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Immediate cover

(NOT AVAILABLE FOR INCOME PROTECTION)

Immediate Cover is temporary cover that starts as soon as we receive a completed application form.

Your clients can be protected, even before their policy starts, which means they don’t need to worry about delays if we need more medical information or they’re waiting for their mortgage to complete.

Once the policy starts, we pay claims based on these policy terms and conditions, subject to underwritten terms.

Before the policy starts, we pay claims based on these policy terms and conditions, subject to underwritten terms and we apply the specific restrictions set out in the immediate cover tabs below.

If we can offer Immediate Cover, it will be based on the cover applied for. It then also depends on when the event being claimed for happened, which will be either:

  • A. after the application is complete but before we offer underwritten terms
  • Or
  • B. after we offer underwritten terms but before the cover starts.

Each Immediate Cover tab shows the specific restrictions we’ll apply should a client be eligible to make a claim before their cover starts.

For applications submitted on the UnderwriteMe protection platform please read the separate section at the end of each cover tab.

WHEN WILL MY CLIENT’S IMMEDIATE COVER START?

Immediate Cover will start once we receive their application, as long as:

  • The answers to the questions asked in the application form are true, accurate, and complete.
  • They’re not experiencing new symptoms other than any they’ve told us about in their application.
  • They don’t intend to seek medical advice within the next 30 days for a condition other than any they’ve told us about in their application.
  • They’re not undergoing or awaiting medical investigations, tests or follow-ups, or waiting for any form of treatment to start.
  • They’ve not made a simultaneous application for cover with another company.
  • We haven’t told them that we can’t offer Immediate Cover

A: MY CLIENT’S APPLICATION IS COMPLETE BUT THEY’VE NOT RECEIVED UNDERWRITTEN TERMS – ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS?

If your client is applying for Life Protection, we can’t give them Immediate Cover if they’ve ever had any of the following:

  • Cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma or leukaemia.
  • A heart attack, heart disorder, angina, heart valve or structural abnormalities or cardiomyopathy.
  • A stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), brain injury, brain haemorrhage, brain lesion, any form of bleeding into the brain or any surgery to the brain.
  • Diabetes or sugar in the urine.
  • Any lump, cyst or growth of any kind (including skin growth) unless on investigation it was confirmed as being benign or a sebaceous cyst.
  • Any psychiatric or mental disorder (including eating disorder or suicide attempt) that has required an overnight stay in hospital or referral to a psychiatrist.
  • A positive test for HIV or hepatitis B or C or if they’re waiting for the results of such a test.

HOW MUCH IMMEDIATE COVER CAN MY CLIENT HAVE BEFORE UNDERWRITTEN TERMS?

For Life Protection, they can have Immediate Cover for the amount applied for, subject to a maximum of £1,000,000 or the equivalent amount for Family Income Benefit which pays out as regular income (so for a 25-year term, the equivalent annual income would be £40,000 i.e. £1,000,000 divided by 25).

B: MY CLIENT HAS RECEIVED UNDERWRITTEN TERMS BUT COVER HASN’T STARTED – ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS?

Once we’ve offered underwritten terms, we’ll extend the cover based on their underwritten terms, and without limitation, to the amount covered, for a further 14 days or until the cover starts, if earlier.

If your client’s cover is in connection with a current mortgage offer, we’ll extend their cover, based on their underwritten terms, and without limitation, to the amount covered, beyond the 14 days to the date they complete their mortgage, subject to a maximum of 90 days.

This is provided we have a direct debit instruction that has been completed within 14 days of us offering underwritten terms.

If 2 clients have applied together (using our dual life approach) and we’ve only offered terms to one client we’ll extend the cover for that client based on their underwritten terms, and without limitation, to the amount covered:

  • for a maximum of 90 days,

Or

  • until we’ve offered underwritten terms to the other client, whichever is sooner.

Once we’ve offered terms to both clients, we’ll offer Immediate Cover to them both subject to the restrictions shown in this section (B).

WHEN WON’T YOU PAY AN IMMEDIATE COVER CLAIM?

There may be some specific restrictions that we’ll tell your client about on their cover summary.

We also won’t pay an Immediate Cover claim if:

  • We discover the information you gave us when applying for their cover, or any other information we were given, was untrue, inaccurate or incomplete.
  • The claim is caused by intentional self-inflicted injury; suicide; or taking part in hazardous activities we’ve asked about in the application.
  • You haven’t provided us with a direct debit instruction within 14 days of us offering underwritten terms.

The Immediate Cover we offer before underwritten terms will continue until we offer underwritten terms or will end if the application is withdrawn.

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED ON THE UNDERWRITEME PROTECTION PLATFORM

Immediate Cover is only available when:

  • You’ve given us a future policy start date.
  • You’ve successfully submitted the details to Guardian and had confirmation that the policy documents are available.

It’s based on the underwritten terms offered and subject to the restrictions shown in section B above.

This information is valid for all applications made on or after 22 January 2024

For applications made before this date see previous version which applies to applications submitted from 3 April 2023 to 21 January 2024 here

WHEN WILL MY CLIENT’S IMMEDIATE COVER START?

Immediate Cover will start once we receive their application, as long as:

  • The answers to the questions asked in the application form are true, accurate, and complete.
  • They’re not experiencing new symptoms other than any they’ve told us about in their application.
  • They don’t intend to seek medical advice within the next 30 days for a condition other than any they’ve told us about in their application.
  • They’re not undergoing or awaiting medical investigations, tests or follow-ups, or waiting for any form of treatment to start.
  • They’ve not made a simultaneous application for the cover with another company.
  • We haven’t told you that we can’t offer them Immediate Cover.

A: MY CLIENT’S APPLICATION IS COMPLETE BUT THEY’VE NOT RECEIVED UNDERWRITTEN TERMS – ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS?

If your client is applying for Life Essentials, we can’t give them Immediate Cover if they’ve ever had any of the following:

  • Cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma or leukaemia.
  • A heart attack, heart disorder, angina, heart valve or structural abnormalities or cardiomyopathy.
  • A stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), brain injury, brain haemorrhage, brain lesion, any form of bleeding into the brain or any surgery to the brain.
  • Diabetes or sugar in the urine.
  • Any lump, cyst or growth of any kind (including skin growth) unless on investigation it was confirmed as being benign or a sebaceous cyst.
  • Any psychiatric or mental disorder (including eating disorder or suicide attempt) that has required an overnight stay in hospital or referral to a psychiatrist.
  • A positive test for HIV or hepatitis B or C or if they’re waiting for the results of such a test.

HOW MUCH IMMEDIATE COVER CAN MY CLIENT HAVE BEFORE UNDERWRITTEN TERMS?

For Life Essentials, they can have Immediate Cover for the amount applied for, subject to a maximum of £300,000.

B: MY CLIENT HAS RECEIVED UNDERWRITTEN TERMS BUT COVER HASN’T STARTED – ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS?

Once we’ve offered underwritten terms, we’ll extend the cover based on their underwritten terms, and without limitation, to the amount covered, for a further 14 days or until the cover starts, if earlier.

If your client’s cover is in connection with a current mortgage offer, we’ll extend their cover, based on their underwritten terms, and without limitation, to the amount covered, beyond the 14 days to the date they complete their mortgage, subject to a maximum of 90 days.

This is provided we have a direct debit instruction that has been completed within 14 days of us offering underwritten terms.

If 2 clients have applied together (using our dual life approach) and we’ve only offered terms to one client we’ll extend the cover for that client based on their underwritten terms, and without limitation, to the amount covered:

  • for a maximum of 90 days,

Or

  • until we’ve offered underwritten terms to the other client, whichever is sooner.

Once we’ve offered terms to both clients, we’ll offer Immediate Cover to them both subject to the restrictions shown in this section (B).

WHEN WON’T YOU PAY AN IMMEDIATE COVER CLAIM?

There may be some specific restrictions that we’ll tell your client about on their cover summary.

We also won’t pay an Immediate Cover claim if:

  • We discover the information you gave us when they applied for their policy, or any other information we were given, was untrue, inaccurate or incomplete.
  • The claim is caused by intentional self-inflicted injury; suicide; or taking part in hazardous activities we’ve asked about in the application.
  • You haven’t provided us with a direct debit instruction within 14 days of us offering underwritten terms.

The Immediate Cover we offer before underwritten terms will continue until we offer underwritten terms or will end if the application is withdrawn.

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED ON THE UNDERWRITEME PROTECTION PLATFORM

Immediate Cover is only available when:

  • You’ve given us a future policy start date.
  • You’ve successfully submitted the details to Guardian and had confirmation that the policy documents are available.

It’s based on the underwritten terms offered and subject to the restrictions shown in section B above.

This information is valid for all applications made on or after 22 January 2024

WHEN WILL MY CLIENT’S IMMEDIATE COVER START?

Immediate Cover will start once we receive their application, as long as:

  • The answers to the questions asked in the application form are true, accurate, and complete.
  • They’re not experiencing new symptoms other than any they’ve told us about in their application.
  • They don’t intend to seek medical advice within the next 30 days for a condition other than any they’ve told us about in their application.
  • They’re not undergoing or awaiting medical investigations, tests or follow-ups, or waiting for any form of treatment to start.
  • They’ve not made a simultaneous application for cover with another company.
  • We haven’t told them that we can’t offer Immediate Cover.

A: MY CLIENT’S APPLICATION IS COMPLETE BUT THEY’VE NOT RECEIVED UNDERWRITTEN TERMS – ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS?

If your client is applying for standalone Critical Illness Protection, Immediate Cover will only pay out on injury, illness or conditions that are the result of an accident.

An accident is defined as an event after the application has been submitted, that results in bodily injury or illness, directly and solely caused by accidental, violent and external means and where the injury or illness isn’t self-inflicted.

HOW MUCH IMMEDIATE COVER CAN MY CLIENT HAVE BEFORE UNDERWRITTEN TERMS?

For Critical Illness Protection, they can have Immediate Cover for the amount applied for, subject to a maximum of £500,000 or the equivalent amount for Family Income Benefit which pays out as regular income (so for a 10-year term, the equivalent annual income would be £50,000, i.e. £500,000 divided by 10).

B: MY CLIENT HAS RECEIVED UNDERWRITTEN TERMS BUT COVER HASN’T STARTED – ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS?

Once we’ve offered underwritten terms, we’ll extend the cover based on their underwritten terms to the amount covered, and without limitation, for a further 14 days or until the cover starts, if earlier.

If your client’s cover is in connection with a current mortgage offer, we’ll extend their cover, based on their underwritten terms, and without limitation, to the amount covered, beyond the 14 days to the date they complete their mortgage, subject to a maximum of 90 days.

This is provided we have a direct debit instruction that has been completed within 14 days of us offering underwritten terms.

If 2 clients have applied together (using our dual life approach) and we’ve only offered terms to one client we’ll extend the cover for that client based on their underwritten terms, and without limitation, to the amount covered:

  • for a maximum of 90 days,

Or

  • until we’ve offered underwritten terms to the other client, whichever is sooner.

Once we’ve offered terms to both clients, we’ll offer Immediate Cover to them both subject to the restrictions shown in this section (B).

WHEN WON’T YOU PAY AN IMMEDIATE COVER CLAIM?

There may be some specific restrictions that we’ll tell your client about on their cover summary.

We also won’t pay an Immediate Cover claim if:

  • We discover the information you gave us when applying for their cover, or any other information we were given, was untrue, inaccurate or incomplete.
  • The claim is caused by intentional self-inflicted injury; suicide; or taking part in hazardous activities we’ve asked about in the application.
  • You haven’t provided us with a direct debit instruction within 14 days of us offering underwritten terms.

The Immediate Cover we offer before underwritten terms will continue until we offer underwritten terms or will end if the application is withdrawn.

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED ON THE UNDERWRITEME PROTECTION PLATFORM

Immediate Cover is only available when:

  • You’ve given us a future policy start date.
  • You’ve successfully submitted the details to Guardian and had confirmation that the policy documents are available.

It’s based on the underwritten terms offered and subject to the restrictions shown in section B above.

This information is valid for all applications made on or after 22 January 2024

For applications made before this date see previous version which applies to applications submitted from 3 April 2023 to 21 January 2024 here

WHEN WILL MY CLIENT’S IMMEDIATE COVER START?

Immediate Cover will start once we receive their application, as long as:

  • The answers to the questions asked in the application form are true, accurate, and complete.
  • They’re not experiencing new symptoms other than any they’ve told us about in their application.
  • They don’t intend to seek medical advice within the next 30 days for a condition other than any they’ve told us about in their application.
  • They’re not undergoing or awaiting medical investigations, tests or follow-ups, or waiting for any form of treatment to start.
  • They’ve not made a simultaneous application for cover with another company.
  • We haven’t told them that we can’t offer Immediate Cover.

A: MY CLIENT’S APPLICATION IS COMPLETE BUT THEY’VE NOT RECEIVED UNDERWRITTEN TERMS – ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS?

If your client is applying for Combined Life and Critical Illness Protection, we can’t give them Immediate Cover for the Life Protection element of cover if they’ve ever had any of the following:

  • Cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma or leukaemia.
  • A heart attack, heart disorder, angina, heart valve or structural abnormalities or cardiomyopathy.
  • A stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), brain injury, brain haemorrhage, brain lesion, any form of bleeding into the brain or any surgery to the brain.
  • Diabetes or sugar in the urine.
  • Any lump, cyst or growth of any kind (including skin growth) unless on investigation it was confirmed as being benign or a sebaceous cyst.
  • Any psychiatric or mental disorder (including eating disorder or suicide attempt) that has required an overnight stay in hospital or referral to a psychiatrist.
  • A positive test for HIV or hepatitis B or C or if they’re waiting for the results of such a test.

If they’re applying for Combined Life and Critical Illness Protection, Immediate Cover for the Critical Illness Protection element of cover will only pay out on injury, illness or conditions that are the result of an accident.

An accident is defined as an event after the application has been submitted, that results in bodily injury or illness, directly and solely caused by accidental, violent and external means and where the injury or illness isn’t self-inflicted.

HOW MUCH IMMEDIATE COVER CAN MY CLIENT HAVE BEFORE UNDERWRITTEN TERMS?

For Combined Life and Critical Illness Protection, they can have Immediate Cover for the amount applied for, subject to a maximum of £1,000,000 for the Life Protection element and £500,000 for the Critical Illness Protection element.

B: MY CLIENT HAS RECEIVED UNDERWRITTEN TERMS BUT COVER HASN’T STARTED – ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS?

Once we’ve offered underwritten terms, we’ll extend the cover based on their underwritten terms to the amount covered, and without limitation, for a further 14 days or until the cover starts, if earlier.

If your client’s cover is in connection with a current mortgage offer, we’ll extend their cover, based on their underwritten terms, and without limitation, to the amount covered, beyond the 14 days to the date they complete their mortgage, subject to a maximum of 90 days.

This is provided we have a direct debit instruction that has been completed within 14 days of us offering underwritten terms.

If 2 clients have applied together (using our dual life approach) and we’ve only offered terms to one client we’ll extend the cover for that client based on their underwritten terms, and without limitation, to the amount covered:

  • for a maximum of 90 days,

Or

  • until we’ve offered underwritten terms to the other client, whichever is sooner.

Once we’ve offered terms to both clients, we’ll offer Immediate Cover to them both subject to the restrictions shown in this section (B).

WHEN WON’T YOU PAY AN IMMEDIATE COVER CLAIM?

There may be some specific restrictions that we’ll tell your client about on their cover summary.

We also won’t pay an Immediate Cover claim if:

  • We discover the information you gave us when applying for their cover , or any other information we were given, was untrue, inaccurate or incomplete.
  • The claim is caused by intentional self-inflicted injury; suicide; or taking part in hazardous activities we’ve asked about in the application.
  • You haven’t provided us with a direct debit instruction within 14 days of us offering underwritten terms.

The Immediate Cover we offer before underwritten terms will continue until we offer underwritten terms or will end if the application is withdrawn.

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED ON THE UNDERWRITEME PROTECTION PLATFORM

Immediate Cover is only available when:

  • You’ve given us a future policy start date.
  • You’ve successfully submitted the details to Guardian and had confirmation that the policy documents are available.

It’s based on the underwritten terms offered and subject to the restrictions shown in section B above.

This information is valid for all applications made on or after 22 January 2024

For applications made before this date see previous version which applies to applications submitted from 3 April 2023 to 21 January 2024 here

WHEN WILL MY CLIENT’S IMMEDIATE COVER START?

Children’s Critical Illness Protection can only be taken out in conjunction with an adult core cover, so Immediate Cover for children will start once we receive the application for the adult core cover, and as long as:

  • The answers to the questions asked in the application form are true, accurate, and complete.
  • The adult isn’t experiencing new symptoms other than any they’ve told us about in their application.
  • The adult doesn’t intend to seek medical advice within the next 30 days for a condition other than any they’ve told us about in their application.
  • The adult isn’t undergoing or awaiting medical investigations, tests or follow-ups, or waiting for any form of treatment to start.
  • The adult has not made a simultaneous application for cover with another company.
  • We haven’t told them that we can’t offer Immediate Cover.

A: MY CLIENT’S APPLICATION IS COMPLETE BUT THEY’VE NOT RECEIVED UNDERWRITTEN TERMS – ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS?

If your client is applying for Children’s Critical Illness Protection, Immediate Cover will only pay out on injury, illness or conditions that are the result of an accident.

An accident is defined as an event after the application has been submitted, that results in bodily injury or illness, directly and solely caused by accidental, violent and external means and where the injury or illness isn’t self-inflicted.

We’ll only pay Funeral Cover if death is the result of an accident.

We won’t pay a Children’s Critical Illness Protection or Funeral Cover claim if it’s directly or indirectly as a result of a pre-existing condition that occurred before, or at the time, the application was completed.

HOW MUCH IMMEDIATE COVER CAN MY CLIENT HAVE BEFORE UNDERWRITTEN TERMS?

For Children’s Critical Illness Protection, they can have Immediate Cover for the amount applied for, subject to a maximum of £100,000.

B: MY CLIENT HAS RECEIVED UNDERWRITTEN TERMS BUT COVER HASN’T STARTED – ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS

Once we’ve offered underwritten terms on the adult core cover we’ll offer Children’s Critical Illness Protection for the amount of children’s cover applied for, and without limitation in line with the policy terms and conditions.

This is provided we have a direct debit instruction that has been completed within 14 days of us offering underwritten terms.

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED ON THE UNDERWRITEME PROTECTION PLATFORM

Immediate Cover is subject to the restrictions shown in section B, and only available when:

  • You’ve given us a future policy start date.
  • You’ve successfully submitted the details to Guardian and had confirmation that the policy documents are available.

This information is valid for all applications made on or after 22 January 2024

For applications made before this date see previous version which applies to applications submitted from 3 April 2023 to 21 January 2024 here