HESTA has confirmed today that AIA Australia, the underwriter of the super fund’s life insurance covers, will not invoke the pandemic exclusion that comes with the policies.

“We want to be very clear that our members insured through HESTA are fully covered for pandemics including coronavirus,” HESTA COO Stephen Reilly says in a statement to insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“Our insurer AIA has previously written to the fund to say that this clause will not be invoked and does not impact the ongoing cover of current or joining members.”

According to a product disclosure statement on HESTA’s website, a pandemic illness exclusion may apply in some circumstances. The insurer has the power to invoke the exclusion if a death or illness is directly or indirectly caused by a pandemic illness.