New TAL life policyholders may be offered “modified terms” after the insurer moved to change its underwriting guidelines to take into account risks arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

TAL did not explain what the “modified terms” are except that affected customers would be informed at the time of taking out the policy. The insurer did not respond to requests for more clarification from insuranceNEWS.com.au on whether the modified terms will include pandemic exclusion.

The change made on March 18 applies to anyone who is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms at the time of applying for a cover, has recently travelled abroad or is part of a high-risk group.

They will be individually assessed “with the potential for those new customers to be offered modified terms,” TAL says in a statement.

A TAL spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au medical workers are not considered high risk but they would still have to go through the same underwriting process like others from the non-medical field.

“Doctors or frontline medical workers would be asked the same underwriting questions as other new customers, regardless of occupation,” the spokesman said.

“They would only be considered high risk if they confirm during the underwriting process that they have been (or expect to be) in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, or they have recently travelled abroad, or are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or have a chronic condition, as would any other new customer.”

TAL says customers who have already had policies in place before March 18 are fully covered for any impacts from COVID-19. The insurer says there are no general exclusions for COVID-19 in its policies for existing or new customers.