Changes to Covid Underwriting guidelines

Our Covid Zurich underwriting guidelines have recently been updated. These updates will improve acceptance rates and overall customer experience.

What has changed?

MEDICAL

For Life and Trauma cover - asymptomatic/mild/moderate COVID infections with no hospitalisation will be accepted at standard rates following full recovery. The 1 month deferral period will be removed. 

Note: there is no change to the COVID rules regarding additional risks factors, meaning some recovered infections may still be referred to review additional risk factors. Our guideline for the more severe cases including applicants who are hospitalised or have ongoing complications have not changed.

For TPD and IP, there is no change to our approach regarding  COVID. Our underwriting team is regularly reviewing our COVID approach and ensuring it is reasonable based on the data available. Long COVID continues to be a concern and at this stage, the data suggests that it doesn’t correlate with the severity of the COVID infection. Issues can include ongoing fatigue, brain fog, mental health symptoms, cardiovascular issues and even an increase risk in developing diabetes which is why it is so concerning for disability benefits.

FINANCIAL

All COVID related financial restrictions that were implemented earlier on in the pandemic have now been removed, including JobKeeper related questions. Normal financial underwriting will apply based on disclosed income and work history. 

If you have any further questions on the latest updates, please contact your Business Development Manager or Underwriter.