Asteron Life continues to monitor the situation with Covid-19 and is committed to ensuring you and your clients have our ongoing support.

Below is the latest on digitised forms as well as updates around cover and options for your clients during this time.
 

Asteron Life forms made easier 

Over the past couple of years Asteron Life has been progressively moving towards a paperless environment to make it easier for you to look after your clients.  With Covid-19 changing the way everyone is working we have fast-tracked this piece of work, so clients are now able to complete our forms digitally rather than as a hardcopy.

Our most commonly used forms for new business and altering existing business are now available as editable PDFs in the Document Library of AsteronConnect. Our claim forms have also been upgraded to editable PDFs and are available from our claims team on request.

All editable PDF forms will be accepted provided they are sent from the client’s email address which we hold on file and one of the following is attached to the email:

  • A photocopy of the client’s physical signature saved as a PDF;

  • The client’s digital signature from typing their name in the signature field of the editable PDF;

  • A copy of a signed and dated handwritten request; or

  • A copy of the client’s photo ID.

If we do not hold the client’s current email address on file please update us by emailing contactus@asteronlife.co.nz.  Advisers can forward a client’s email to us, provided it still meets the above criteria.

If a Medical Consent Form is requested, this can be completed and signed by the client on the screen of a smartphone or tablet device, making our e-application process totally paperless.


An update on underwriting

With many clients facing uncertainty around the future of their businesses and jobs, Asteron Life will continue to consider requests for Disability Income cover on their individual merits at time of application.

To remain consistent with our usual underwriting process, applicants who are currently working at full capacity in their usual hours and duties can still be considered for Disability Income cover. Applicants who are not currently working will have their Disability Income cover assessment deferred until they return to work in their usual capacity. If you’re unsure as to whether or not a client is eligible for Disability Income cover, please contact your aligned underwriter or BDM for guidance before submitting an application.
 

Helping customers experiencing financial hardship

As Covid-19 continues to impact New Zealand, we expect more clients will be experiencing financial hardship during this time.  If your clients are experiencing redundancy, bankruptcy or financial hardship, they can apply for a premium holiday on their lump sum cover up to six months or a premium and cover suspension on their disability income covers for up to 12 months.

This can be done using our simplified Covid-19 Financial Hardship Declaration form. Please contact your BDM to obtain this form and guidelines to assist clients through this process.  

Please note there are some limitations on cover associated with some benefits, for example, no claim can be made at any time for a condition which first arises while there is a premium and cover suspension in place.  Please chat to your BDM or see the policy wordings for more information. 
 

Covid-19 updates and FAQs

We know customers are going to have a lot of questions about their insurance cover at the moment. To help answer those questions we have added a Covid-19 Frequently Asked Questions section to the Asteron Life website. These are being updated as we get more questions through from advisers and customers.

We have also put together a page specifically for advisers with links to our previous communications on Covid-19 which will continue to be updated.

If you or your clients have any further questions which are not answered on this page, please don't hesitate to get in touch with your BDM.


Kind regards,

Graham Hill
Executive Manager
Life Distribution