What is the minimum number of lives for Group Protection policies?
The minimum number of lives for our schemes is 20, increasing to 250 lives for flexible benefit schemes.
Does Zurich offer Death in Service?
We do not offer Death in Service Pension (DISP).
Do Zurich Corporate Risk products offer an Employee Assistance Programme?
We work with EAP provider, Health Assured Ltd, and can provide our customers with proposition solutions that support both integrated and independent EAP arrangements.
Please speak to your Account Manager to find out more.
Do Zurich Corporate Risk products offer free bereavement counselling?
We work with Health Assured Ltd and can provide our customers with proposition solutions that support both integrated and independent bereavement counselling.
Please speak to your Account Manager to find out more.
Can I add TUPE members to a scheme?
You can request to add a TUPE group to the policy. This change may impact the rate or terms that we are able to offer. To confirm this, please call our Scheme Underwriting Team on 0800 141 2002. You’ll need to provide details about the new members, including the company they previously worked for, eligibility, benefit structure, and the date of the transfer.
The Scheme Underwriter will confirm the terms that will apply, together with actions that need to be taken.
My client has employees who are travelling abroad - does Zurich require notification upfront?
We only require prior disclosure when members are travelling to destinations against Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice. In such circumstances, we’ll need to know the location and the frequency of travel.
Do you cover overseas members?
We normally cover employees on UK contracts of employment with UK employers or who are members of UK trusts. We may be able to cover members outside of this but cover will be subject to our cross-border business rules and you will need contact us in advance to see if we are able to provide cover.
Can you cover members who are seconded abroad?
We are able to cover members who are seconded abroad subject to confirmation that:
- They have a contract of employment with a UK company covered by the policy.
- Their period overseas does not exceed three years, unless they’re sent to a company within the same group of companies, in which case the period abroad may be longer.
If members don’t meet this criteria, please call our Scheme Underwriting team on 0800 141 2002.
We may agree to cover any member working outside the UK, but all premiums and benefits will be paid in UK currency. If we agree to cover members working outside the UK, we may apply special terms and conditions if we consider this appropriate following our risk assessment.
We will specify in any quotation the terms that apply to any members seconded abroad.
Does Zurich cover members who are on maternity leave?
Yes. Members of a scheme who are temporarily absent from work, including maternity or paternity leave, who are still receiving pay, can continue to be members for the temporary absence period selected.
What is the minimum number of employees required to offer spouse/partner cover?
We can provide spouse/partner cover for schemes with a minimum of 250 employees eligible to apply for the benefit.
What is the minimum number of lives Zurich covers for a flexible benefits arrangement?
The minimum number of lives for our schemes is 20, increasing to 250 lives for flexible benefit schemes.
Does Zurich still provide Group Income Protection cover for employees who are temporarily absent from work?
If a Member is away from work for reasons other than illness or injury, including maternity or paternity leave or holiday, and is still receiving pay, we will treat them as a Member for up to 12 months’ temporary absence. Their cover will be the amount of benefit the policy provided on the day before their absence began.
If the Member is away for reasons other than illness or injury and is not receiving pay, the Member can be covered for up to 12 months at the level in force on the day before the absence began provided that:
- there is an agreed date of return in writing, between the employer and employee
- the employee remains an employee and has a right to return to work to the same occupation
- the absent member continues to be included in the data and premiums are paid in respect of the member.
Where cover is continued during unpaid temporary absence, the Income Benefit will be paid one month in arrears from the latter of a complete month after:
- the Deferred Period; or
- the agreed date of return.
Does Zurich still provide Group Life Insurance cover for employees who are temporarily absent from work?
If the member who is away from work is still regarded as an employee of an employer included in the policy, and the employer continues to pay premiums in respect of them, we will maintain cover where the absence is a result of illness or injury up to the terminating age, or where the absence is for any other reason for 36 months.
On request, the period that cover continues during absence:
- As a result of illness and injury can be reduced.
- For any other reasons can be reduced to 12 months.
We may agree to extend cover for longer periods in some circumstances.
Does Zurich provide cover for employees who travel overseas?
In accordance with our standard policy terms, cover will not be provided whilst a member of the policy is travelling on business against Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice, unless otherwise agreed by us in advance.
Consequently, new business travel to a territory against FCDO advice would result in the member not being covered whilst travelling. Cover would resume upon the member’s return.
Cover remains in place for members who were already in or were travelling to these territories prior to the FCDO advising against travel. Members choosing not to return, even if they had an opportunity to do so, wouldn’t result in their cover ceasing.
This approach applies in respect of all FCDO advice, on the date travel commences.
Please note that there are no travel restrictions under the policy where the Member is travelling for personal reasons. However, they must always meet the terms and conditions of the policy to remain covered.
What support do you offer when placing flexible or voluntary benefit policies?
For flexible or voluntary benefit policies, one of our experienced Implementation Managers will work with you to ensure a smooth onboarding experience.
What payment options are available for flexible or voluntary policies?
We will accept monthly or annual payments by Direct Credit.
For monthly paid policies, we’ll provide you with an invoice based on each monthly data file you provide.
For annually paid policies, we’ll provide a ‘deposit’ invoice based on the first monthly data file you provide.
How do you reconcile annually paid flex or voluntary policies?
We’ll provide you with a reconciliation account upon receipt of the final monthly data, which will show any balance or credit due against the policy.
How frequently do you require membership data?
For cover operating on a Unit Rate administration basis, we only require membership data annually.
For flexible and voluntary benefit policies, where premiums are calculated for each Member, we require monthly membership data, that includes the calculated, accurate monthly flex premiums for each Member.
For Group Life and Group Income Protection policies, the calculation of the monthly flex premium should:
- include any additional premium as a result of a loading for any benefits above the Automatic Acceptance Limited, where applicable
- only be calculated for benefits up to the Automatic Acceptance Limit where cover above this has been defined
Please note Temporary Cover does not apply to flexed benefits.
When will you send out revision or rate review invites?
Revision invites and deposit premium invoices are sent 90 days before the Yearly Revision Date. Rate review invites, and deposit premium invoices are sent 90 days before the Rate Guarantee End date.
When must outstanding requirements to set up a policy be met?
These requirements include, but are not limited to, Data, fully completed and signed proposal forms, and Direct Debits, which must be returned within 30 days of being requested. Invoices must be paid in full within 30 days of their due date. Any delays in satisfying any of these requirements, may impact our ability to issue a policy, provide ongoing cover or may delay the settlement of any claim.
Is medical underwriting required to be covered under the Group Critical Illness policy?
No. Group Critical Illness is provided without individuals being medically underwritten. We do however apply a pre-existing condition exclusion and a related condition exclusion that means that we may not pay claims for employees, spouse or partners, or children if they have some medical conditions, or symptoms that later indicate that they were suffering from a medical condition prior to the cover starting.
Who can be covered under a Group Critical Illness policy?
Eligible employees and eligible children are automatically covered under the policy, whilst the policyholder can choose to add spouse or partner cover.
How will Group Critical Illness benefit be paid under the policy?
Benefit will be paid directly to the member on behalf of the policyholder. This also applies in respect of claims made on behalf of a spouse/partner or child.
What Group Critical Illnesses are covered?
We automatically provide cover for the standard Critical Illness conditions.
The policyholder can choose to include additional Critical Illness conditions.
The full details of these are available in our terms and conditions.
What is Total Permanent Disability?
Total Permanent Disability is optional cover that can be selected by the policyholder as part of their Group Critical Illness policy. It means we’ll pay the benefit if the insured person is unable to work again or carry out activities of daily living, depending on the definition. Children cannot be covered for Total Permanent Disability.