Guide to Underwriting
Helping you prepare for your tele-interview with MorganAsh.
What is underwriting?
Underwriting is the assessment of the risk for the cover being applied for. Depending on your individual circumstances this may include:
• The completion of an application with your Forester Life Financial Adviser
• Initial review by an underwriter
• A tele-interview with a nurse
• Additional information from your doctor or medical tests
• Final review and underwriter’s recommendation
To ensure a professional independent decision is provided, we use the services of MorganAsh as our tele-interviewers and as our underwriters.
What is a tele-interview?
A tele-interview is an interview conducted over the phone by a qualified nurse. The aim is to obtain details of your health and medical history. All MorganAsh nurses are experienced, so you can rest assured that the interview will be conducted in a professional manner.
The nurse will ask you a series of questions about your health and lifestyle, as well as your immediate family’s medical history. The interview will be recorded and the length of your interview will depend on your medical history and the benefits of your Plan.
Why are you being interviewed?
The interview forms an important part of your contract. It is essential that we have a clear understanding of your present and past medical information. All the questions should be answered completely and honestly, as failure to do so could invalidate your Plan. It is in your best interest to answer all questions with due care as the information may be used in assessing any future claim.
Please accept our assurance that the information you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence and only used in the assessment of your application.
How is the tele-interview arranged?
Following completion of your application and in your presence, our Financial Adviser contacts MorganAsh to arrange your tele-interview. If the Financial Adviser is unable to complete this process, MorganAsh will contact you. If you have not been contacted within three days or wish to change your appointment, please phone MorganAsh on 0800 072 4739.
It is important that you are able to speak freely and have the time to spare to complete the interview. Please note that MorganAsh will not conduct an interview while you are driving.
Before the interview
Please have the following information available for your interview:
• Details of any medication you are currently taking (including the name and dosage).
• Details of any past or present medical condition suffered, (other than very minor ailments such as a common cold).
• Results of any tests or investigations, e.g. blood pressure or cholesterol.
• Details of any serious condition, such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, suffered by you or a member of your immediate family (your mother, father, brothers, sisters, or half brothers and half sisters).
• Your height and weight.
If you are in doubt whether any information is important, please mention it. The nurse will assist you with any questions you may have.
After the interview
After the interview has been completed the following takes place:
• The Tele-Interview Report is reviewed by the underwriters.
• If the underwriters require further evidence they will contact you directly.
• A copy of the Tele-Interview Report is sent to you. If you need to change or add anything you should inform the underwriters immediately as this may affect the assessment of your application or recommendation given.
• Following final assessment by the underwriters they will inform you in writing of their recommendation.
• For any application not accepted as originally quoted, Forester Life’s New Business Team will provide revised terms.
• Once your application has been accepted your Plan Documents will be issued.
Supporting you after a claim
You can’t emotionally prepare yourself to cope with a life-limiting illness and there is no adequate manual on how to deal with the loss of a loved one.
Whilst we can’t change these events, we can offer you a Peace of Mind service from MorganAsh that offers counselling for the Planholder, or bereavement counselling for immediate family.
The Peace of Mind service is a non-contracted, non-regulated benefit and is not part of the Protection Plan Terms and Conditions, so it may be amended or withdrawn at any time.
If you would like to take advantage of this service, please call MorganAsh on 0330 159 8178 after you have made your claim.