Section 8. Insurance in your super

8.1 Protect you and your family

Super is the asset you can start building today to enjoy in the future. Right now, however, two of your most valuable assets are your health and your income earning potential. Protecting them against the unexpected should be an important part of your strategy. Which is why at Hostplus we offer eligible members automatic life insurance with an option to increase their cover upon joining. So you can enjoy peace of mind - at affordable prices.

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8.2 What we cover

Hostplus Executive provides you with flexibility to tailor your insurance cover to best suit your needs and offers Death and Total & Permanent Disability (TPD), Death Only and Salary Continuance insurance cover. Any death cover also includes Terminal Illness cover.

Hostplus Executive also offers registered Hostplus Executive employers the option tailor an insurance design to best suit their employee group.

Your insurance premiums are used to cover the cost of the insurance policy as well as the cost of its administration, i.e. 0.745% of the insurance premiums are retained by the fund and goes towards the administration cost of providing insurance.

Please note: From 1 July 2019, insurance cover on all inactive super accounts will be cancelled, regardless of the account balance. This is to ensure that arrangements for insurance in super are appropriate and members are not paying for insurance that they do not know about or premiums that inappropriately erode their retirement savings.

A member’s account is considered inactive if we have not received a contribution or rollover into that account for a continuous period of 16 months. Hostplus will write to affected members to notify them of their options to maintain their insurance cover, should they wish to do so.

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8.3 Automatic Death and Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance cover (Default insurance Cover)

Generally, new members joining Hostplus Executive through a Participating Registered Hostplus Executive Employer (Participating Employer), will receive automatic unitised Death and TPD insurance cover at the standard scale.  The number of automatic default units you will receive varies and is based on your age next birthday.

If you are currently aged 16 to 64 and are eligible for insurance with Hostplus, you will automatically receive unitised Death and TPD insurance cover.  If you are aged 11 to 15 or are aged 65 or over and are eligible for insurance, you will receive unitised Death cover only. 

Some Hostplus Executive Participating Employers have a tailored insurance arrangement designed on behalf of their employees. Where this is the case you will be advised by either your employer and/or in your welcome to the fund letter about the level of insurance cover you are eligible for and the cost of your cover, including whether a Plan Rating Factor may apply to the standard premium rates. As part of your employer insurance design, default Salary Continuance cover may also be offered. You may opt out or vary your insurance at any time by contacting us.   

You must be At Work on the date that your cover commences to receive Full Cover otherwise you will receive Restricted Cover. See section 8.4 for more information. 

Please note: If, at the date your default cover commences with Hostplus (‘Cover Commencement Date’) you have a claim admitted (accepted by an insurer), are eligible to receive a benefit, are in a waiting period for a benefit, and/or in the process of claiming a benefit with respect to Terminal Illness and/or Total and Permanent Disablement from any source (‘Claiming Member’), you will be ineligible for some or all of the automatic default insurance cover as detailed below.  However, you may apply for cover and be eligible for cover, if your application is accepted by the insurer. Please see the important note in section 8.7.4 for more information.

If you fail to inform us that you’re a Claiming Member either prior to or at the time you your cover commences, then we’ll deduct the usual weekly premium even though you may not be able to claim a benefit.

To view the standard automatic default cover see section 8.17 Member Automatic Death & TPD Default Unitised Cover Table –   this is only applicable for members who don’t have a tailored insurance design through their Participating Employer.

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8.4 Restricted Cover – Death, and Total & Permanent Disability (TPD)

You will be provided with Restricted Cover if you’re not At Work on the date your cover commences (Cover Commencement Date).

Restricted Cover covers you for an illness which became apparent to you or an injury that first occurs on or after the date your cover in Hostplus commences. It will not provide a benefit if you suffered from a Pre-Existing Condition i.e. illness or injury known to you for 2 years prior to your cover commencing.

This Restricted Cover will generally be replaced with Full Cover when you resume your normal duties with your employer for 30 consecutive days after the Cover Commencement Date**. 

If however the first employer contribution made into your account by your Participating Employer is more than 6 months after the start of the contribution period to which it relates, your cover will remain Restricted Cover unless varied by the insurer. Acceptance remains subject to underwriting. 

Underwriting is the process the insurer undertakes to assess your application for cover including obtaining and considering information concerning your medical history and health.

Special rules apply to reinstatement and recommencement of insurance cover. Please see Section 8.10.6 If your cover starts again

^{**For TPD cover this will also remain subject to you not having received or been entitled to receive a TPD benefit from any other source.} 

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8.5 Special insurance offer on joining for new members

As a new member aged under 65 joining through a Participating Employer you have a once off opportunity to increase your level of default insurance cover up to certain limits, when you apply within 6 months of the date you commenced work with your Participating Employer or 60 days from the date you received your Hostplus Executive welcome to the fund letter. Acceptance will remain subject to your application being approved by the insurer. We will notify you of the outcome of any such applications. Exceptions apply if you apply when you are not At Work.

Cover provided under the Special insurance offer will commence from the date the application is accepted by the insurer, and will remain subject to the same exclusions and other special insurance conditions (if any) which apply to you for other cover held.

Members who have a tailored insurance design through their registered Participating Employer, electing to take up the special offer on joining may not be eligible for any associated benefits provided by their employer. Taking up the special offer on joining may also replace the insurance design offered by a Hostplus Executive employer where applicable.

Important note:  Members aged 65 or over, and those that are not eligible for or have opted out of default cover, are not eligible for the Special insurance offer upon joining.

See 8.12 Special insurance offer on joining for new members for more information, including eligibility criteria.

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8.6 Making an insurance claim?

If you or your beneficiaries need to lodge an insurance claim with Hostplus please call us on 1300 467 875. We have a dedicated Claims Team who will assist you every step of the way with your claims enquiry and documentation required - at no cost to you - so there is no need for you to engage a third party person to do this on your behalf.

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8.7 How to Cancel your Insurance Cover

If you prefer not to have insurance cover, you can elect to cancel your cover upon joining, or cancel it at any time online , by sending us an email at info@hostplusexecutive.com.au or by writing to us at the address below. You can also cancel your insurance by calling us on 1300 467 875.

HOSTPLUS Executive
Locked Bag 5046
Parramatta
NSW 2124

If you cancel your insurance cover and subsequently decide that you would like to re-apply for insurance cover down the track, you can do so by completing a new online insurance application online by clicking here. Any application for insurance made at this time will be subject to approval by the insurer and may require underwriting. We cannot reinstate your original cover once you have decided to cancel it.

If you cancel your insurance we are unable to refund the premiums paid up to the date you cancelled, unless your cancellation is received within 60 days of your cover first commencing. 

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8.8 Death and Total & Permanent Disability and Death Only insurance

8.8.1 What's Death and TPD insurance cover?

Death and TPD insurance cover provides you with an insured benefit, payable to either you, if you become Totally and Permanently Disabled, or to your dependants or legal personal representative(s) in the event of your death. This is additional to your super account balance.

8.8.2 What's a Death benefit?

In the unfortunate event of your death, a Death benefit provides a lump sum payout to your dependants (for example, your children or partner) or your legal personal representative (executor of your estate). It is designed to provide your dependants with financial support. 

Under legislation, in the event of your death, your Death benefit is only payable to your dependants or legal personal representative(s). Your benefit is paid in addition to your Hostplus account balance. For more information and to find out who you can nominate to receive your benefit if you die, see Section 2: How super works – Death benefit nominations.

8.8.3 What's a Terminal Illness benefit

If you are insured for Death cover, you will also be covered for a Terminal Illness benefit. 

A Terminal Illness benefit is payable, if you suffer a ‘terminal illness’, as defined in 8.16 Definitions.

You are unable to claim a TPD benefit if you lodge a claim for a Terminal Illness benefit. Your death benefit will be reduced by the amount of the Terminal Illness benefit paid to you.

8.8.4 What's a Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) benefit?

A TPD benefit provides a lump sum payout to you if you become totally and permanently disabled.  It is designed to replace your future earning capacity via a lump sum payment and provide you and your dependants with the financial support you need.

If you apply for a TPD benefit, your assessment will depend upon your employment status on the date your illness or injury stops you working (Date of Disablement).  Where you were employed or hadd been unemployed for less than 12 on the Date of Disablement, you will need to satisfy one of parts 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 of the TPD definition. Otherwise, you will need toto satisfy one of parts 2, 3, 4 or 5.  See 8.16 Definitions for an explanation of the TPD definitions.

Important Note: If you have previously received, had a claim admitted, or were eligible to receive a TPD benefit from any other source (including a superannuation fund or otherwise), your cover will be restricted to Death Only insurance cover at any time. However, you may apply for TPD Cover and be eligible for this cover, if your application is accepted by the insurer. If you fail to inform us that you’ve received a TPD benefit either prior to or at the time you commenced your membership with Hostplus, then we’ll deduct the usual weekly premium, but you will not be covered for TPD. In the event of an insurance claim you will only be covered for a Death benefit. Any insured benefit paid is in addition to your account balance. 

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8.9 Understanding Unitised, Fixed Benefit and Formula Based Insurance Cover

8.9.1 Choosing unitised, fixed or formula based insurance cover

When applying for Death Only or Death & Total & Permanent Disability cover, you can choose either unitised cover or fixed benefit cover. You cannot have a combination of unitised and fixed cover.

Formula based insurance cover is only offered to member’s who are employed by a Participating Registered Hostplus Employer with a tailored offering for its employees.  Formula based arrangements are not available at an individual level.

8.9.2 Unitised insurance cover

With unitised cover, you pay a set price for each unit of cover you hold. The benefit value of each unit changes depending on your age. The benefit value of each unit decreases as your age increases, and the number of units you hold may change, however the amount you pay per unit remains the same.

8.9.3 Fixed insurance cover

With fixed insurance cover your insured benefit value stays the same. However, your TPD benefit will reduce each year by 20% of the cover held at age 61, to zero at age 65. The cost of your fixed insurance cover will vary depending on your age which means you may pay higher fees as you get older.

The below example highlights how your insurance cover is reduced:

See 8.18 Death Only and Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) Only insurance: Fixed benefit cover table

8.9.4 Formula based insurance cover

A formula based arrangement calculates your Death & TPD, Death only and/or Salary Continuance insurance cover based on a number of factors which may include, your age, gender, occupation, salary and future years of service where applicable. Depending of the formula design, your Death & TPD, Death Only and/or Salary Continuance insurance cover may change as your age and salary changes, and the premium you pay for this cover will also change. Your level of cover may be subject to Automatic Acceptance Limits (AAL). Formula based insurance cover is only offered to member’s who are employed by a Participating Employer with designed a tailored offering for its employees. Formula based arrangements are not available at an individual level. You will be notified of your formula design by your employer and/or in your welcome letter.

8.9.5 Switching between units of cover and fixed cover

You can switch from unitised to fixed cover or from fixed to unitised cover at any time provided you meet the eligibility requirements. If you do this, your level of cover and premiums may change.

8.9.6 Switching from formula based insurance to units or fixed cover

If you have a formula based insurance arrangement provided through your  Participating Employer, and you subsequently leave your employment, your insurance cover will be changed to fixed cover insurance automatically.  However, you have the option to at any time:

• to opt out of your employer’s formula arrangement and move to fixed cover insurance maintaining your applicable benefit level.
• to opt out of your employer's formula arrangement and decrease your cover and move to unitised insurance cover.   

If you subsequently decide to move from unitised to fixed cover, you will be required to answer a health questionnaire from the insurer which will be used to assess your application.

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8.10 Who’s eligible for Death and Total & Permanent Disability insurance cover with Hostplus Executive?

Default cover will be provided automatically for members who join with a Participating Employer if on the Cover Commencement Date you are: 

• eligible for insurance ‘an Eligible Person’;  and
• not a ‘Claiming Member’. 

If you are a Claiming Member for TPD, you will be eligible to receive Death Only default cover. If you are a Claiming Member for Terminal Illness, you will not be eligible for any default cover.

See 8.16 For definitions of ‘Cover Commencement Date’, ‘At Work’ and ‘Claiming Member’

You are eligible for insurance cover if you are:

• an Employer Sponsored Member of Hostplus Executive;
• aged 11 to 64 for TPD cover;
• aged 11 to 69 for Death cover;
• an Australian resident or a lawful non-citizen, within the meaning of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth), for whom your employer is required to make employer contributions; and
• not an Excluded Member.

An Excluded Member is a member who satisfies one or more of the following:

• is older than the maximum insurable age, being age 65 for TPD cover or age 70 for Death cover; or
• has previously opted out of cover under this or any previous Hostplus policy. 

Excluded members are ineligible for cover under the Hostplus Executive policy except where accepted by the insurer at their absolute discretion. Acceptance remains subject to underwriting.  We will notify you of the outcome of any application made. 

8.10.1 When does Death and Total & Permanent Disability insurance cover start

• Executive Default Insurance Cover (including employer formula arrangements):
  
  Your default insurance cover commences on the Cover Commencement Date as defined in section 8.16 Definitions 
  
   
• Application to increase cover
  
  If you have applied to increase your insurance cover via an application, your increased cover will commence on the date your application is accepted by the Insurer and you have sufficient funds to pay the required insurance premiums.  Acceptance is subject to underwriting.  We will advise you in writing of the outcome of your application.

8.10.2 Duplicate accounts

You are only eligible to retain insurance in one account. Where you have multiple accounts, you will retain cover in the account with the highest level of insurance and the account with lower insured amount will be closed. Any overpaid premiums will be refunded to you. Your insurance cover will automatically be transferred once your accounts have been merged unless you tell us otherwise. You must inform us immediately if you have more than one account with Hostplus.

Please note that if you are an existing member and have a duplicate account or have joined another division of Hostplus you are not entitled to the 8.12 Special insurance offer on joining for new members.

8.10.3 Exclusions

In the event of a War involving Australia or your country of residence the insurer may offer increased premium rates. No benefit is payable if the event giving rise to the claim is caused directly or indirectly by War (as defined in 8.16 Definitions).

8.10.4 Going overseas?

If you travel or reside overseas, you are covered for claims, provided your insurance premiums continue to be paid from your account and you have sufficient funds in your super account to pay the premiums. In the event of a Total and Permanent Disability or Salary Continuance claim you may be required to return to Australia at your own expense to be assessed for a benefit.

8.10.5 When your Death and TPD insurance cover ends

Your insurance cover will cease, without the need for us to notify you, on the earliest of the following events: 

• the date you commence Active Duty with the military services of any country (other than the Australian Armed Force Reserve where you are not on Active Duty outside Australia),
• the date you cease to be a member of Hostplus Executive,
• the date you reach age 65 for TPD, 
• the date you reach age 70 for Death cover,
• the date we receive your written request to cancel your insurance (or where the request specifies a later date, the later date specified),
• in the event of your death,
• the date you are paid a benefit which is equal to the amount of your Death benefit,
• the end of the month in which your account balance has insufficient funds to pay the premium,
• by opting out of your insurance cover by selecting this option on your Membership application when joining Hostplus Executive,
• the date the insurance policy ends, or
• the date your account becomes inactive for a continuous period of 16 months (unless you have made a prior election to maintain your cover), or
• your account is transferred to the Australian Tax Office or an Eligible Rollover Fund.

8.10.6 If your cover starts again (Death and TPD)

If your cover has lapsed, it may in certain circumstances be reinstated or recommenced. 

The difference between reinstated and recommenced cover

Where cover is reinstated, this means it continues from the day it previously ceased, at the same level as previously existed, subject to any exclusions, limitations or special conditions that applied previously.

Where cover recommences, this means it may start from a different date than when it previously ceased, it may be at a different level from what had previously existed (i.e. the cover will be Default Cover), and with restrictions, as described below. 

Insurance premiums will be payable from the date your cover starts again.

Reinstatement of Cover - Contribution within 30 days or employer contribution within 180 days of cover ceasing: 

If your cover ceases as a result of insufficient funds in your account or because your account has been inactive for 16 consecutive months, it may be reinstated from the date your cover ceased (Cover End Date), at the same level held by you and on the same terms (including occupational rating, any applicable Plan Rating Factor, exclusions and special conditions, if any) applicable to your cover immediately prior to the Cover End Date if:

• we receive a contribution or rollover for you within 30 days of the Cover End Date; or
• we receive an employer contribution for you within 180 days of the Cover End Date which is for a period which includes the Cover End Date; and 
• you are under age 65 for TPD and 70 for Death cover on the Cover End Date.

When your reinstated cover will be Restricted Cover

If your cover ceases as a result of insufficient funds in your account, any reinstated cover will be Full Cover.

If your cover ceases because your account has been inactive for 16 consecutive months, any reinstated cover will be Restricted Cover until you are At Work for 30 consecutive days after:

• the date a personal contribution or rollover is received, or
• the Contribution Start Date (if an employer contribution is received),

at which time the Restricted Cover will be automatically replaced with Full Cover unless the employer contribution does not meet certain requirements explained below.

However, if your cover is reinstated because we receive an employer contribution for you within 180 days of the Cover End Date, Restricted Cover will not be automatically replaced with Full Cover if:

(i.) the employer contribution relates to a period greater than 6 months after the start of the contribution period to which the employer contribution relates; or
(ii.) the employer contribution does not relate to your first 6 months of employment with your Hostplus employer.

Where your employer contribution does not meet the above two requirements, Restricted Cover will continue and may only be replaced with Full Cover if you apply and are accepted by the insurer for Full Cover. Acceptance remains subject to underwriting.

Recommencement of Cover:

If you are an employee of a Participating Employer and your cover has ceased as a result of insufficient funds in your account or because your account has been inactive for 16 consecutive months, your cover will recommence at the automatic default level of cover (using the Occupation Rating and any applicable Plan Rating Factor provided by your Employer, unless you vary this in writing) if:

• we receive a Contribution or rollover for your after 30 days of the Cover End Date; or
• we receive an employer contribution for you after 180 days of the Cover End Date; and
• you are an Eligible Person, under the age of 65 for TPD and 70 for Death cover on the Recommencement Date 

Where your cover recommences, it will do so on the Recommencement Date:

Please note: If you cease employment and your cover recommences because you commence employment with a new employer, the recommencement of your cover will be subject to the terms and conditions (including any applicable Plan Rating Factor) of your new employer’s tailored insurance arrangement or, if your new employer does not have a tailored insurance arrangement, your recommenced cover will be subject to our standard default insurance arrangements. Either way, this means that the level of insurance you previously held and/or your occupational rating and any applicable Plan Rating Factor may no longer apply and this may also affect your premium (in other words, your level of cover may be higher or lower and the premiums you pay may be higher or lower).

When your recommenced cover will be Restricted Cover:

If your cover recommences because we received an employer contribution, Contribution or rollover for you:

If your cover ceases as a result of insufficient funds in your account or because your account has been inactive for 16 consecutive months, and you are not At Work on the Recommencement Date, any recommenced cover (as a result of receiving a Contribution or rollover) will be Restricted Cover until you are At Work for 30 consecutive days, at which time Restricted Cover will be automatically replaced with Full Cover.

If your cover recommences because we received an employer contribution for you:

If your cover ceases as a result of insufficient funds in your account or because your account has been inactive for 16 consecutive months, any recommenced cover (as a result of receiving an employer contribution) will be Restricted Cover if the employer contribution relates to a period greater than 6 months after the start of the contribution period to which the employer contribution relates. Restricted Cover will not be automatically replaced with Full Cover.

If your cover ceases because your account has been inactive for 16 consecutive months, and your cover recommences (as a result of receiving an employer contribution), any recommenced cover will be Restricted Cover if the employer contribution does not relate to your first 6 months of employment with your Hostplus employer. Restricted Cover will not be automatically replaced with Full Cover.

Where your Restricted Cover is not automatically replaced with Full Cover, your Restricted Cover will continue from the Recommencement Date and may only be replaced with Full Cover if you apply and are accepted by the insurer for Full Cover. Acceptance remains subject to underwriting.

Please note: If before the Recommencement Date you have a claim admitted (accepted by an insurer), or are eligible to receive a Total and Permanent Disablement benefit from any source, you will only be eligible for default Death cover.

If you have had a claim admitted, are eligible for, in a waiting period or the process of claiming a Terminal Illness from any source, you will not be eligible for default cover.

Recommencement of Cover - Active Duty  outside Australia with the Australian Armed Forces Reserve

If your cover has ceased as a result of you having commenced Active Duty outside Australia with the Australian Armed Forces Reserve, you may have your cover recommenced up to the automatic default level of cover provided the period of that Active Duty did not exceed 12 consecutive months and your cover would not have otherwise ceased due to any other reason.

Upon recommencement, New Events Cover will apply for 12 consecutive months commencing on the later of you ceasing Active Duty outside Australia with the Australian Armed Forces Reserve, and the date you are first At Work with your Participating Employer. New Events Cover will continue to apply if you are not At Work after this 12 month period until you return to being At Work, unless you are accepted by the insurer for Full Cover. Acceptance remains subject to underwriting. 

 

Note:  If you wish to vary your New Events Cover or Restricted Cover to Full Cover, or had cover in excess of the automatic default level of cover prior to your Cover End Date, you will need to satisfy the Insurer’s underwriting assessment to again be eligible for this higher level of cover. You will also not be eligible for the special insurance offer which is available upon joining. Who your Participating Employer is will determine what default Death & TPD or Death Only insurance cover is applicable to you. For more information see 8.3 Automatic Death and Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance cover and 8.17 Member Automatic Death &TPD Default Unitised Cover Table for details.

8.10.7 Manage your insurance online

To make it easy for you the Hostplus online insurance tool allows you to manage all your insurance needs all year round. You have the flexibility to change your level of insurance cover when your circumstances change.

Simply apply online now

8.10.8 How much insurance cover can I apply for?

You can apply for unlimited Death cover which includes Terminal Illness cover.  Underwriting conditions may apply.

You can apply for up to a maximum of $5 million in Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) cover. Underwriting conditions may apply.

8.10.9 Calculating how much insurance cover you need and cost of cover

To calculate the type and level of insurance cover you need click here to use our online insurance calculator.

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8.11 Understanding occupational ratings

Some members will be eligible to pay a lower premium based on their occupation and associated occupational rating set by the insurer.

The table below is a description of occupational ratings. If you require assistance determining your occupational rating you can contact Hostplus.

Please note: Depending on your occupation and the type of cover you select, you may be assessed on different occupation ratings. For example, a hospitality worker will be considered as Standard for Death and TPD but Heavy blue for Salary Continuance cover.

If you do not provide your occupational details and you are electing to take up fixed cover, you will automatically default to the Heavy Blue collar rating for Death and TPD insurance cover. 

Occupational Rating

To change your insurance scale you can apply online at hostplus.com.au by clicking here.

A Plan Rating Factor may apply in addition to the occupational rating in certain tailored employer arrangements. See section 8.16 for further information in respect of Plan Rating Factor.

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8.12 Special insurance offer on joining for new members

If you are a new Executive Fund member aged under 65 years, joining through a Participating Employer and have obtained default Death and Total & Permanent Disability cover, you have a once off opportunity to:

• increase your unitised Death and Total & Permanent Disability cover up to a total of 16 units if you are aged 11 to 24, or 20 units if you are aged 25 to 64, or
• apply for fixed benefit Death and Total & Permanent Disability cover of up to $500,000 if you are aged under 65.

This special offer is a one-off opportunity when you first complete your Hostplus Executive Membership application form and selecting this option when you join. If completing the paper application form, you must return the form by the later of 6 months from the date you commenced work with your Participating Employer or within 60 days from the day you receive your Hostplus Executive welcome letter, whichever is the later.

You may also apply for Salary Continuance insurance cover for up to $4,000 per month for a benefit period of two years, with a waiting period of 30,60 or 90 days if you aged under 65.

See 8.19.9 Restricted Cover Salary Continuance for more information

Please note, cover provided under the Special insurance offer includes answering some limited health questions and will commence from the date the application is accepted by the insurer, and will remain subject to the same exclusions and other special insurance conditions (if any) which apply to you for other cover held.

Members who have a tailored insurance design through their Participating Employer, and elect to take up the special offer on joining for new members may not be eligible for any associated benefits provided by their employer. Taking up the special offer on joining may also replace the insurance design offered by your Participating Employer if applicable.

Important Note:
If you are not At Work at the time of applying for the Special Offer, restricted cover will apply until you are back At Work for 30 consecutive days.
Please refer to 8.3 Restricted Cover.

New members aged 65 or over, those that fail to apply within the prescribed timeframes, or those that are not eligible for default insurance or that have opted out or cancelled their default cover will not be eligible to take up the Special Insurance Offer (for Death and TPD) upon joining. 

Current and or existing members of Hostplus regardless of division or product are also ineligible to take up the Special Insurance Offer. It’s important to note that if you don’t take the “Special Offer” up, if offered on the first application you have completed (either online or paper), you cannot complete a subsequent application to take advantage of the offer.

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8.13 Changing your level of cover after you have joined

You can change your level of cover and tailor it to suit your needs, at any time during your membership by applying online. You can take advantage of the following options to increase your cover.

8.13.1 Transferring your insurance cover into Hostplus Executive

If you have insurance cover through another superannuation fund or otherwise for Death Only or Death and Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) cover (“Transferred Cover”) you may be able to transfer up to $1,500,000 of Death Only or Death and TPD insurance cover into Hostplus provided that:

• your Transferred Cover is of a similar nature to the cover provided via Hostplus,
• your Transferred Cover is still in force,
• you transfer your superannuation account balance to Hostplus if your Transferred Cover is held through superannuation,
• any loadings, restrictions and exclusions which apply on your Transferred Cover will also apply to your cover transferred to Hostplus, and
• you cancel your Transferred Cover once the transfer to Hostplus has occurred.

To apply to transfer your existing cover to Hostplus Executive, please apply online by clicking here.  

Please note that any Death and/or TPD cover transferred to Hostplus will be in addition to the same insurance cover you hold under Hostplus Executive (subject to a limit of $5m for TPD cover). If you have fixed TPD Cover, the cover amount cannot exceed your Death Cover and it is reduced by 20% each year from your 61st birthday until you reach age 65, when it will reduce to zero.  Any Salary Continuance cover you transfer will replace any Salary Continuance cover you currently hold with Hostplus.

8.13.2 Specific life events cover - cover that keeps up with you

To help ensure your Death and Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) cover keeps up with you whenever you take a big step forward – like buying a new home or starting a family, you have the opportunity to take advantage of our life events cover. This feature allows you to increase your unitised cover by four additional units or under fixed benefit cover, by 25% of your current sum insured up to a maximum of $200,000, without the need to complete lengthy paperwork or supply medical information.

To obtain the additional cover under this feature, you must apply within 6 months of: 

• getting married,
• the birth or adoption of a child/children,
• divorce,
• death of a spouse,
• taking on a mortgage or negotiating an increase to your existing mortgage (principle place of residence),
• completion of an undergraduate degree at an Australian university,
• a dependent child starting secondary school,
• becoming a carer for an immediate family member for the first time and you are financially responsible for such care and are physically providing such care,
• taking out a business loan in excess of $100,000,
• increasing an existing business loan, by at least $100,000 (excluding re-draw and refinancing).

You will need to provide proof that the event has occurred. If you have Death Only cover, the increase will be for Death Only cover. If you have Death and TPD cover, the increase will apply to both types of cover. You can take up one life event cover increase every 12 months and three increases in total in the lifetime of your membership. The same loadings, exclusions and limitations will apply to your life events cover that applied immediately before your life events application. 

If you have been previously declined in your application for insurance by the insurer you will not be eligible for the specific life events cover.

Apply online now

8.13.3 Converting your unitised insurance cover to fixed benefit insurance cover

You have the option to replace your unitised cover with 8.9.3 Fixed insurance cover at any time by applying online by clicking here. You must be 60 years of age or less to be eligible for this offer. Where an application is made, you will have your unitised cover converted to an equivalent amount of fixed benefit cover, rounded up to the next $1,000.

You cannot have a combination of unitised cover and fixed benefit cover.
Members who have a tailored insurance design through their Participating Employer, and elect to convert unitised cover to fixed cover under this section, may not be eligible for any associated benefits provided by their employer. Taking up the special offer on joining may also replace the insurance design offered by your Participating Employer if applicable.

You can revert back to unitised cover by clicking here . Where an application is made, you will have your fixed cover converted to an equivalent amount of units, rounded down to the next whole unit.

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8.14 Interim Accident Cover

While the insurer is assessing your application for Death and TPD insurance cover, or an increase in your existing Death and TPD cover or to amend your Death & TPD insurance cover, you are provided with Interim Accident Cover. If you die or suffer total and permanent disablement as a result of an accident during the period in which the Interim Accident Cover applies, the interim benefit will be at the same level as the cover applied for or in the case of increasing your cover, the difference between the level of increased cover applied for and the level of current cover, up to the maximum benefit level limit as below:

Interim Accident Cover commences when we receive your application and will continue until the earlier of: 

• the date the insurer accepts or rejects your application,
• 90 days after the date Interim Accident Cover starts, 
• the date that you withdraw your application for additional cover; or
• the date your cover otherwise ends as set out under 8.10.5 When your Death and TPD insurance cover ends.

‘Accident’ means a fortuitous, external event that occurs by chance causing death or total and permanent disablement. It does not refer to an event which results in sickness, disease, allergy or infirmity of the insured member, such that they would qualify for a Death or Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) benefit (as applicable) to be paid under the policy.

Whether the death or total and permanent disablement was caused by an unintended and unexpected characteristic or consequence of an intended act (such as the application of unintentionally excessive force, or the creation of unintended or excessive force, or the creation of unintended excessive pressure or strain) is irrelevant in determining whether death or total and permanent disablement has arisen as a result of an accident.

An accident must result in the death or total and permanent disablement of the insured member within 365 days of the accident for a benefit to be payable where liability is contingent on an event being caused by an accident or by accidental injury.

For the avoidance of doubt, an accident shall specifically exclude death or total and permanent disablement (if it applies):

• arising out of, or contributed to in any way by, any pre-existing sickness, disease, injury, gradual physical or mental deformity, or infirmity known to the insured member when their insurance cover commenced, or
• arising in circumstances where the insured member deliberately assumed the risk or courted disaster, irrespective of whether he or she intended or contemplated the results of his or her actions.

Where there is any doubt as to the cause of death or total and permanent disablement sustained as a result of an accident, the cause will be characterised as being the result of a sickness. See 8.16 Definitions.

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8.15 When should I make a claim for a benefit? (Death and Total and Permanent Disablement)

You should advise us of a claim as soon as reasonably possible. If you don’t notify us within a reasonable time, the insurer may reduce or refuse to pay the insured benefit to the extent their assessment of your claim is prejudiced. 

If you make a claim, the insurer reserves the right to investigate the claim including but not limited to the use of investigative agents, conducting surveillance and requesting information and medical examinations.

It is important to note that if you make a claim, you will only be entitled to an insured benefit if you meet the eligible criteria (see section 8.10) under the terms of the fund’s insurance policy. The insured benefit is determined as at the date of the event occurring (e.g. for death event, date of death) and the level of insurance cover at that time. In circumstances where you are in the process of applying for additional cover but have not yet been accepted by the insurer, you will only be entitled to the lesser amount of cover applicable prior to the increase, in the event of a successful claim.

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8.16 Definitions

Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD):

“Totally and Permanently Disabled”, “Total and Permanent Disablement”, “Total and Permanent Disability” or “TPD” means:

1. Unlikely ever to return to work

If you are employed or engaged in a gainful occupation, business, profession or employment or within 12 months of the date you ceases to be so employed or engaged:

1.1. you have suffered an injury or illness and, as a result of that injury or illness, you:

1.1.1. are totally unable to be employed or engaged in that occupation, business, profession or employment for a period of six consecutive months, and

1.1.2. are determined by the insurer that at the end of that six month period (or such later time as agreed with the trustee), to be permanently incapacitated to such an extent as to render you unlikely ever to be employed or engaged in any gainful occupation, business, profession or employment for which you are reasonably suited by education, training or experience.

NOTE: For the avoidance of doubt, the six month periods referred to in part 1 above do not apply to parts 2 to 5 below.

OR

 2. Permanent impairment

You suffered an injury or illness and, as a result of that injury or illness, you:

2.1. suffered a permanent impairment of at least 25% of whole person function as defined in the American Medical Association publication ‘Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment’, 4th edition, or an equivalent guide to impairment approved by the insurer, and

2.2. are disabled to such an extent, as a result of this impairment, that you are unlikely ever again to be able to be employed or engaged in any gainful occupation, business, profession or employment for which you are reasonably suited by education, training or experience.

OR

3. Specific loss

As a result of illness or injury, you suffered the total and permanent loss of the use of: 

• two limbs (where ‘limb’ is defined as the whole hand or the whole foot), or 
• the sight in both eyes, or 
• one limb and the sight in one eye

and are disabled to such an extent, as a result of this impairment, that you are unlikely ever again to be able to be employed or engaged in any gainful occupation, business, profession or employment for which you are reasonably suited by education, training or experience.

OR

4. Loss of independent existence

As a result of illness or injury, you suffered loss of independent existence and is disabled to such an extent, as a result of this impairment, that you are unlikely ever again to be able to be employed or engaged in any gainful occupation, business, profession or employment for which you are reasonably suited by education, training or experience.

‘Loss of independent existence’ means the insurer has determined you are totally and irreversibly unable to perform at least two of the following five ‘activities of daily living’ without the assistance of another adult person: 

• bathing and/or showering. 
• dressing and undressing. 
• eating and drinking. 
• using a toilet to maintain personal hygiene. 
• getting in and out of bed, a chair or wheelchair, or moving from place to place by walking, wheelchair or with assistance of a walking aid.

OR

5. Cognitive loss

As a result of illness or injury, you suffered cognitive loss and is disabled to such an extent, as a result of this impairment, that you are unlikely ever again to be able to be employed or engaged in any gainful occupation, business, profession or employment for which you are reasonably suited by education, training or experience.

‘Cognitive loss’ means the insurer has determined that a total and permanent deterioration or loss of intellectual capacity has required you to be under continuous care and supervision by another adult person for at least six consecutive months and, at the end of those six consecutive months, you are likely to require permanent ongoing continuous care and supervision by another adult person

Other Definitions

Active Duty

Full-time occupation as part of a military force, as opposed to reserve duty.

At Work
Actively performing all your normal duties of your occupation, working your usual hours free from any limitation due to illness or injury and not entitled to or receiving income support benefits of any kind.  Where you own all or part of the business from which you earn your regular income, ‘At Work’ means you are capable of, and in fact performing without restriction due to injury or illness, all of the usual identifiable duties of the occupation for which you earn your regular income.

Automatic Acceptance Limits (AAL)
Automatic Acceptance Limit means the amount determined by the Insurer for which a person may be accepted for insurance cover without application under an Employer Formula Arrangement/Agreement.

Claiming Member 

You:
(a) has had a claim admitted (accepted by the insurer);
(b) is eligible to receive a benefit;
(c) is in a waiting period for a benefit; and/or
(d) is in the process of claiming a benefit

for terminal illness or total and permanent disablement (TPD) from any source, on or before the date their cover commenced, would have commenced or recommenced (as appropriate) with Hostplus under the policy.  

If you are a Claiming member you may be accepted by the insurer for cover subject to underwriting.  

Contribution
A contribution from any source or a transfer or rollover of a superannuation benefit received on your behalf.

Contribution Start Date
means the later of:
(a) 180 days prior to the date Hostplus receive the employer contribution in respect of you from your participating employer;
(b) the start date of the contribution period to which the employer contribution received by Hostplus from your participating employer relates;
(c) the Cover End Date.

Cover Commencement Date 

The later of:
(a) 180 days prior to the date Hostplus receives an Employer Contribution in respect of you from your Participating Employer;
(b) the start date of the contribution period to which the employer contribution, received from a Participating Employer, relates;
(c) the date you first commenced work with your Participating Employer (provided you were eligible for employer contributions). 

Cover End Date
Where cover ends because:
(a) of insufficient funds in your account, the last calendar day of the month in which your account balance has insufficient funds to pay premiums; or
(b) your account becomes inactive, the date your account has been inactive for a continuous period of 16 months.

Eligible Person 
You are an Employer Sponsored Member who is:
(a) a member of the Executive Division of the Fund;
(b) at least 11 years old and under 70 years of age for Death and Terminal Illness cover,
(c) at least 11 years old and under 65 years of age for TPD cover,
(d) an Australian resident or a lawful non-citizen, within the meaning of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) for whom your employer is required to make employer contributions,
(e) not an Excluded Member; and
(f) not an insured member of the Industry Division of the Fund.

Employer Formula Arrangement/Agreement

An optional insurance design agreed to by the Insurer, Hostplus Executive and Participating Employer. The formula agreement may consist of Death Only, Death & TPD cover and/or Salary Continuance Cover. A Plan Rating Factor may apply to the standard Executive premium rates.

Executive Member(s)/Employer Sponsored Member(s)
A member is a member who is an employee of a Participating Employer and has been registered/joined with Hostplus through this employer. The Participating Employer is attached to the member’s account at the Cover Commencement Date.  

Full Cover
That is neither New Events Cover nor Restricted Cover. 

New Events Cover
You are only covered for an illness that first becomes apparent, or an injury that first occurs, on or after the date cover commenced. 

Participating Registered Hostplus Executive Employer (Participating Employer)
An employer who has completed an employer application form to register with Hostplus Executive and makes Superannuation Guarantee Contributions on behalf of employees through the Executive product.

Plan Rating Factor
The Plan Rating Factor is a multiple that takes into account the industry in which the Participating Employer is involved and the sums insured and previous death and TPD claims history of the employees of the Participating Employer. The Death & TPD Plan Rating Factor adjusts the standard executive death and TPD premium rates that apply to members of the Employer Formula Arrangement.  A separate Death & TPD Plan Rating Factor may apply to different categories of employees within an Employer Formula Arrangement.

Further information in respect of any applicable Plan Rating Factor will be contained in your welcome to the fund letter.

 

• was aware of, or should have been aware of; or
• had, or was intending to have, or would have had a medical consultation for,

in the two years prior to the date your cover commenced, recommenced or is reinstated under the Policy or the previous policy, or in the two years prior to another relevant date specified in the Policy.

Recommencement Date

(a) 180 days prior to the date we receive an employer contribution in respect to you;
(b) the start date of the contribution period to which the employer contribution received from your Participating Employer relates; or
(c) the Cover End Date. 

Where cover recommences due to the receipt of a Contribution for a person that is not an Employer Contribution, Recommencement Date means the date the Contribution for the person is received.

Restricted Cover 
You are only covered for an illness that first becomes apparent, or an injury that first occurs, on or after the date cover commenced, recommenced or is reinstated and provided the Injury or Illness is not a Pre-Existing Condition.

Salary
Where you are Employed, the following annual remuneration (including mandated employer superannuation contributions) which you received from your Occupation, before the deduction of income tax:

• Cash salary
• Regular overtime (averaged over the previous three years, or since you started in your current occupation, if less);
• The monetary value of non-cash benefits or fringe benefits provided by your employer in direct substitution of salary (as long as the fringe benefits continue to be provided to you after disability benefit payment have commenced) and
• Performance related commission bonuses and other monetary benefits, averaged over the previous three years, or since you started your current position, if less;

OR

Where you directly or indirectly own all or part of the business from which you earn your income, the total amount earned by the business over the financial year as a direct result of your personal exertion or activities through your usual Occupation, less your share of business expenses, but before the deduction of income tax, for that business (or the relevant proportion for part of a financial year).

Terminal Illness
(a) Two Medical Practitioners, one of whom specialises in the your illness, certifies in writing that despite reasonable medical treatment the illness will lead to your death within 24 months of the date of the certification, and

(b) The insurer is satisfied, on medical or other evidence that despite reasonable medical treatment the illness will lead to your death within 24 months of the date of the certification referred to in paragraph (a).

The illness which you suffer, must occur and the date of the first and second certifications  referred to in paragraph (a) must be made while you are covered for death cover with Hostplus.

See 2.13.9 Types of benefits

Tertiary qualification
Tertiary qualification includes but is not limited to mean diplomas, undergraduate and graduate certificates, and associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees obtained at any type of education pursued beyond the high school level.

War

War includes an act of war (whether declared or not), revolution, invasion, rebellion or civil unrest.

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8.17 Member Automatic Death & TPD Default Unitised Cover Table

The table below shows the level of default Death and TPD cover eligible employees of a Participating Employer receive upon joining Hostplus Executive.  The level of default cover applied is based on your age next birthday.

Cost Of Unitised Death & TPD Cover

Your unitised cover premiums will be calculated based on your applicable occupation rating and any applicable Plan Rating Factor, number of units held and type of cover. 

Please note the ‘Standard’ occupational rating classification will apply to you until such time as you vary this under the terms of the policy, in writing with Hostplus. 

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8.18 Death Only and Total & Permanent Disability Only insurance: Fixed benefit & Formula based cover table

Your Fixed Cover premiums will be calculated based on your age next birthday, your gender, your applicable Occupation Rating Factor, type of cover and the dollar value of your cover.

A Plan Rating Factor may apply in addition to the occupational rating in certain tailored employer arrangements. See section 8.16 for further information in respect of Plan Rating Factor.

Management/Clerical (White collar) premium rates are shown per $1,000 sum insured.

The rates shown have been rounded up to two decimal places for ease of use, the actual premium rates applied to your account are to four decimal places.

Fixed Death and TPD Cover is calculated by adding the Death Only and TPD Only premium rates together.

Your Fixed Cover premiums will be calculated based on your age next birthday, your applicable Occupation Rating Factor, type of cover and the dollar value of your cover. 

If you do not provide your occupational details and you are electing to take up fixed cover, you will automatically default to the Heavy Blue collar rating for Death and TPD insurance cover, until such time as you vary this under the terms of the policy, in writing with Hostplus. 

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8.19 Salary Continuance insurance cover

Salary Continuance insurance helps to protect your income if you can’t work because of illness or injury (temporarily and totally) by providing regular monthly payments to help you meet your living expenses.

You can apply for cover of up to 90% of your monthly pre-disability salary (where, in the event of a successful claim, 75% of your monthly pre-disability salary is paid to you and 15% of your monthly pre-disability salary is paid into your account with Hostplus*), capped at $30,000 per month, with a waiting period of either 30, 60 or 90 days and you can choose to receive monthly benefits for either up to two years or up to the age of 65.

*The contribution to your account is a concessional contribution and subject to the concessional contributions cap. See 2.14.11 Contribution limits.

 

8.19.1 When your Salary Continuance cover starts

Your Salary Continuance insurance cover commences on the date your application is accepted by the insurer and your insurance premium is paid. Acceptance is subject to underwriting. We will advise you, in writing, of the outcome of your application.

Where you are provided with default Salary Continuance cover as part of your Employer’s tailored insurance arrangement, your cover will commence on the Cover Commencement Date, as defined in section 8.19.27 Definitions. 

8.19.2 When your Salary Continuance cover ends

Your Salary Continuance insurance cover will cease on the earliest of the following events:

• the date you commence Active Duty with the military service of any country (other than the Australian Armed Forces Reserves and are not on Active Duty outside Australia).
• the date you cease to be a member of Hostplus Executive.
• the date you reach age 65.
• the date we receive your written request to cancel your insurance (or where the request specifies a later date, the later date specified).
• the date that you permanently retire from the workforce.
• in the event of your death.
• the end of the month in which your account balance has insufficient funds to pay the premium.
• the date the insurance policy ends
• the date your account becomes inactive for a continuous period of 16 months (unless you have made a prior election to maintain your cover), or
• your account is transferred to the Australian Tax Office or an Eligible Rollover Fund.

8.19.3 Who’s eligible for Salary Continuance insurance cover with Hostplus Executive?

You are eligible for insurance cover if you are:

• a member of the Executive Division of the Fund;
• at least 15 years old and under 65 years of age,
• an Australian Resident, or a lawful non-citizen, within the meaning of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) for whom the employer is required to make employer contributions;
• not an Excluded Member, and
• not an insured member of the Industry Division of the Fund.

An Excluded Member is a member who satisfies one or more of the following:

• is older than the maximum insurable age, being age 65;
• has previously been declined or opted out of cover under this or any previous Hostplus policy; or
• is eligible to receive, or has received, a lump sum benefit for total and permanent disability from any source. 

Excluded members are ineligible for cover under the Hostplus Executive policy except where accepted by the insurer at their absolute discretion. Acceptance remains subject to underwriting.  We will notify you of the outcome of any application made. 

8.19.4 Excluded occupations

An excluded occupation is an occupation that the Fund’s insurer will not cover for Salary Continuance insurance. Refer to Excluded occupations.

8.19.5 Salary Continuance Cover Exclusions

No benefit will be payable if the injury or illness is caused directly or indirectly by one of the following: 

• your intentional, self-inflicted act, or any attempt to commit suicide,
• pregnancy unless you are disabled for more than three months after the end of the pregnancy, in which case the waiting period is deemed to start on the later of the date total disablement begins and the end of the pregnancy, or
• war or act of war (as defined at 8.19.27 Salary Continuance cover definitions).

In addition to the above, the insurer may refuse to pay any benefits:

• while you are imprisoned.
• if the premium has not been paid in respect of all members insured under the insurer’s policy.
• if you do not comply with the requirements made of you by the insurer in the course of considering your claim.
• where the insurer’s assessment of the claim is prejudiced.

No Partial Disability Benefit will be payable where you cease to be employed for reasons other than illness or injury six months or more prior to the date your became Disabled.

8.19.6 Salary Continuance cover how your benefit is calculated

With Salary Continuance cover, you first decide how much of your pre-disability salary you would like to insure. You can apply for up to a maximum of 90% of your pre-disability salary. If insured for that amount, in the event of a successful claim, 75% of your monthly pre-disability salary is paid to you and 15% of your monthly pre-disability salary is paid into your Hostplus Executive account. You may, of course, choose to have Salary Continuance insurance cover that is less than 90% of your pre-disability salary.

Where your Salary Continuance benefit is up to 75% of your pre-disability salary, we will pay that benefit to you. Where your Salary Continuance benefit is from 75% to 90% of your pre-disability salary, we will pay a maximum of 75% of you pre-disability salary to you and the remained is paid into your Hostplus account. 

Depending on who your Participating Employer is, you may have default Salary Continuance cover subject to Automatic Acceptance Levels (AAL) as part of the tailored formula insurance arrangement design offered.  If this is the case, your salary continuance cover will be automatically calculated based on the formula agreed and the information provided by your employer.  Your salary continuance cover will automatically increase or decrease based on your salary information up to the AAL limit set as part of your employers formula arrangement.  

8.19.7 Your choice of waiting periods and benefit periods

Hostplus Executive offers three waiting periods: 30, 60 or 90 days. A waiting period is the period during which you must be totally or partially disabled before any Salary Continuance benefit is payable. You do not receive to a benefit for the waiting period.

The benefit period is the maximum period of time that a benefit will be paid for any one illness or injury while you are totally disabled or partially disabled. You can choose a benefit period of two years or up to age 65.

Premiums vary depending on which waiting period or benefit period you choose. Generally, the longer the waiting period and the shorter the benefit period, the lower the premium. See the 8.19.26 Salary Continuance insurance: annual premiums table.

If you want to change the waiting period from:

• 90 days (the default waiting period) to 60 days or 30 days, or
• 60 days to 30 days,

you will need to complete a new online insurance application. Similarly if you want to change the benefit period from 2 years to, to age 65 you will need to apply.

During the waiting period, you can return to work once, for up to 10 consecutive days, without having to start a new waiting period. If this occurs, the number of days you have worked will be added to the waiting period.

8.19.8 Special Insurance Offer - Salary Continuance insurance when you join Hostplus Executive

You may also apply for Salary Continuance insurance to up to $4,000 per month for a benefit period of two years with a default waiting period of 90 days (unless you nominate otherwise) if aged under 65, with limited health questions. 

This special offer is a one-off opportunity when you first complete your Hostplus Executive Membership application form and selecting this option when you join. If completing the paper application form, you must return the form by the later of 6 months from the date you commenced work with your Participating Employer or within 60 days from the day you receive your Hostplus Executive welcome letter.

Members who have a tailored insurance design through their Participating Employer, and elect to take up the special offer on joining for new members may not be eligible for any associated benefits provided by their employer. Taking up the special offer on joining may also replace the insurance design offered by your Participating Employer if applicable.

Important Note:
You must be At Work on the date that your cover commences to receive Full Cover, otherwise you will receive Restricted Cover. See section 8.19.9 for more information. 

If at the date the cover which is available to you under this section commences with Hostplus (Cover Commencement Date), you have a claim admitted, are eligible to receive a benefit, are in a waiting period for a benefit, and or in the process of claiming a benefit with respect to Terminal Illness and/or Total and Permanent Disablement from any source (Claiming Member) you will not be eligible for this cover. However, you may apply for Salary Continuance cover and be eligible for cover, if your application is accepted by the insurer.

If you fail to inform us that you’re a Claiming Member either prior to or at the time your cover commences, then we’ll deduct the usual weekly premium even though you may not be able to claim a benefit.

Where you are provided with cover under this section, your cover will commence on the date your application is accepted.

8.19.9 Restricted Cover - Salary Continuance

Cover available to you under section 8.19.8 will be Restricted Cover if you’re not At Work on the date your cover commences (Cover Commencement Date). 

See 8.16 Definitions for more information

Restricted Cover covers you for an illness which became apparent to you or an injury that first occurs on or after the date your cover commences. It will not provide a benefit if you suffered from a Pre-Existing Condition i.e. illness or injury for 2 years prior to your cover commencing.

This Restricted Cover will generally be replaced with Full Cover when you resume your normal duties with your employer for 30 consecutive days after the Cover Commencement Date. 

If however the first employer contribution made into your account by your Participating Employer is more than 6 months after the start of the contribution period to which it relates, your cover will remain Restricted Cover unless varied by the insurer. Acceptance remains subject to underwriting. 
Special rules apply to reinstatement and recommencement of insurance cover. Please see 8.19.12 If your Salary Continuance cover starts again. 

8.19.10 Maximum monthly benefit payable

The maximum monthly benefit that will be paid by the insurer in the event of a claim is the lower of:

• the benefit represented by the number of units of cover for which the insurer has agreed to cover you.
• 90% of your monthly pre-disability salary, a maximum of 75% is payable to you and the balance as a contribution to your Hostplus super account up to a maximum of $30,000 per month.

8.19.11 Salary Continuance Interim Accident Cover

While the insurer is assessing your application for Salary Continuance insurance cover, or an increase in your existing Salary Continuance cover or to amend your Salary Continuance insurance cover, you are provided with Interim Accident Cover. In the event that you suffer total disability or partial disability as a result of an accident during the period in which the interim accident cover applies, the interim accident benefit will be for the same level as the cover applied for or in the case of increasing your cover, the difference between the level of increased cover applied for and the level of current cover, up to a maximum monthly benefit limit of $20,000 for the benefit period selected in the application.

The interim accident cover commences when we receive your application and will continue until the earlier of:

• the date the insurer accepts or rejects your application;
• you withdraw your application;
• 90 days after the date interim accident cover starts; or
• the date your cover otherwise ends as set out under 8.19.2 When your Salary Continuance cover ends.

‘Accident’ means a fortuitous, external event that occurs by chance causing total or partial disability. It does not refer to an event which results in sickness, disease, allergy or infirmity of the insured member, such that they would qualify for a total or partial disability benefit (as applicable) to be paid under the insurer’s policy.

Whether the total or partial disability was caused by an unintended and unexpected characteristic or consequence of an intended act (such as the application of unintentionally excessive force, or the creation of unintended or excessive force, or the creation of unintended excessive pressure or strain) is irrelevant in determining whether total or partial disability has arisen as a result of an accident.

An accident must result in the total or partial disability of the insured member for a benefit to be payable where liability is contingent on an event being caused by an accident or by accidental injury.

For the avoidance of doubt, an accident specifically excludes total or partial disability:

• arising out of, or contributed to in any way by, any pre-existing sickness, disease, injury, gradual physical or mental deformity, or infirmity known to the insured member when their insurance cover commenced.
• arising in circumstances where the insured member deliberately assumed the risk or courted disaster, irrespective of whether he or she intended or contemplated the results of his or her actions.

Where there is any doubt as to the cause of death or total and permanent or partial disability sustained as a result of an accident, the cause will be characterised as being the result of a sickness.

8.19.12 If your Salary Continuance cover starts again

If your cover has lapsed, it may in certain circumstances be reinstated or recommenced.

The difference between reinstated and recommenced cover

Where cover is reinstated, this means it continues from the day it previously ceased, at the same level as previously existed.

Where cover recommences, this means it may start from a different date than when it previously ceased, at a different level from what had previously existed and with restrictions, as described below.

Insurance premiums will be payable from the date your cover starts again.

Reinstatement of Cover - Contribution within 30 days or employer contribution within 180 days of cover ceasing:

If your salary continuance cover ceases as a result of insufficient funds in your account or because your account has been inactive for 16 consecutive months, it may be reinstated from the date your cover ceased (Cover End Date), at the same level held by you and on the same terms (including occupational class, exclusions and special conditions (if any) and waiting and benefit periods) applicable to your cover immediately prior to the Cover End Date if:

• we receive a contribution or rollover for you within 30 days of the Cover End Date; or
• we receive an employer contribution for you within 180 days of the Cover End Date which is for a period which includes the Cover End Date; and 
• you are under age 65 for TPD and 70 for Death cover on the Cover End Date.

When your reinstated cover will be Restricted Cover

If your cover ceases as a result of insufficient funds in your account, any reinstated cover will be Full Cover.

If your cover ceases because your account has been inactive for 16 consecutive months, any reinstated cover will be Restricted Cover until you are At Work for 30 consecutive days after:

• the date the contribution or rollover is received, or
• the Contribution Start Date (if an employer contribution is received), at which time the Restricted Cover will be replaced with Full Cover.

However, if your cover is reinstated because we receive an employer contribution for you within 180 days of the Cover End Date, Restricted Cover will not be automatically replaced with Full Cover if:

(i.) the employer contribution relates to a period greater than 6 months after the start of the contribution period to which the employer contribution relates; or
(ii.) The employer contribution does not relate to your first 6 months of employment with your Hostplus employer.

Where your Restricted Cover is not automatically replaced with Full Cover, your Restricted Cover may only be replaced with Full Cover if you apply and are accepted by the insurer for Full Cover. Acceptance remains subject to underwriting.

 Recommencement of Cover:

If you are an employee of a Participating Employer and your salary continuance cover has ceased as a result of insufficient funds in your account or because your account has been inactive for 16 consecutive months, your Salary Continuance cover will recommence at the default level applicable to you if:

• we receive an employer contribution for you after 180 days of the Cover End Date and
• you are an Eligible Person, under the age of 65 on the Recommencement Date.

Where your cover recommences, it will do so on the Recommencement Date using the Occupational Class provided by your Participating Employer. 

When your recommenced cover may be Restricted Cover: 

If your cover recommences because we received an employer contribution, Contribution or rollover for you:

If your cover ceases as a result of insufficient funds in your account or because your account has been inactive for 16 consecutive months, and you are not At Work on the Recommencement Date, cover will be Restricted Cover until you are At Work for 30 consecutive days, at which time Restricted Cover will be automatically replaced with Full Cover.

If your cover recommences because we received an employer contribution for you:

If your cover ceases as a result of insufficient funds in your account or because your account has been inactive for 16 consecutive months, any recommenced cover (as a result of receiving an employer contribution) will be Restricted Cover if the employer contribution relates to a period greater than 6 months after the start of the contribution period to which the employer contribution relates. Restricted Cover will not be automatically replaced with Full Cover.

If your cover ceases because your account has been inactive for 16 consecutive months and your cover recommences (as a result of receiving an employer contribution), any recommenced cover will be Restricted Cover if the employer contribution does not relate to your first 6 months of employment with your Hostplus employer. Restricted Cover will not be automatically replaced with Full Cover.

Where your Restricted Cover is not automatically replaced with Full Cover, your Restricted Cover will continue from the Recommencement Date and may only be replaced with Full Cover if you apply and are accepted by the insurer for Full Cover. Acceptance remains subject to underwriting.

Please note: If before the Recommencement Date you have a claim admitted (accepted by an insurer), or are eligible for, are in a waiting period or in the process of claiming a benefit for terminal illness or Total and Permanent Disablement benefit from any source, you will not be eligible for the special offer insurance cover or employer default (if your employer has a tailored insurance arrangement which applies to you).

Recommencement of Cover - Active Duty outside Australia with the Australian Armed Forces Reserve

If your salary continuance cover has ceased as a result of you having commenced Active Duty outside Australia with the Australian Armed Forces Reserve, you may have your cover recommenced up to the Special Offer cover provided the period of that Active Duty did not exceed 12 consecutive months and your cover would not have otherwise ceased due to any other reason.

Upon recommencement, New Events Cover will apply for 12 consecutive months commencing on the later of you ceasing Active Duty outside Australia with the Australian Armed Forces Reserve, and the date you are first At Work with your Participating Employer.  New Events Cover will continue to apply if you are not At Work after this 12 month period, until you return to being At Work, unless you are accepted by the insurer for Full Cover. Acceptance remains subject to underwriting.

Note : If you wish to vary your New Events Cover or Restricted Cover to Full Cover, or had cover in excess of the default cover prior to your Cover End Date, you will need to undergo and satisfy the Insurer’s underwriting assessment to again be eligible for this higher level of cover. Who your Participating Employer is will determine what default salary continuance insurance cover is applicable to you. 

8.19.13 Total disability benefit

The insurer will pay a total disability benefit if you are totally disabled (see 8.19.27 Salary Continuance cover definitions) after the end of the waiting period that is applicable to you and provided that the insurer has admitted your claim. The monthly benefit starts to accrue from the day after the end of the waiting period.

The monthly benefit is payable in arrears and stops at the earlier of:

• the end of the benefit period.
• the date you attain age 65.
• the date of your death.
• the date you are no longer totally disabled.
• the date that you fail to comply with the insurer’s request to return to Australian for ongoing assessment.

8.19.14 Partial disability benefit

The insurer will pay a partial disability benefit (a proportion of the total disablement) if you are partially disabled (see 8.19.27 Salary Continuance cover definitions) except where you had ceased to be employed for reasons other than illness or injury.

The partial disability benefit will be calculated as follows:

   (A – B)
________     x disability monthly benefit
        A

Where

A is your monthly pre-disability salary (see 8.19.27 Salary Continuance cover definitions)

B means any income earned by you from personal exertion while disabled or partially disabled when the income is from your occupation, or any other occupation. 

Disability monthly benefit means the lesser of: 

• the benefit you are covered for, 
• 90% of your pre-monthly disability income (including the super contribution benefit), 
• the level of cover agreed to between the insurer and you, and 
• $30,000. 

The partial disability benefit begins to accrue from the day after you are no longer totally disabled or after the waiting period, as the case may be.

The partial disability benefit is payable in arrears and stops at the earliest of:

• the end of the benefit period.
• the date you attain age 65.
• the date you cease to be partially disabled.
• the date you are earning, or are capable of earning, monthly salary or wages equal to or greater than your pre-disability salary, or engaging in any occupation on a full-time basis (if working full-time prior to disability) or part-time basis (if working part-time prior to disability) or casual basis (if working casually prior to disability).
• the date that you fail to comply with the insurer’s request to return to Australian for ongoing assessment - See 8.19.20 - Travelling overseas?
the date of your death.

8.19.15 Death benefit while claiming Salary Continuance

If you die while a total disability or partial disability benefit is being paid, the insurer will pay an amount equal to the monthly benefit you were receiving at the date of your death, for one month.

8.19.16 Recurring disability

If you suffer a recurrence of disability in respect of the same or a related cause as an earlier claim, within six months of that earlier claim ending, the insurer will treat this subsequent claim as a continuation of the first claim and will waive the waiting period if for the same hours per week as you were engaged in. The payment of benefits over all periods for the same or related Illness or Injury shall not exceed the length of the benefit period.

8.19.17 How do Salary Continuance payments work?

Salary Continuance benefits are payable monthly in arrears once your claim has been accepted.

Once payment of your Salary Continuance benefits begin, your benefits will be adjusted annually in line with the increase in the CPI to protect your payments from the effects of inflation. However, they will not increase by more than 5% in any year.

When you return to work and your Salary Continuance benefit has ceased, the monthly benefit that you are covered for will revert to the pre-disability monthly benefit level.

8.19.18 Retraining Expense Benefit

Whilst you are in receipt of a Salary Continuance benefit, the insurer may pay all or some of the expenses incurred in relation to you participating in a return to work program if the insurer is of the opinion that the program may help you return to work. Any payments will be made to the service provider and at the insurer’s discretion and must be approved before incurred.

8.19.19 What happens if you are suffering from more than one injury or illness?

You can only claim one Salary Continuance benefit if you suffer from different types of injuries or illness that exist at the same time. For example, if you receive a monthly benefit for the benefit period due to a broken arm, you cannot also claim a monthly benefit during the same period if you suffer from another injury.

8.19.20 Travelling overseas?

The cover provided insures you while you are overseas. However, if you are overseas for more than 6 months after you commence to receive Salary Continuance benefits, the insurer may require you to return to Australia for claim assessment. If you fail to do so, the insurer may, in its discretion, refuse to continue payments.

8.19.21 Reduction of benefits

Your Salary Continuance payments may also be reduced by other payments (including settlement or commutation amounts) as set out below, where such benefits combined with the benefit payable under the policy would exceed 75% of your pre-disability salary:

• by way of workers’ compensation, similar legislation or any settlement in common law.
• under any statutory accident compensation scheme.
• any amounts payable in respect of loss of income (whether legislated or otherwise). 
• paid sick leave.
• as benefits under any other disability, injury or sickness insurance policy (except for lump sum benefits received from total and permanent disablement under a policy).

Any lump sum payment (such as settlement or commutation amounts) will be converted to an equivalent monthly amount by dividing the lump sum payment by 60 (i.e. the lump sum is paid out monthly over a period of 60 months).

If your monthly benefit is reduced because you are in receipt of other payments, as set out above, or where you are entitled to a partial disability benefit, the 15% of your pre-disability salary which is paid into your Hostplus account, will also be reduced proportionally.

8.19.22 When should I make a Salary Continuance claim?

You should advise us of a claim as soon as reasonably possible. If you don’t notify us within a reasonable time, the insurer may reduce or refuse to pay the insured benefit to the extent their assessment of your claim is prejudiced. 

If you make a claim, the insurer reserves the right to investigate the claim including but not limited to the use of investigative agents, conducting surveillance and requesting information and medical examinations. 

It is important to note that if you make a claim, you will only be entitled to an insured benefit if you meet the eligible criteria (see section 8.19.3) under the terms of the fund’s insurance policy. The insured benefit is determined as at the date of the event occurring (e.g. for partial disability, date of injury or illness occurred) and the level of insurance cover at that time. In circumstances where you are in the process of applying for additional cover but have not yet been accepted by the insurer, you will only be entitled to the lesser amount of cover applicable prior to the increase, in the event of a successful claim. See also interim accident cover in section 8.19.11.

8.19.23 Transfer your Salary Continuance insurance cover into Hostplus Executive

You have the opportunity to transfer your existing Salary Continuance cover from another life insurance policy without underwriting (whether as a member of a superannuation fund or otherwise) for Total Disability (“Transferred Cover”) to Hostplus provided that the combined level of cover upon transfer is limited to the lesser of:

• the number of units to cover 90% of your pre-disability salary (of which a maximum of 75% is payable to you and the balance paid as a contribution to Hostplus Executive), or
• the maximum cover of $10,000 per month.

Any amount above $10,000 will be assessed by the insurer. Generally, Salary Continuance insurance cover will be matched on the same waiting period and benefit period to that which was previously provided under the transferred cover. If the waiting period is not available, the next longest waiting period will be provided. Your transferred cover will replace any existing Salary Continuance cover you have with Hostplus (as long as any monthly benefit does not exceed 90% of your salary). 

You cannot transfer cover that is subject to a waiting period that is greater than 90 days.

Conditions and other limitations apply. All applications are subject to the approval of the insurer and for your application to be considered; you must provide proof of your external cover and the terms upon which it was granted, provided that:

• your Transferred Cover is of a similar nature to the cover provided via Hostplus
• your Transferred Cover is still in force,
• you transfer your superannuation account balance to Hostplus if your Transferred Cover is held through superannuation,
• any loadings, restrictions and exclusions which apply on your Transferred Cover will also apply to your cover transferred to Hostplus Executive, and
• you cancel your Transferred Cover with the previous insurer once the transfer to Hostplus has occurred.

To transfer your existing Salary Continuance cover to Hostplus Executive, please apply online by clicking here.

8.19.24 Update your salary continuance insurance online

To make it easy for you and to ensure you have adequate insurance cover when your circumstances change, you can also apply to increase or take out other forms of insurance cover online.

8.19.25 Calculating your Salary Continuance insurance cover

To calculate the type and level of insurance cover you need click here to use our online insurance calculator.

8.19.26 Salary Continuance insurance annual premiums table

Your Salary Continuance premiums will be calculated based on your age next birthday, your applicable Occupation Rating Factor, your waiting period and benefit period and the dollar value of your cover.  

A Plan Rating Factor may apply in addition to the occupational rating in certain tailored employer arrangements. See section 8.19.27 for further information.

Rates are shown per $100 monthly cover Management/Clerical (White collar) scale. Premium rates include estimated 9% stamp duty.

If you are electing to take up Salary Continuance cover under the Special insurance offer (see Section 8.19.8) and do not provide full occupational information you will not be eligible for this cover. 

8.19.27 Salary Continuance cover definitions

Definitions

Pre-disability salary

Where you are employed, the total monthly gross income from an employer for personal exertion you receive from your usual occupation, averaged over the most recent 12 month period (that may include any period of unemployment since you last worked or the actual period of work if less) before the deduction of income tax, and includes: 

• cash salary, 
• regular overtime (averaged over the previous three years, or since you started your current occupation, if less), 
• the monetary value of non-cash benefits or fringe benefits provided by your employer in direct substitution of salary (as long as the fringe benefits continue to be provided to you after disability benefit payments have commenced), 
• performance related commissions, bonuses and other monetary benefits, averaged over the previous three years, or since you started your current occupation (if less), or

Where you directly or indirectly own all or part of the business from which you earn your income, the total amount earned by the business over the financial year as a direct result of your personal exertion or activities through your usual occupation, less your share of business expenses, but before the deduction of income tax, for that business (or the relevant proportion for part of a financial year).

Employed persons who have been absent from employment due to being on employer approved leave for up to 24 months. 

Where you have been on employer approved leave for up to 24 months (for example maternity or study leave) is the total monthly regular gross income received from an employer for personal exertion for their usual occupation before the employer approved leave commenced and averaged over the 12 month period before the employer approved leave commenced. 

If you have been on employer approved leave for a period of more than 24 months are not eligible to receive a Salary Continuance benefit. 

Totally disabled

Members who are employed or have been unemployed for fewer than six months.

In the opinion of the insurer after consideration of medical evidence, that solely as a result of injury or illness, you are incapable of performing one or more of the duties of your regular occupation necessary to produce income and you:

• are not engaging in any work, for wages or profit.
• are under the care of a medical practitioner and following treatment recommended by a medical practitioner.

Members who have been unemployed for six months or more.

In the opinion of the insurer after consideration of medical evidence, that solely as a result of injury or illness, you are incapable of performing any gainful occupation, business, profession or employment, for which you are reasonably suited by education, training or experience and you:

• are not engaging in any work, for wages or profit.
• are under the care of a medical practitioner and following treatment recommended by a medical practitioner.

For all members 

Partially disabled:

You:
(a) have been disabled:
(i) for a period in which a disability benefit is paid, or
(ii) has been disabled for at least 7 days out of 12 consecutive days during the waiting period, and
(b) then return to work in a limited capacity or you are capable of returning to work but only in a limited capacity; and
(c) are earning a monthly disability income less than your monthly pre-disability salary due to Illness or Injury; and
(d) are under the regular care and following the advice of a Medical Practitioner.

Other Definitions: 

Claiming Member 
You:
(a) have had a claim admitted;
(b) are eligible to receive a benefit;
(c) are in a waiting period for a benefit; and/or
(d) are in the process of claiming a benefit;

for terminal illness or total and permanent disablement from any source, on or before the date their cover commenced, would have commenced or recommenced (as appropriate) under the Policy.

If you are a Claiming member you may be accepted by the insurer for Special Offer cover subject to underwriting.

Contribution Start Date

means the later of:

(a) 180 days prior to the date Hostplus receive the employer contribution in respect of you from your participating employer;
(b) the start date of the contribution period to which the employer contribution received by Hostplus from your participating employer relates;
(c) the Cover End Date.

Cover Commencement Date: 

The later of:

(a) 180 days prior to the date Hostplus receives an Employer Contribution in respect of you from your Participating Employer;
(b) the start date of the contribution period to which the employer contribution, received from a Participating Employer, relates;
(c) the date you first commenced work with your Participating Employer (provided you were eligible for employer contributions).

Cover End Date

Where cover ends because:

(a) of insufficient funds in your account, the last calendar day of the month in which your account balance has insufficient funds to pay premiums; or
(b) your account becomes inactive, the date your account has been inactive for a continuous period of 16 months.

Employer Sponsored Member 
A member is a member who is an employee of a Participating Employer, and has been registered/ joined with Hostplus through this employer. The Participating Employer is attached to the member's account at the Cover Commencement Date.  

Participating Registered Hostplus Executive Employer (Participating Employer)
An employer who has completed an employer application form to register with Hostplus Executive and makes Superannuation Guarantee Contributions on behalf of employees through the Executive product.

Plan Rating Factor
The Rating Factor is a multiple that takes into account the industry in which the Participating Employer is involved and the sums insured and previous salary continuance claims history of the employees of the Participating Employer. The Salary Continuance Plan Rating Factor adjusts the standard executive salary continuance premium rates that apply to members of the Employer Formula Arrangement.  A separate Salary Continuance Plan Rating Factor may apply to different categories of employees within an Employer Formula Arrangement.

Further information in respect of any applicable Plan Rating Factor will be contained in your welcome to the fund letter.

• was aware of, or should have been aware of; or
• had, or was intending to have, or would have had a medical consultation for,

in the two years prior to the date your cover commenced, recommenced or is reinstated under the Policy or the previous policy, or in the two years prior to another relevant date specified in the Policy.

Recommencement Date

The later of:
(a) 180 days prior to the date we receive an employer contribution in respect to you;
(b) the start date of the contribution period to which the employer contribution received from your Participating Employer relates; or
(c) the Cover End Date.

Restricted Cover
You are covered person is only covered for an illness that first becomes apparent or an injury that first occurs, on or after the date cover commenced, recommenced or is reinstated and provided the injury or illness is not a Pre-Existing Condition.

War
Includes an act of war (whether declared or not), revolution, invasion, rebellion or civil unrest.

^{Host-Plus Pty Limited ABN 79 008 634 704, AFSL No. 244392, RSEL No. L0000093, MySuper No. 68657495890198, Hostplus Superannuation Fund ABN 68 657 495 890, RSE No. R1000054.}

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