ZURICH LIFE INSURANCE

Zurich Life Assurance are part of the Zurich Financial Services Group with headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. Founded in 1872 with a global network of subsidiaries, Zurich Life Insurance Group reportedly employs 60,000 employees serving customers in more than 170 countries.

Zurich Life Assurance owns Allied Dunbar & Eagle Star a trading name of the Zurich Financial Services Group. Setting up its headquarters in Swindon town centre in 1970 under the name 'Hambro Life'.

Zurich expanded during the 70's and early 80's with its direct sales force finally changing to 'Allied Dunbar' in 1985. Allied Dunbar sales force is no longer trading, as Zurich rolled it into their new UK multi-tied financial distribution network, Openwork.

Zurich Insurance Company since the 2000's has a multi-channel capability across the Uk and in 2021 includes distribution via Intermediaries, Direct Sales & Marketing and sales through the web.

ZURICH LIFE INSURANCE Product Review 2020

ZURICH WHOLE LIFE COVER - Adaptable life plan

A whole of life policy that will always payout whenever death may occur. Premiums maybe reviewable in the future.

ZURICH MORTGAGE PROTECTION - Decreasing Mortgage Protection

Designed to cover a repayment mortgage on death as it decreases during the plan term.

ZURICH RELEVANT LIFECOVER - Business protection

Protecting your employee tax efficiently by way of death in service benefits

ZURICH LIFE INSURANCE - Level Term insurance

Offering family protection if the policy holder dies or is diagnosed with a terminal illness during the term.

ZURICH CRITICAL ILLNESS - Level term or Decreasing Cover

Helps ease financial worries if you or your children are diagnosed with a critical illness as specified by Zurich Insurance.

ZURICH INCOME PROTECTION - PHI Cover

Providing security by way of an income if you are off sick or have an accident or disability.

ZURICH LIFE INSURANCE - Frequently Asked Questions

Single v Joint life Insurance ?

A single life insurance for a single woman means it covers just that 1 person only. It then pays out the chosen amount of cover if the person dies during the term of the policy or whenever it occurs if whole life. The benefit of having 2 seperate plans if in a relationship & one partner dies, then the surviving partner still has their own seperate policy.

A 'joint' life insurance policy means it jointly covers 2 lives but then pays out on '1st death' basis. This means once the chosen amount of cover is paid, the policy benefits would then end. This is usually the cheaper option for Insurers ( as it only pays once ) but conversely leaving the surviving partner without any cover.

Can you make changes to your Zurich life insurance policy ?

In terms of changing your life insurance policy, often you can request some of the following:

The changes could be subject to medical underwriting based on your circumstances at the time & may well affect your premiums.

What if my health or lifestyle changes after I have taken the Zurich policy out ?

Life Insurance cover is based on full disclosure at the time you took the policy out ie; being 100% as honest & accurate as possible. So any health or lifestyle changes since usually does not void your existing policy, as it wasn't relevant at that time of initial application. Please check your original T&C's

How do I make a Death Claim ?

Check firstly if premiums are still being paid or alternatively is the policy perhaps "paid up" meaning no further premiums were needed.

Then contact the Insurers claims line to inform them. They will provide you with their claim form for completion. You will need to send in a number of documents, most importantly being the death certificate proving the cause of death.

Insurers ( as well as other Providers ) will need the original death certificate, so ideally ask for several certified copies. Enclose your policy document, if you can find it and then send by recorded delivery or registered post to Insurers.

Once received, the Insurers usually cross check all information before processing and settling a valid claim ie; was the medical & lifestyle information correct at the time of original application

If everything is hopefully in order, the Insurer may pay out a claim & usually in a matter of days or weeks.

Death Claims, Zurich Life Insurance Trusts & Life of Another

Who the life insurance maybe actually then paid out to can be more complicated & many people wrongly assume it is a simple process.

If it is a joint life 1'st death policy or if it single life policy owned by another person " life of another" then it will just be paid to the survivor.

However, if it is a single life policy it can be more complex. Check if the policy was setup & written into a trust. If so the Insurer will pay the life insurance via the trustees named to the nominated beneficiaries directly. Sometimes there are a named beneficiary & others times a list of potential beneficiaries. The life insurance paid out doesn’t have to be included in the legal documents sent for probate and potentially it won’t be liable for inheritance tax either.

So should I put my Zurich Life Insurance policy into Trust ?

If the life insurance wasn’t written into trust, it will be paid to the executors of the deceased’s estate. They will handle the administration, known as probate in N Ireland, England, Wales and confirmation in Scotland. If not, the benefits will fall into your estate if you died prematurely. If you have not made a will this can then cause further complications with the life insurance monies.

Until probate is fully granted, no monies can be paid out to those named in the will. On average, this can take upto 6 months. By not placing the plan into trust may also swell up the total estate values, leading to potentially Inheritance Tax IHT issues

So placing a policy in trust can help to ensure that the policy proceeds go to the correct beneficiaries you decide to nominate at that stage & help avoid possible probate delays & IHT costs. Ask the Insurers if they provide any standard trust form wordings & seek legal advice if unsure.

Will I be tested by the Life Insurance Company - To proove I am a non-smoker ?

How do Insurance Companies know if you smoke ? If you declare yourself a non-smoker on the life insurance application, there is a possibility you will maybe also asked to undergo a cotinine test to prove you have quit smoking ie; ex smoking status. This test checks your nicotine levels & reads how long absent this is from your body. No point in lying when you apply, as your policy may not payout & you could waste the premiums and leave your family devastated.

Is e-cigarettes (Vaping) or Gum or Patches - classed as Smoker or Ex Smoker for Life Insurance ?

These newer alternative liquid form vaping smoker products may state they reduce the risk on your health, but many Insurers can still classify this as smoking ( but some may apply better terms...please ask us for advice here.) ie; No nicotine based products for at least 12 months.

If I started smoking after taking out Zurich Life Insurance - Do I need to now tell them ?

If you had legitimately stopped smoking for over 12 months at that time of original application, you may wish to advise the Insurers you have started smoking again - but this should not affect the original policy terms which should still stand - you were being honest. Also maybe suggest letting your GP know if this is the case.

Zurich Life Insurance Company Review 2020

Article on: Zurich Life Insurance ~ for more information visit www.zurich.co.uk *

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