clear from their Doctor. We would highlight that once this is received that we would expect applications for Life Cover and Specified Illness Cover to be accepted at standard rates, assuming there is no other health history.

To help manage this process, we are introducing additional COVID-19 questions to all our Protection applications. For all applications submitted to Zurich from Tuesday 21 April, your clients will be required to have answered these questions. We have updated our Protection OnlineApply system so that these questions will be automatically asked.  

The new COVID-19 questionnaire details the new questions and must be completed in all cases. If you are using the ‘Declaration only’ process or the ‘reflexive’ questions then you must retain the questionnaire in your records. If you are sending the full application to Zurich then you must also attach the COVID-19 questionnaire. It is not our intention to amend our current ‘hard copy paper’ Application Forms as it is hoped that the need for these COVID-19 questions will be for a short period only.

Upcoming Protection Webinar

As you may have seen, we have a Protection Webinar scheduled for next Thursday, 23 April at 11am and we will cover off any of the questions or queries you may have with regard to this change to our underwriting approach. If you’d like to register for the Webinar, just follow the link.

Having issues registering? Download our step by step guide by clicking here.

If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your Zurich Broker Consultant.