Bupa life cover - your questions
- How do I make a claim?
- Can I make changes to my policy?
- How long will cover last?
- Can I cash in my plan if I don't make a claim?
- How much does the scheme pay out?
- How long will benefit payments last?
- Are my benefits taxable?
- What's not covered?
How do I make a claim?
You must make your claim as soon as you can. You should always contact us at Bupa Health Assurance Limited, The Core, 40 St Thomas Street, Bristol, BS1 6JX. Alternatively, call us on 0845 600 3122. Remember to have your Bupa membership number handy when you call. For more information on making a claim, see your membership handbook.
Can I make changes to my policy?
Yes, you can request to increase your cover or make changes to your membership. Reasons for changing your level of cover could include:
- promotion at your current place of work or a new job with a higher salary.
- you get married or become a civil partner.
- you have a child, adopt a child or become the legal guardian of a child.
- you take out a larger mortgage due to moving house or undertaking home improvements.
- you become solely responsible for a previously joint mortgage following a separation.
How long will cover last?
Bupa life cover is a straightforward insurance protection scheme. You decided how long you wanted the cover for when you took out the policy and who you wanted to cover. Bupa life cover will continue until:
- you stop paying premiums.
- you die.
- you're diagnosed (other than in the last 12 months of the scheme) with terminal illness.
Can I cash in my plan if I don't make a claim?
No, your plan has no surrender value at any time.
How much does the scheme pay out?
How much your family receives will depend on your level of cover. The amount the scheme pays out in total will reduce during the term of your scheme if you choose the mortgage protection term, family income benefit or decreasing term cover. It will increase if you choose one of the indexation options. Otherwise, the amount is fixed.
The chosen level of benefit is payable once, after which your cover will end, unless you have chosen family income benefit which will be paid regularly until your scheme is due to end.
How long will benefit payments last if I have chosen family income benefit?
We'll continue to make benefit payments until the expiry date as given on your registration certificate.
Are benefits taxable?
No, not under current legislation and Inland Revenue practise, but it may be taxable in the future if the legislation or practise changes.
What's not covered?
We will not pay a claim:
- if your dependants don't tell us about a claim as soon as is reasonably possible.
- if we reasonably consider that you, or another member named on the policy, had misled us (intentionally or carelessly) either by giving us false information or by keeping relevant information from us relating to your membership form.
- if the cause of the claim is specifically excluded by any specific terms we apply to your cover when we accept your application, we will show any specific terms in your proposed terms and the registration certificate.
- where a claim for total permanent disability or premium waiver results from or relates to the following: AIDS/HIV, failure to seek medical advice, self inflicted injury.
- if the claim relates to a terminal illness and is made within the last 12 months of the scheme.
