Life Insurance Glossary

Accidental Death

This is defined as a death which occurs directly as a result of an injury caused by sudden, external and visible means. The actual death of the Life insured must occur within 365 days of the accident to qualify for this benefit.

Adviser

This is a person who has been authorised by ASIC (Australian Securities and Investment Commission) to provide financial advice to clients and to sell financial products, which includes Life Insurance and related covers, such as Income Protection, Trauma, and TPD.

Agreed Value

This applies to Income Protection Insurance where the benefit payments in the event of a claim are the amount agreed at the time of the cover starting. The monthly benefit is generally based on the average of the insureds income in the immediate 2 financial years before the cover starts.

Any Occupation

This refers to one of the available definitions of disablement under Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD) cover. The Any Occupation full definition of TPD considers the inability of the client to ever again engage in any gainful employment for which they are reasonably qualified by education, training and experience.

Beneficiary

A beneficiary is a person or persons who are nominated by the Life insured to receive the claim payment in the event of the death of the Life insured.

Benefit Payment

This is the actual payment of the proceeds under the cover in the event of a claim. These proceeds can be paid to the nominated beneficiaries or to the Estate of the deceased in the event of a Death claim, or to the Life insured in the event of a TPD, Trauma or Income Protection claim.

Business Expenses Insurance

Business Expenses Insurance is an important benefit for self-employed clients. This cover provides an ongoing monthly payment of up to $25,000 to meet the payment of the expenses of running and maintaining a business in the event that the owner is disabled due to a serious illness or injury. These monthly payments can help cover the costs of the key business expenses such as rent, electricity, water, gas, and the salaries and superannuation of non income-producing staff. Business Expenses Insurance is generally taken out in partnership with Income Protection Insurance.

Business Income

This is the income generated by the business of the Life insured. There are two components – Gross income and Net income. The Net income is determined after all the incurred business expenses have been deducted from the Gross income. These figures are generally accounted for each financial year.

Certificate of Insurance

This is a document which details the Life Insurance cover. These include the type of cover, the amount of the benefits, and also any specific exclusions, plus the premium payable (either monthly or on an annual basis).

Claiming

This is the process of applying for a benefit payment under the Life Insurance due to an event occurring which meets the definition under the cover. This can be due to the Death or Disablement of the Life insured, or where Trauma cover applies, in the event of a critical illness occurrence such as a heart attack, cancer or stroke first occurring during the period of the cover.

Cooling-off Period

This is the timeframe after the cover has been activated within which the policy owner can cancel their Life Insurance and any premium paid will be refunded. This timeframe can vary from 21 days to 30 days with different Life insurers. These details are available in the Product Disclosure Statement.

Critical Illness Insurance (Trauma Insurance)

This is an insurance cover which provides a lump sum payment when one of the listed medical conditions under the particular cover occurs. This cover is also known as Trauma or Recovery Insurance. NobleOak’s Trauma Insurance cover pays up to $2 million on diagnosis of one of the 38 listed medical conditions.

Death Benefit

This is the benefit paid to the nominated beneficiary or beneficiaries, or to the Estate under a Life Insurance cover in the event of the Life insured dying.

Domestic Duties Disability

This is a specific disablement definition under Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD) cover which is applicable to non-income earners (Home Duties) and also those people who are working less than 15 hours per week at the time of a TPD claim arising.

Duty of Disclosure

All potential Life Insurance clients (people taking out cover) are required under the Benefit Fund Rules and at law to provide all pertinent and relevant information requested by the Life insurer at the time of Application for cover. The Duty of Disclosure is signed and acknowledged by each new client at the completion of the Application process, to confirm the accuracy of the details provided.

Duty of Utmost Good Faith

This is the legal doctrine which governs both parties’ obligation to a contract. For the Life insured this relates to the accuracy of the information provided by them at the time of Application and for the Life Office, acting with fairness and utmost transparency in their dealings with the Life insured in the event of a claim arising under the contract.

Exclusions

These are conditions which limit an entitlement to claim under the Life Insurance cover.

NobleOak Life Cover for instance only has an Industry-standard suicide exclusion which is effective for the first 13 months of any new cover. Other exclusions may be applied by the NobleOak Underwriters at the time of Application which are specific to the individual client circumstances. These may relate to health or pastimes. We would recommend that you review the Product Disclosure Statement relating to the various covers so you can check the standard exclusions applicable under the different contracts.

Expiry ages

All Life Insurance contracts have an expiry age. The cover cannot be renewed past this age. This expiry age varies across the different types of Life Insurance. For example, NobleOak’s Life Cover is usually renewable until the age of 99 (depending upon the product), and NobleOak’s TPD Insurance is renewable up until the age of 75. We would recommend that you review the Product Disclosure Statement relating to the various covers, so you can check the expiry ages applicable under the different covers.

Financial Services Guide

This is a document which contains information relative to the obligations of the Adviser and also the services offered by the Life insurer. This includes details about remuneration and also dispute resolution procedures.

Funeral Advance / Funeral Expenses Benefit

This involves a payment of $15,000 to the beneficiaries immediately on notification of the death of a Life insured to assist with funeral costs. This payment is a ‘built in’ feature under NobleOak’s Life Cover and is paid on proof of death. We would recommend that you review the Product Disclosure Statement for further information.

Income Protection Insurance

Income Protection Insurance is designed to pay a monthly amount of up to 75% of your pre-disability income if you are temporarily severely sick or badly injured and you are unable to work. The maximum monthly payment period is dependent on the Benefit Period which was nominated at the time of Application and under NobleOak’s product, this can be either two years or until age 65.

Indexation

This relates to automatic annual increases in the benefits under the cover in accordance with Consumer Price Index increases.

Insured Event

This relates to circumstances arising which meet the definition for a claim to be considered under the cover. For example, under Life Cover the insured event would be the death of the Life insured.

Interim Accident Cover

This cover is automatically provided to the Life insured while the Application is under assessment. It is applicable for up to 90 days after receipt of the completed NobleOak Application and subject to a maximum payment of either the sum insured applied for, or $1 million under a Death cover application, and $500,000 under a TPD or Trauma Application. For Income Protection, the payment is capped at 24 months benefit payments to a maximum total of $200,000.

Life Insurance

This is insurance cover which pays out the sum insured under the contract on the death of the Life insured. It is also known as Death Cover or Term Life Insurance.

Life Insurance Code of Practice

This is a voluntary code which sets out the minimum standards of behaviour to be followed by Life insurers when dealing with their members/policy holders.

Life Insured

This relates to the person insured under the Life Cover.

Listed Medical Condition

This relates to Trauma Insurance and with NobleOak’s contract to one of the listed 38 medical conditions detailed within the PDS.

My Protection Plan

This is NobleOak’s comprehensive Life Insurance product which is available through NobleOak’s alliance partners and financial advisers.

Partial Disablement Benefit

This benefit is applicable under Income Protection Insurance and is effective when the Life insured returns to work in a reduced capacity after a period of absence from work (minimum 14 days) due to sickness or injury.

Policy

This is the contract of Life Insurance between the Life insured and the Life Insurance company.

Policy Holder / Policy Owner

This is the listed person who owns the Life Insurance. They are responsible for the ongoing payment of premiums and will be the recipient of any benefits paid under the contract in the event of a claim. (This is most commonly the same person as the Life insured.)

Pre-existing Condition Clauses

This includes any medical condition which was apparent before the Life Insurance cover commencement date. This includes any diagnosed condition, or a suspected condition, or a symptom(s) for which the Life insured intended to or did seek medical assistance or advice. These clauses preclude the Life insured from being paid a claim if it occurs as a direct result of the pre-existing condition.

NobleOak’s cover is fully underwritten none of our contracts include these types of clauses.

Premium

This is the fee payable (either monthly or annually) to secure and then maintain the Life Insurance cover.

Premium Life Direct Insurance

This is NobleOak’s comprehensive Life Insurance product which is available directly through NobleOak.

Premium Waiver

This is a feature which is ‘built in’ to Income Protection Insurance. It is applicable when the Life insured is receiving benefit payments under their Income Protection or Business Expenses Insurance and the regular premiums are waived for the period that the Life insured is in receipt of claim payments.

Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)

This is the document prepared by the Life Insurance office which details all the terms and conditions of their Life Insurance covers.

Recurring Disablement Benefit

This is a benefit under Income Protection Insurance. After the Life insured has been on claim in receipt of Total Disablement or Partial Disablement benefit payments, and they suffer a recurrence of the same or related sickness or injury within 6 months of returning to work, the waiting period does not recommence and they will receive further monthly benefits immediately. The claim will be treated as a continuation of the original claim.

Rehabilitation Expenses Benefit

This is a benefit available under Income Protection Insurance. While on claim if the Life insured’s Medical Practitioner recommends a rehabilitation program, special equipment or modifications to the Life insured’s workplace to allow return to gainful employment, then these expenses may be reimbursed.

Self Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF)

This is an increasingly popular facility which is being accessed by many Australians who wish to have greater control over their superannuation arrangements. The SMSF is generally run for the Members and the members are also usually the trustees of the fund. Unlike many traditional superannuation funds where basic Life Insurance is included, the trustees of an SMSF will need to arrange their own Life Insurance independently.

Special Acceptance Terms

These involve any adjustments made to the standard premiums and also the requirement of exclusions or other limitations specific to an individual client’s circumstances. These are imposed by the Underwriters after they have assessed all the medical, financial, pastimes and lifestyle details at the time of Application. NobleOak will advise and explain these terms prior to the cover being finalised and only after the agreement with the Life insured.

Specific Sicknesses and Injuries Benefit

Another benefit available under Income Protection Insurance. If the Life insured suffers one of the 38 medical conditions (as listed for Trauma Insurance within the NobleOak PDS), then they will be entitled to receive up to 6 months benefits as a lump sum, regardless of whether or not they were Totally Disabled or return to work.

Spouse Benefit

A benefit available under Income Protection Insurance and involves the payment of a benefit to the Life insured’s partner if they are required to stop work to care for the Life insured during a period of Total Disablement.

Terminal Illness Benefit

This is a ‘built in’ benefit under Life Cover. It is payable if the Life insured becomes terminally ill, and includes a payment equivalent to the sum insured under the cover, up to a maximum of $3 million for the NobleOak terminal illness benefit. The Life insured must be diagnosed as being terminally ill by two medical practitioners (including one who is a specialist in the area related to the illness or injury being suffered) and both must certify that the condition is likely to result in death within 12 months of their certification.

Total and Permanent Disablement Insurance (TPD Insurance)

TPD Insurance is designed to pay a lump sum in the event of the Life insured never again being able to engage in any gainful employment for which they are reasonably qualified by education, training and experience. NobleOak’s TPD benefit provides cover up to $3 million. The actual amount of cover accepted is shown in the certificate of membership.

Totally Disabled/ Total Disablement

This means that due to sickness or injury, you are unable to perform one or more duties of your occupation that are important or essential in producing income and you are not working and, you are also following the advice of a medical practitioner.

Total Disablement Benefits

Relates to the monthly benefit payments under Income Protection Insurance cover to replace lost income.

Trauma Insurance

Trauma Insurance provides a lump sum payment when one of the above mentioned listed medical conditions is diagnosed. This type of Life Insurance is also known as Critical Illness or Recovery Insurance cover. NobleOak’s Trauma Insurance pays up to $2 million on the diagnosis of one of the 38 listed medical conditions. The actual amount of cover accepted is shown in the certificate of membership.

Trauma Insurance Benefit

This is the lump sum payment (up to $2 million with NobleOak) provided under a Trauma Insurance cover when the Life insured is diagnosed with one of the listed trauma events. This is also known as Critical Illness and Recovery Cover. The actual amount of cover accepted is shown in the Certificate of Membership.

Trauma Insurance Medical Conditions

Here are some of the medical conditions included under NobleOak’s Trauma Insurance, the complete list of medical conditions is available through our PDS.

• Coronary Artery Angioplasty
• Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
• Heart Attack
• Other Serious Coronary Artery Disease
• Accidental HIV infection
• Alzheimer’s Disease /Irreversible Organic Disorder
• Aplastic Anaemia
• Bacterial Meningitis
• Chronic liver disease

Underinsurance

This is a term commonly used to explain a scenario where a client has insufficient cover in place to meet their overall financial needs. For example, the amount of Life Cover or TPD Insurance may not be enough to pay out the home mortgage and other debts, and also cover the costs of future schooling and household expenses in the event of the death or serious illness or injury of the primary breadwinner.

Waiting period

This is the time period chosen at the time of application for Income Protection Insurance and is the amount of time the Life insured must be unable to work before becoming eligible to receive the Income Protection Insurance benefit payments.