COVID-19 Life Insurance Carrier Updates

Our life insurance carriers are making guideline adjustments in response to COVID-19. Below you will find highlights from each carrier, many of which are trying to allow for alternatives to paramed exams if the client meets certain criteria. Please keep in mind these guidelines are temporary and are subject to change.

Click on the carrier's logo to view the news article with additional information.

	Effective May 12, 2021: Temporary underwriting restrictions (that have been in place since April 2020) will be lifted, and normal pre-COVID-19 underwriting guidelines will be in effect. AIG will continue to require a current Statement of Health for all policy approvals.
	Effective 07/01/2021: American National discontinued most temporary COVID-19 underwriting guidelines. Post COVID-19 updates that will remain in place Will still only consider ages 80+ up to Table 4 with proof of vaccination. Will still only consider ages 60–⁠79 greater than Table 4 with proof of vaccination. Will review foreign travel on an individual consideration basis. In general travel to CDC level 3 and 4 countries will be postponed (may not be applicable in states where there are regulations on underwriting foreign travel).
	Assurity no longer has any underwriting restrictions for COVID-19. There is a COVID Questionnaire as part of the application.
	Effective 07/20/2021: Full consideration based on pre-COVID underwriting guidelines for all ages Banner will continue to postpone for new COVID diagnosis based on exposure and clinical severity. Click here fhasor full details
	Updated 6/9/2021: Cincinnati Life is temporarily not accepting applications for the following: Ages 60-79 with rating greater than Table 4 or Flat Extra greater than $5 per $1,000 due to medical impairments Ages 80 and above
	Updated 7/26/2021: Equitable will discontinue all temporary COVID-19 guidelines for domestic business and reintroduce options for international clients. The following changes will go into effect at that time: International Underwriting Program (IUP) and Americans Living Abroad (Equitable Advisors and eligible third-party customers) Return to traditional guidelines for acceptable countries who are U.S. State Departments level 3 or better Applicants who reside in acceptable U.S. State Department level 4 countries may be considered if the following criteria are met: Country is Level 4 due to COVID-19 only Max age 65 Medically Standard or better APS records available and reflect routine medical care The COVID-19 amendment will continue to be added to applicable policies.
	Up to age 65: normal underwriting guidelines Ages 66-75: Table 6 or better Ages 76-79: Table 4 or better Ages 80+ Postpone Global Atlantic will continue to employ a prudent underwriting approach for cases at higher risk to Covid19 based on age and medical condition
Human API for APS!	John Hancock has resumed accepting and processing applications on individuals up to and including age 90 John Hancock will routinely consider recent medical records as an alternative to a current paramed or exam: i. Face amounts up to $5 million for ages 18-65 II. Face amounts up to $3 million for ages 66-70 For these cases, medical records should include a comprehensive visit with a physical and labs within the last 12 months, accompanied by a completed Part II medical supplement form.
	Effective February 13, 2023: Now eligible for consideration: All cases up to Table 6 for age 71-80 All cases up to Table 8 for age 70 and under All cases meeting the following criteria will be postponed: Ages 81 – 85, all rate classes “Good Health Statement and Insurability Supplement” – Form LFF12222, will only be required for placement in the following scenarios: All cases for ages 70 and up All cases when the Part II (exam and/or nonmedical form) is over 60 days old All cases rated greater than standard, including flat extras and table reduction program All cases with a face amount of $10,000,000 and above
	Nationwide will consider alternative sources of medical information, through issue age 60, when an exam is necessary for both traditional business and for their Intelligent Underwriting process.
	Ages 0 - 60: Maximum rating of Table 6 Maximum Flat extra = $9.00 per thousand Ages 61 - 70: Maximum rating of Table 4 Maximum flat extra = $6.00 per thousand Ages 71 - 75: Maximum rating of Table 2 Maximum flat extra = $3.00 per thousand Ages 76 - 79: Standard. Case cannot be rated or have a flat extra. Ages 80 and up: No offer - Postpone
	Due to the overall improvement in the Coronavirus impact, Pacific Life’s temporary COVID-19 underwriting guidelines have been lifted, effective 6/30/21. Ages 70 and below returning to pre-pandemic underwriting guidelines Allowance up to and including Table 6 for ages 71-80
Human API for APS!	Get your clients started with Accelerated Underwriting! Ages 65 and under: Maximum Table 6 rating for term products, maximum Table 10 for permanent products. Medical Flat Extras are allowed on top of table ratings Ages 66-80: Maximum Table 4 rating or maximum Flat Extra of $10/million. Table + Flat Extra is allowed if Flat Extra is for non-medical reason. Ages 80+ will not be considered at any rate class until further notice For survivorship cases, both lives need to meet the new guidelines.
	Protective has reverted to pre-COVID-19 underwriting guidelines (no restrictions) for individuals who are 0-60 years of age Ages 61-79: Protective will postpone coverage if individuals are rated higher than Table 4. However, coverage can be considered with: Evidence of completed COVID-19 vaccination (copy of vaccination card with name, vaccine batch number and date(s) administered). At least two weeks since the final injection. No history of immunodeficiency, impairments requiring IVIG treatment or prednisone dependency. Protective will continue to postpone coverage on individuals who are age 80 and above. Travel: Protective has reverted to pre-COVID-19 travel guidelines based on country and case-by-case consideration. Statement of Health will continue to be required on delivery for all fully underwritten coverage on any applicant, regardless of age or face amount.
Human API for APS!	Effective May 2, 2022: Clients between the ages of 65 and 79, individual applications will now be considered when: The substandard rating class is Table F or lower. A temporary extra premium is assessed with a total ≤ $30 per $1,000 (e.g., $10 x 3 = a total of $30) and a substandard rating of Table B or lower. Clients between the ages of 65 and 79, survivorship applications will now be considered when: The highest rated life is Table F or lower. The highest rated life is Table G through T if the other life is Standard or better. Applications for ages 80 and over will continue to not be considered.
	Effective April 1, 2022, Securian is happy to announce the easement of all remaining restrictions related to the COVID-19 Participation Guidelines for all life products, including the SecureCare product line.
	Effective March 9, 2023: Effective immediately, SBLI will no longer apply the modified underwriting guidelines introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following guidelines will now apply. The acceptable risk classifications and retention rates will be reverted to pre-COVID -19 standards as follows for all term and permanent products: For cases up to age 60: Table 8 or better: Applications accepted For cases ages 61 to 65: Table 8 or better: Applications accepted For cases aged 66 or older: Table 8 (150%) or better: Applications accepted There are no longer any foreign travel restrictions related to COVID-19. A statement of health is still required upon policy delivery, except on cases with a Part 2 date within 2 weeks of issue. SBLI's Accelerated Underwriting is an exam-free solution! Available for ages 18-60 applying for up to $750k of coverage. No exams. No fluids. No fine print!
	Effective July 6, 2021: For all cases up to age 79, Symetra is now applying routine underwriting assessment and criteria. Their underwriting team will continue to conduct a thorough review for all cases with co-morbidities. Cases for ages 80 and above will continue to be postponed. For all ages, Symetra will continue to require a Good Health Statement. Symetra will not actively ask any clients about vaccinations or past COVID-19 exposure. As announced last fall for the high-net-worth foreign national market program, Symetra has reverted to their pre-COVID underwriting capabilities (for A and B countries up to $20 million in capacity).
	Transamerica is offering additional options to satisfy medical requirements which includes increased non-medical guidelines through age 55. Ages 56-75: Rated over Table B for CAD, Cancer, Respiratory, Hypertension and diabetes, will require referral to MD for consideration Not accepting applicantions for clients over the age of 75 for all products except for their Final Expense Solutions Portfolio Effective 1/1/2021: Transamerica has resumed accepting applications with Long Term Care (LTC) and Living Benefit Riders (LBRs) for insured ages 56-75, subject to normal underwriting requirements.
	Effective March 1, 2023: Acceptance Guidelines Based on Insured's Issue Age We are now accepting applications for clients through age 74 up to Table 8---An increase from the prior Table 6 limit Ages 75-79 remain capped at Table 6 Ages 80+ continue to be postponed Clients with a Positive COVID Test A Statement of Good Health is required if: The client has had a positive COVID diagnosis within the past 3 months The client was hospitalized due to a positive COVID diagnosis within the last 6 months If the client indicates they have had a positive COVID diagnosis, outside of the stated 3-month range but were NOT hospitalized and their symptoms have been resolved with no further care or residual effects, we will no longer require an Attending Physicians Statement (APS). Additional COVID Related Underwriting Updates A Personal History Interview (PHI) is no longer mandated to provide an offer. For applications with a face amount of up to $5 million, we will now allow a Temporary Flat Extra of $5 per thousand for 3 years, on applicable cases.