COVID-19 – Aviva
Large corporate and healthcare trust customers: These will be assessed on a case by case basis.
Please see Aviva’s website for their latest information on the impact of COVID-19.
Aviva Healthcare – key updates
- Cash benefit will be paid based on the policy limits if COVID-19 treatment takes place in the NHS or a private setting.
- As per standard t&c’s Aviva require a GP referral to access treatment. Alternatively a referral could be provided via the Aviva Digital GP app which is typically provided free of charge. The musculoskeletal and mental health pathways do not require a GP referral.
- Aviva’s pledge to Individual and SME UK PMI customers: If claims are lower than planned in 2020 and 2021, Aviva has committed to return the difference to policy holders.
Aviva Group Risk
On Aviva’s website you will also find useful information on:
- Their business continuity plans.
- The additional services available with your policy, usually free of charge, that may help at this time.
- Premium options, such as monthly payment or premium deferral.
For answers to some of your FAQs, see below.
Will cover still be in place for employees while working from home, in isolation or in quarantine?
Yes, as long as they are eligible, and a contract of employment remains in place they will be covered.
Will cover be based on earnings prior to any reduced pay, reduced hours, no pay, unpaid leave or employees on ‘furlough’?
GIP: for a period of three months from 16 March to 15 June 2020 inclusive, if we are satisfied that an insured members income has been temporarily reduced or put to zero for business reasons due to COVID19 and if incapacity occurs in this period, COVID19 related or not, we will honour the definition of earnings on the scheme as at the day prior to the reduction. This position will be honoured providing premiums continue to be paid for the full insured benefits and a UK contract of employment is maintained. Our normal terms and conditions in respect of claims assessment will still apply.
GLA: If somebody takes unpaid leave under a GL scheme, then as long as they retain their UK contract of employment and premiums continue to be paid for their full benefit, then they can remain covered under the temporary absence clause.
GCI: For the period from 16 March 2020 to 30 June 2020 inclusive, if we are satisfied via the employer that an employees’ earnings have been temporarily reduced or put to zero or the member has been furloughed for business reasons due to COVID-19, we will ignore the reduction for calculating the maximum benefit limit of five times their salary. The same position will be applied in respect of a claim for the partner of an employee, subject to the normal maximum. This position will be honoured providing premiums continue to be paid for the full insured benefits and they remain an employee with a UK contract of employment with the policyholder. Our normal terms and conditions in respect of claim assessments will still apply. We will continually review this position and will extend this period if we feel that the circumstances warrant it.
Some employers are mentioning redundancy cover – is this something you would consider introducing as an alteration to terms at the moment? If so, on what basis?
We are unable to offer this option at this time.
Group Life – does a catastrophe risk apply?
Where a claim is made under Aviva’s group life policies as a result of COVID-19, the event limit detailed in the policy conditions will apply, as follows:
We may apply an event limit to the policy. The benefits payable may be reduced and/or limited, if claims arise directly or indirectly out of or in connection with, the same originating cause. Our maximum liability in respect of all benefits under this policy and any linked policy for which a claim for benefits is made arising directly or indirectly out of or in connection with the same originating cause shall not exceed the amount specified on your policy schedule.
We shall, having considered all the relevant circumstances, determine what constitutes any one same originating cause and we will tell you why we have reached our decision.
We shall be discharged from all liability for claims in excess of the event limit, by payment of an aggregate sum up to a maximum of those specified limits, having considered all of the relevant circumstances. This may involve any form of proportionate or other reduction of any amount, which would otherwise have been made available for payment to any individual members, or their representatives, but for the effect of these aggregate limits.
We may also apply an event limit in relation to members who are travelling together for work purposes.
