We want to make it easier to sell The Standard’s income protection insurance during this challenging time of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re extending deadlines, adapting processes and waiving labs and exams for more applicants.
As we closely monitor the rapidly changing environment, it’s possible some of the revised underwriting and administrative guidelines listed below will change. We’ll provide an immediate update if these temporary guidelines change in any way.
We’ll accept applications signed on or before May 31, 2020, under the new guidelines. Our underwriters are reviewing open cases and will process those that qualify under the new guidelines.
Please note, we 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.
Using Electronic Health Records, We’ll Speed Up Medical Underwriting.
Did you know that we can get electronic health records up to nine days on average sooner than when we use traditional APS? We’ll expand our use of EHR to speed up underwriting. In the few cases that require a special customer authorization, we’ll send the authorization directly to customers via DocuSign for their signatures. You’ll know when this happens because we’ll always bcc the agency.
We’ll Look Beyond 2019 for Proof of Income.
If applicants don’t have 2019 tax returns, we’ll look to 2018 tax returns and other documentation available.
We’ll Open Cases Closed as Incomplete When We Receive Requirements.
If we close a case as incomplete between now and May 31, 2020, we’ll immediately reopen it when we receive all required information.
We’ll Give More Time to Collect Delivery Requirements.
We’ll extend all delivery requirements due dates to May 31 or later.
We’ll Help You Get Coverage for Temporarily Furloughed Applicants.
If you have customers with pending applications placed on temporary furloughs, they may still be able to protect their income. With more time to collect delivery requirements, the producer may be able to hold the policy for delivery until the applicant is working again. In all cases, please contact your case manager to discuss the details.
Increase Options Temporary Guidelines
We’ll Give Policyowners 90 Days to Apply for an Increase.
For option dates between March 1 and May 31, applications and income documentation can be submitted up to 90 days past the option date.
We’ll Open Increase Cases Closed as Incomplete When We Receive Requirements.
If we close an increase option application as incomplete between now and May 31, 2020, we’ll immediately reopen it when we receive all required information.
We’ll Give More Time to Collect Delivery Requirements.
We’ll extend all increase delivery requirements due dates to May 31 or later. Please contact your in force case manager if coverage is placed after the original due date to determine how much premium should be collected.
We’ll Waive the BIR Application Requirement for Out-of-Work Policyowners.
If a policyowner lost their job — or closed their business — and has a BIR option between March 1 and May 31, 2020, we’ll renew their BIR for another three years. In these cases, please contact your in force case manager with the policyowner’s name and policy number.
We’ll Help Your Temporarily Furloughed Customers Increase Their Coverage.
If you have customers placed on temporary furloughs, they may still be able to increase their coverage. With more time to collect delivery requirements, the producer may be able to hold the increase for delivery until the applicant is working again. Please contact your in force case manager to discuss the details.
Our Commitment
This pandemic is affecting the income of many Americans. We are committed to helping customers affected by COVID-19 get — and keep — their much-needed income protection coverage. We hope these guidelines will help do just that.
