Medical
Pursuits
Residency/travel
Medical limits
Occupation
Medical
I have a client who is overweight - what kind of loading would they be looking at?
We’d need to know the client’s age, height and weight to work out their BMI - this would indicate loadings providing there were no other health issues. For clients with particularly high BMIs (above 37) we’d look to get an MER in order to confirm up-to-date height and weight readings. This would be a medical with Meds Direct unless a medical with own GP was specified.
My client has diabetes - would you offer cover? If so, what kind of loadings can they expect?
For any client with diabetes we’d only be able to offer life cover. For us to indicate possible loadings we’d need to know:
- the age of the client
- which type of diabetes they have (ie. type 1 or type 2)
- how long they’ve had the diabetes for
- whether the diabetes is well controlled
We need to know of any other medical conditions the client may have as they could contribute to the overall rating.
We can give an indicative loading using this information. However, advisers should be aware that for every client that discloses diabetes, we’ll go to the GP for up-to-date readings - to check the level of control and that there are no other diabetes-related issues that need to be taken into account.
My client has had cancer - would you offer cover? If so what kind of loading can they expect?
We’d need to know:
- what kind of tumour they have
- when the completion of primary treatment was
- the staging of the cancer
- the size of the tumour and whether there was any lymph node involvement
Without the full information, it's difficult to give an accurate loading. Each case will be judged on its own merit.
Pursuits
My client takes part in private aviation - what kind of loading can they expect?
We’d need to know whether it’s a fixed wing aircraft or a helicopter that the client is flying. For fixed wing aircrafts, we need to know which areas they fly in and how many hours flying they do a year. For helicopters, we need to know which areas they fly in, how many hours flying they do a year and the weight of the helicopter.
For life cover we’d be looking at a loading of £1 per mille (ie £1 per thousand sum assured a year) upwards and for critical illnesses, we’d generally be looking at an exclusion.
The minimum loading for a helicopter is £2 per mille.
My client takes part in motor sports - what kind of loading can they expect?
We’d need to know what kind of events they take part in (eg rallying, karting, drag racing), the size of the engine of the vehicle used and whether they’re professional or amateur.
We could then give an indication of loadings which could be between standard rates and £20 per mille)
Residency/travel
My client works abroad a lot - would you be able to offer cover? If so, would they be able to offer a loading/exclusion?
We’d need to know:
- how much time the client spends out of the country
- where they’re travelling to
- how long and how often the trips are
- what their job is (eg are they oilrig workers? Are they office based/admin only?)
- where do they stay while they’re away (eg hotels)
If there were no clear indicative loading (many of the more risky countries are individual consideration) we’d ring the re-assurers for guidance.
We can’t offer a travel exclusion instead of a loading.
My client is a non-UK resident for tax purposes - can you offer cover?
No, we can only offer cover to clients who are habitually resident in the UK.
Medical limits
My client is aged…..and they are looking for ……sum assured. What would your routine requirements be?
Up to age 65 these are available from the website:
Underwriting limits guide
However, for ages 65-plus give us a call.
Occupation
My client is a scaffolder/roofer/window cleaner - would you offer cover?
We’d need to know the maximum height worked at - if this is up to 12m (or 40ft) then we wouldn’t be looking at a loading. If the client works at heights over 12m (or 40ft) then we’d be looking at a per mille loading for life (can vary depending on actual occupation) and an occupational exclusion on critical illness.