TAL has agreed to waive the pandemic exclusion that comes with policies that are sold through its four superannuation funds partners – TWU Superannuation Fund, NGS Super, UniSuper and Prime Super.

The move comes amid growing pressure on life insurers to do away with such clauses in light of the COVID-19 outbreak in Australia. Super fund HESTA has already confirmed that AIA, the underwriter of its life policies, will not invoke the pandemic inclusions contained in the product disclosure statement.

“TAL has confirmed…that it will waive pandemic exclusions for superannuation fund members to ensure all members of those superannuation funds are also fully covered for any impacts of COVID-19,” the insurer says in a statement to insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“These are unprecedented times and TAL understands the important role we have in supporting Australians and providing confidence to our customers and the community during this challenging period.”

Choice-linked Super Consumers Australia has waged a public campaign to pressure insurers to drop the exclusion. It singled out TAL and Queensland-based QInsure in a statement last week.

“We welcome the news [by TAL],” Director Xavier O’Halloran told insuranceNEWS.com.au, pointing out the inclusion of such terms in life policies “points to an ongoing problem with insurance in super.”

“Too often, we are left with terms that are out of step with community expectations. When the dust settles on the current health emergency, we need to decide what purpose insurance in super is serving and how well it is delivering on the community’s expectations.”

QSuper says it has removed a previously required 30-day wait for new members to access their covers if they made a pandemic-related claim. The change will apply to members who join the fund through the Queensland Government or are covered by default.

But the 30-day wait condition will remain in place for new members joining directly, or existing members who want to increase the level of coverage.

Chief of Member Experience Jason Murray says the change recognises the role of workers handling the outbreak containment efforts who are fund members by default.

“QSuper is committed to looking after the people who look after our country and supporting them when it matters most,” he said. “We know that many of our members who receive our default cover are working on the frontlines in health, education and emergency services and may be at a higher risk of becoming sick as a result of a pandemic illness.”