"Insurance giant TAL moves to exclude people who die from COVID-19, leaked policy reveals", 27 March 2020

One of Australia's biggest life insurers has moved to cut off payouts to customers who die from COVID-19, including frontline doctors fighting the deadly virus.

An internal document from insurer TAL, obtained by the ABC, reveals the company has begun adding an exclusion clause for the coronavirus in new insurance policies.

"No benefit will be payable under this cover for any claim resulting directly or indirectly from COVID-19, any related condition or infection or any complication thereof," the clause reads.

[...]

TAL...in a statement said [that] the exclusion had so far been inserted in "only a very small number of new customer policies".

"If during the underwriting process it has been determined that they have recently travelled abroad, or are showing symptoms of COVID-19, or are in high risk groups (broadly based on current government guidelines), then these customers will be individually assessed, and individual underwriting terms may be offered," the statement said.

[...]

Most controversially, the company plans to use the exclusion for doctors who may be exposed to COVID-19.

[...]

In its statement, TAL dismissed concerns that applying the exclusion to doctors could discourage them from treating patients with COVID-19.

"All existing TAL customers, including doctors, nurses and medical professionals on the frontline, can be assured they are fully covered for COVID-19," it said.

"All new customers can also be assured that they are fully covered for COVID-19, unless in cases where an individual underwriting decision has been applied."

[...]