TAL Responds to ‘Inaccurate Media Reporting’

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TAL has released a statement refuting details contained in Australian media reports regarding the insurance cover provided by TAL to its customers, as it relates to COVID-19.

The insurer has characterised some of the details in these media reports as “…factually inaccurate and misleading details which have the potential to cause unnecessary distress and panic for TAL customers”.

In seeking to correct this reporting, TAL has confirmed:

  • No general exclusions exist in its policies for COVID-19 for any existing or new customers
  • All existing customers, including doctors, nurses and medical professionals on the frontline, are fully covered for COVID-19
  • Contrary to recent reporting, no customers with the potential to be impacted by COVID-19 are at risk of having any payout associated with their policy reduced or cut off

The insurer’s statement notes that on 18 March 2020, TAL made a change to its underwriting guidelines for customers purchasing a new policy, which requires anyone who is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 at the time of applying for cover, has recently travelled abroad, or forms part of a high risk group, to be individually assessed, with the potential for those new customers to be offered modified terms.

At the same time, TAL confirmed that all its customers who had cover in place prior to 18 March 2020 can be assured that they are fully covered in line with their policy terms and conditions for any impacts arising from COVID-19. It adds that for customers who took out cover on or after 18 March 2020, any modified terms applied to their policy would have been communicated to them at the time of taking out the policy.

TAL has also confirmed to a number of superannuation funds that it will waive pandemic exclusions for superannuation fund members to ensure all members of those superannuation funds are also fully covered for any impacts of COVID-19.

The insurer says these are unprecedented times and TAL understands the important role it has in supporting Australians and providing confidence to its customers and the community during this challenging period.