The importance of disclosure in underwriting

The importance of disclosure - new guides available

Each year, across the market, a small percentage of claims are declined – these declinatures are often due to non-disclosure of relevant facts during the application stage.

Misrepresentation in insurance applications can be costly – costly to the client and their family, to the insurer and even to you, the broker. While full disclosure may in a small percentage of cases result in higher premiums, it ultimately provides the assurance that the policy will fulfil its purpose when it’s needed most.

We have recently updated our disclosure guides to help you support your clients when they apply for cover. Don’t hesitate to provide your client with the Client Guide – it’s an excellent document that highlights the importance of full and accurate disclosure.

Click here for the Broker Guide

Click here for the Client Guide

How to deal with sensitive issues?

Sometimes clients under-disclose about sensitive topics, such as mental health and alcohol/drug use because they feel uncomfortable to discuss these issues. Therefore, it can be useful to pre-warn your clients that you will be asking health questions and ask your client ahead of meeting you to think about any relevant health issues. You could provide your client with our client brochure on non-disclosure to help them prepare.

If you still feel the client is uncomfortable disclosing information directly to you – give them a client questionnaire and ask them to contact Zurich directly in order to confidentially update their file. You won’t be advised of the nature of any disclosure, but our systems will indicate additional information has been received.

Click here for the Questionnaires

Check out our Underwriting Requirements Calculator

In the calculator you can enter the amounts that your client would like to insure in case of death or serious illness and the calculator will give you an overview of the questionnaires that will be required during the process.

Click here for the Underwriting Requirements Calculator

We're here to help

When you have questions about underwriting, we encourage you to contact our underwriting team directly.

We can answer your technical queries, assist you with advice on complicated or large cases and we offer a dedicated procedure for urgent mortgage cases.

You can contact us:

• by e-mail at underwritingsupport@zurich.ie
• by phone at (01) 799 2826

If you have evidence for a case on pipeline - e-mail us at Newbusinessrisk@zurich.com