Macquarie Life has upgraded its FutureWise life insurance product suite to include Trauma Plus, which covers additional conditions such as advanced diabetes.
Since its launch in March 2007, Macquarie Life said that it has been working with advisers to identify ways to build on the user experience, introducing new features and adding to support services that could enhance functionality and ease of use.
Head of Macquarie Life Justin Delaney said Macquarie made improvements to its trauma product while also expanding underwriting limits so fewer advisers need to send their clients for additional medical testing.
As well as covering additional conditions such as advanced diabetes, Trauma Plus allows an advance payment of full benefit for multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease on diagnosis.
In addition, higher benefits are paid for some conditions covered under the base Trauma Plus contract, like loss of limbs and paralysis.
The upgrade also includes blood-borne disease insurance to provide additional cover for clients who are at risk of contracting HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C through their work.
Macquarie has also increased underwriting limits for the new product, raising the first age band from 40 to 45.
This means that more clients will only need to complete a personal statement to receive cover, rather than going for medical testing.
“The changes we have made have been implemented with the adviser in mind and with a great deal of consideration given to the kind of experience they want their clients to walk away with,” Delaney said.
“In the past, applying for insurance was a time consuming, laborious and often complicated process, for both the adviser and client, so these are the challenges we have aimed to overcome”.
