Living Benefits

Long-term disability claims — the individual policy

Obtaining up-to-date information about the insured area of specialization; and Providing up-to-date income information and making recommendations on potential increases in benefit dollar value coverage. The secondary but significant benefit to an agent who offers continuing service is the opportunity to maintain client contact. Close contact offers a wonderful marketing opportunity if clients or their […]

By Harold Geller |July 16, 2009

4 min read

Living Benefits

Long-term disability claims: Helping clients and their group members

Prior to forwarding the applications to the insurer, check them for completeness. Explain to applicants the pitfalls of incomplete or misrepresentative information in an application. Explain to applicants the pitfalls of incomplete or misrepresentative information in an application. Prior to forwarding the applications to the insurer, check them for completeness. If required, confirm the employed […]

By Harold Geller |July 2, 2009

6 min read

Living Benefits

The breast cancer claim process

Do you sometimes wonder why underwriters make certain decisions? Need insight into the different claims processes or help explaining things to clients? This mini-series from Munich Re will provide some answers. A family history of cancer does not automatically lead to a declined critical illness insurance application. A number of factors must be taken into […]

By Hélène Michaud |June 19, 2009

4 min read

Living Benefits

Understanding multiple sclerosis

Primary-progressive MS — less common (10 to 15%), people with this type have a nearly continuous worsening of symptoms with no clear relapses or remissions. Relapsing-remitting MS — characterized by clearly defined attacks (relapses) followed by complete or partial recovery (remissions). This is the most common form representing 75% at the time of diagnosis. Relapsing-remitting […]

By Hélène Michaud |May 5, 2009

9 min read

Premium Advice: The need to review buy-sell arrangements

In the current economic environment, many business owners have to face the reality of the true sustainability of their business due to constrained cash flows, increased and more aggressive competition and the deferral or cancellation of orders. Unfortunately, for businesses undergoing an unforeseen exit of a major shareholder, many of those same challenges can be […]

3 min read

CI definitions: Covered conditions, explained (Part 2)

Last week we discussed an industry initiative led by Munich Re, that brought CI insurers together to create a new set of benchmark definitions for the Canadian marketplace. The language might be a bit much to get through, but this week we give you the new set of benchmark definitions created by committee members from […]

12 min read

Demystifying CI definitions

Last year, an industry initiative led by Munich Re brought together a group of CI insurers to discuss the possibility of developing benchmark definitions for the Canadian market. The members of this committee represented over 80% of the Canadian CI market in terms of new business premiums and brought a wealth of expertise from underwriting, […]

6 min read

Premium Advice — Severance planning with insurance

Last month, I wrote about the Worskis*, a couple in their late 50s who had recently found themselves out of work due to economic challenges facing their now former employer. Click here to read that article. Many of you had further ideas and questions. I’ll address a few of them in this space. 1. The […]

4 min read

Insurance case study: Cancer (part 2), the claims process

Do you sometimes wonder why underwriters make certain decisions? Need insight into the different claims processes or help explaining things to clients? This mini-series from Munich Re will hopefully provide some of the answers. In future articles Hélène Michaud, assistant vice–president, marketing, Munich Reinsurance Company will discuss dementia, cognitive disorders, long term care and critical […]

4 min read

Insurance case study: Cancer (part 1), the underwriter’s view

Do you sometimes wonder why underwriters make certain decisions? Need insight into the different claims processes or help explaining things to clients? This mini-series from Munich Re will hopefully provide some of the answers. In future articles Hélène Michaud, assistant vice–president, marketing, Munich Reinsurance Company will discuss dementia, cognitive disorders, long term care and critical […]

6 min read