Zurich Financial Services Australia is upgrading more than 50,000 life risk insurance policies to assist intermediaries and their clients.

It intends to upgrade policies to ensure an “upgrade guarantee” is built into contracts, with clients receiving new policy documents that confirm new and enhanced benefits.

National Life Risk Sales Manager Kevin Goss says the upgrades have a direct positive effect for clients and also for advisers, because it will be an opportunity for them to help their clients review their life insurance needs.

“It is an opportunity to increase efficiencies in the areas of reporting and communication, and streamline business and IT processes and systems,” he said.

The changes include the removal of such exclusions as “service in armed forces”, “illegal activities” and “nuclear accident or radiation”.

An increase of the maximum terminal illness benefit to $2 million is also included, plus the addition of seven trauma conditions.