Release of FSC Standard Prohibiting Occupational Exclusions 

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The FSC has released an enforceable Standard which will remove occupational exclusions and occupation based restrictive disability definitions in default life insurance cover in superannuation.

FSC CEO Sally Loane says, in a statement, that the Government’s ‘Your Future, Your Super’ reforms introduced an important consumer protection to ‘staple’ superannuation members to their fund, so that they take their superannuation account with them from job to job.

“Stapling will save consumers $1.8 billion in unnecessary fees over the next three years.”

Sally Loane…stapling will save consumers $1.8 billion in unnecessary fees over the next three years…

However, she added, that under these arrangements some consumers may be unable to claim on their life insurance cover because their fund has occupational exclusions and occupation based restrictive disability definitions in the default cover they offer to their members.

“Wanting to avoid this, the FSC and its life insurance and superannuation members have introduced an enforceable Standard to end the use of these types of exclusions, which will take effect from 1 January 2023, following a one-year transition period.”

…the Standard applies to both FSC superannuation and life insurance members…

Loane says the Standard applies to both FSC superannuation and life insurance members, “…while creating a powerful new industry norm for non-FSC superannuation funds.”

The design was developed after public consultation with retail and industry superannuation funds, life insurers and consumer advocates.

“FSC analysis shows that by applying the Standard to the FSC’s superannuation members, the Standard will remove 87 percent of all occupational exclusions and occupation based restrictive disability definitions that currently exist in the industry, by 1 January 2023.”

Loane says an obligation on life insurers to not offer occupational exclusions and occupation based restrictive disability definitions to any superannuation trustees, “…together with ongoing consolidation in the superannuation sector and a powerful new industry norm is expected to see the remaining use of these terms removed in the near term.”

She adds that this Standard demonstrates that when policy settings change “…the life insurance and superannuation sectors will take proactive steps to protect consumers. The FSC is very pleased to be working with our members to deliver on this goal.”

Compliance with FSC’s Standards is compulsory for FSC Full Members. By adhering to FSC’s Standards, member companies are required to operate with integrity, transparency and in the interests of customers.

Click here for a full copy of the Standard.