EMSI
Click Here to view EMSI’s landing page with updates for states and exam closures.
Click Here to view EMSI’s landing page with updates for states and exam closures.
Click Here to view updates for states and exam availability.
State Insurance Department Actions on Premium Forbearance
Please see this ALIRT summary which provides excellent information on premium forbearance actions during the Coronavirus crisis. Read the report now
Click here to view the most recent updates
Updates as of 4/17
New e-app on the iPipeline/iGO platform starting 4/23 now gives clients the options to complete the full app/medical background online or via teleinterview
At this time, Cincinnati Life is not waiving paramedical requirements. They are going through the cases they currently have in underwriting to determine if there are any cases that they have sufficient information at this time to make offers, even if they decide not to go after APS’s. Cincinnati Life is planning to use Statements of Good Health on all newly issued policies as a delivery requirement.
Updates as of 4/24
Effective 4/20/2020, we are implementing temporary changes to our life insurance underwriting guidelines for newly submitted applications received on or after 4/27/2020
John Hancock will continue to follow their guidelines related to the evidence required to complete the underwriting process, including paramedical exams where indicated. To the extent their vendors are still offering paramedical exams in your area, please be assured that these vendors are taking extra precautions as they relate to conducting their business and completing insurance specimen testing, including following the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s interim guidance. They have also stepped-up safety precautions to safeguard the health and integrity of our customers. That said, John Hancock understands that some of your clients may be uncomfortable being in close contact with other individuals, including paramedical examiners. If paramedical exams are not available in your area, or if your client is uncomfortable completing an exam, please contact your BGA case manager/firm contact so that John Hancock can determine how they might obtain the required evidence without necessitating the presence of an examiner in their home, for example by ensuring you are taking full advantage of our non-invasive underwriting process eligibility or through evidence obtained from an applicant’s physician.
Policy Contract Delivery
John Hancock realizes many of their firms have adopted flexible work arrangements and people may not be in the office to receive the policy contract for delivery to the client. Until further notice, they are sending all policies via email. The firm contact will receive a non-watermarked PDF copy of the contract via Office 365 Encryption.
Underwriting Updates as of 4/08
Updates as of 4/15
Now awarding points for at home workouts on Vitality policies. Points will also count towards Apple Watch payments.
Updates as of 5/12
Updated Grace Periods
Updates as of 6/10
Updates as of 6/29
Lincoln is working closely with their vendor partners; however, you may experience delays as a result of the inability to retrieve an APS and medical records, criminal reports and/or obtain exams or labs during this time. Lincoln will work with clients to schedule exams and/or obtain necessary information as normal business operations begin to resume. Life insurance applications are good for 1 year from the date of submission, and Lincoln will keep the file open as we work to obtain outstanding requirements. Please note that exams, medical and other requirements will not be waived, however if Lincoln can obtain information in a different format to move the business forward, they will (ex: digital medical records).
Policy Prints for Life and MoneyGuard are temporarily suspended with electronic delivery options available effective Friday, March 27
Underwriting updates as of 4/15
Click here to view recent underwriting updates.
Updates as of 5/12
Effective June 1, 2020, Lincoln will no longer print and mail hard copies of life insurance annual and quarterly statements, or VUL confirmations, to financial professionals. For easier, faster access, all materials are available electronically at LincolnFinancial.com.
If you are not registered, please take the following steps:
As COVID-19 cases increase within the United States and around the world, Mutual of Omaha is issuing the following underwriting guidance on new and pending applications for life and health products:
Accelerated Underwriting Program updates
All fully underwriting products will now require a signed Statement of Good Health at delivery.
Updates as of 4/17
Updates to their Intelligent Underwriting (accelerated underwriting)
If required paramedical services cannot be completed, OneAmerica will consider proceeding with the case so long as the insured has seen their physician with in the last 6 months and records can be obtained. Based on information in the records, it is still possible an exam would be needed.
Updates as of 4/24
The following temporary changes to their business limits will apply to new business received after 5/01/2020
For all underwritten products, both traditional and Care Solutions, OneAmerica will require a Certificate of Insurability (COI) upon policy delivery for all sales.
Updates as of 6/22
In March, we announced several temporary changes to our underwriting processes that offered flexibility while the COVID-19 environment unfolded around us. Since then, we’ve stayed in close contact with our vendors and underwriters, and we’ve seen better than expected results for the completion of in-person underwriting requirements. Our key vendors have indicated that in nearly all locations, they’re able to complete exams and provide timely data back to insurers. This is consistent with the experience we’ve seen on our business.
One America will be moving to traditional age and amount requirements on July 1, 2020 and will be pursuing exams and labs based on those age and amount requirements.
Effective March 24, 2020, for any pending or newly submitted formal applications, Principal is offering additional solutions to underwrite without exam requirements. Their Principal Accelerated UnderwritingSM program may meet the needs of many, but they have also developed some temporary guidelines during this challenging time to help. Note, Principal will regularly review these guidelines and reserve the right to make changes at any time.
Applicant ages 18-40
Applicant ages 41-60
Digital health data or attending physician statements (APS)
Principal will initiate the requests for digital health data, including the use of patient portal information through the vendor Human API. They have other sources of digital health data as well, so please do not request patient portal information or traditional APS without first consulting with your Principal underwriter.
Effective immediately, Principal is implementing the contractual $1M premium limit on life insurance policies
Starting May 4, all term policies will be electronically delivered
Principal is now working with Human API to allow clients to share their medical records electronically when needed. Digital records are available to the underwriter in minutes rather than weeks. This safe and secure method keeps information protected and allows the underwriting process to keep moving. If you have questions, contact your case manager.
Updates as of 4/15
Updates as of 6/8
Updates as of 6/29
Temporary underwriting guidelines extended through July 31:
Principal Will No Longer Be Requiring Exams for the Following Amounts:
If Applying for Over These Amounts
With the clients permission (short email sent to the client), Principal will use their Human API technology to obtain the clients records / exams from their online portal that most doctor’s offices are now using. They would then work with their reinsurers on a case by case basis on using the clients lab results that were obtained from their portal, to make the offer without ordering labs. Going forward Principal will be using this service with all cases to speed up the records process while doctor’s offices may be bogged down with seeing patients.
Tax Records
Principal will do their best to just use the 2018 tax documents and any documents that may be available for 2019 in decision making.
Updates as of 6/29/2020
Temporary benefit update guidelines and grace period extension ending:
Currently, Protective can potentially use a full exam/bloodwork from a PCP if done over the last 12 months but it is on a case by case basis. For those cases that don’t have enough information to use they would probably be put on hold, but Senior management is looking at all options and as Protective gets any updates they will let you know.
Effective immediately, Protective will temporarily waive the witness signature on delivery requirements for life and annuity policies.
Good Health Statement
Effective March 26, 2020, any coverage approved on life insurance applicants aged 60 or older will require a Statement of Health to be signed on delivery.
Cash with Applications
Effective March 26, 2020, Protective will no longer accept cash with applications to bind coverage under the Temporary Insurance Agreement in the states of California and Kansas. Any premium submitted with California or Kansas applications as of this date will be returned.
Updates as of 4/17
Updates as of 7/28
Click here to view the latest COVID underwriting guidelines for Protective.
Underwriting updates
Click Here to view the COVID-19 Service Update.
Updates as of 4/30
Standard Will Accept More Applications With No Labs or Exams.
Starting immediately until May 31, 2020, labs or exams are not required for applicants of all ages for:
Product | Maximum Monthly Benefit |
Platinum Advantage | $10,000 |
Business Overhead ProtectorSM | $25,000 |
Business Equity ProtectorSM | $1,000,000 |
Standard will accept applications signed on or before May 31, 2020, under the new guidelines. Their underwriters are reviewing open cases and will process those that qualify under the new guidelines.
Please note, Standard may also waive labs and exams for applicants seeking higher benefit amounts, depending on medical history and other information available. Please contact your underwriter directly if you have a case you’d like reviewed.
Updates as of 4/15
Premium payment grace period has been extended to 91 days for all individual disability insurance customers
Updates as of 4/17
Effective Immediately (4/17/2020) The Standard will no longer accept GME requests for Proposals on new programs. This will not affect existing programs.
Updates as of 4/28
BIR (Benefit Increase Rider) Changes
Updates as of 7/23
As we all adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year, The Standard introduced several temporary guidelines to help customers get and keep IDI. On July 31, 2020, these temporary guidelines will expire and we’ll return to our normal guidelines with one exception. We’ll continue to not require labs or exams for some applications through Sept. 30, 2020. Click here for details