Covid Vaccines: Uk Life Insurance Invalidation Concerns

There has been a lot of misinformation regarding the Covid-19 vaccine and its impact on life insurance policies. A forged document purporting to be from insurer Allianz fuelled rumours that the Covid-19 vaccine invalidates life insurance policies. However, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and several individual insurers have confirmed that this is false.

Covid vaccine scams

Covid-19 Vaccine Scams

The rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine in the UK has led to a rise in scams. Scammers are trying to trick those looking to get the Covid-19 jab. Action Fraud reported a rise in scams, particularly scam text messages, in the two months following the start of the vaccine programme. As of 10 January 2021, Action Fraud had received 65 reports of scams in relation to coronavirus vaccines.

Scams reported by the public include suspicious text messages urging people to click a link to a fake NHS booking site, or asking for personal details such as bank account numbers. Scammers have also used telephone calls to try and extract payments for the vaccine.

The Covid-19 vaccine is free of charge, and you will never be asked to pay for it. If you receive a call, text or email asking for payment, it is a scam.

The NHS will never:

• Ask for your bank account or card details
• Ask for your PIN or banking password
• Arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine
• Ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips

If you have seen a coronavirus-related scam, you should report it to Action Fraud, or to your local Citizens Advice.

Covid-19 Vaccine and Life Insurance

There have also been false claims that having the Covid-19 vaccine will void life insurance policies. These claims appear to have started with a fake document purporting to be from the insurer Allianz, which has since been spread on social media. The document states:

> "If you consent to taking a Covid-19 vaccine your consent is self-inflicted; it was your choice to have the experimental medical procedure and therefore insurance will not cover any damage or death."

However, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has said that any claims that having the Covid-19 vaccine will impact your life insurance cover are "false". Receiving a vaccination against Covid-19 will not impact your insurance cover, be it life insurance, private medical insurance or other forms of insurance.

Leading insurers have also confirmed that getting the jab will have no implications for your level of cover. Aviva, Bupa and Zurich have all said that the vaccine will not affect their policies.

False claims about life insurance invalidation

> "If you consent to taking a Covid-19 vaccine your consent is 'self-inflicted', it was your choice to have the experimental medical procedure and therefore insurance will not cover any damage or death."

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has debunked these claims, stating that receiving the Covid-19 vaccine will not impact your insurance cover in any way. Leading UK insurance companies, including Aviva, Bupa, Zurich, and Scottish Widows, have also confirmed that the vaccine will not affect their customers' life insurance policies.

It's important to note that life insurance policies very rarely include exclusions, and there are no non-payouts for pandemics or viruses. Any death is a claimable event, including those related to Covid-19, as long as the policyholder has met the other terms and conditions of the policy, such as keeping up with premium payments and accurately answering underwriting questions.

The Association of British Insurers' stance

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has been quick to debunk the bogus claim that the Covid-19 vaccine invalidates life insurance policies. In a statement, the ABI said:

> "There are some claims being made that having the Covid-19 vaccine will impact your life insurance cover. This is false. Receiving a vaccination against Covid-19 will not impact your insurance cover, be it life insurance, private medical insurance or other forms of insurance."

The ABI has also pointed out that life insurance policies very rarely include exclusions and that there are none that involve non-payouts for pandemics or viruses. In fact, any death is a claimable event, including those for Covid-19.

The trade body has also stated that UK insurers paid out £202 million to the families of those who died of coronavirus in 2020.

The ABI's stance is supported by several leading UK insurance companies, including Aviva, Bupa, Zurich, and Scottish Widows, all of which have confirmed that the Covid-19 vaccine will not impact life insurance policies or payouts.

Leading UK insurers' statements

Leading UK Insurers Statements

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has stated that any claims that insurance will be void if you take the vaccine are "false". In a statement, the organisation said:

> "There are some claims being made that having the Covid-19 vaccine will impact your life insurance cover. This is false. Receiving a vaccination against Covid-19 will not impact your insurance cover, be it life insurance, private medical insurance or other forms of insurance."

Aviva has confirmed that life and critical illness policies will not be void as a result of getting the vaccine, and that it does not ask new applicants whether they have been vaccinated. A statement from the company reads:

> "Vaccines approved for use in the UK would have no impact on the terms of your life insurance policy. Any claims would be assessed against the normal terms and conditions."

>

> "In the unlikely event a claim is as a result of side effects from a vaccine it would have no impact on the claim. Our focus is on supporting our customers when they qualify for a claim under the policy as opposed to what has been the cause of their illness."

Bupa has also confirmed that health insurance will not be invalidated "in any way" by the Covid-19 vaccine, and that it is "actively trying to combat misinformation about this".

Zurich has also debunked the claims, stating:

> "We have seen suggestions being made that having the Covid-19 vaccine will impact your ability to claim on your life insurance cover. This is definitely not the case. Our policies continue to offer the same ongoing support and peace of mind, and all claims will be assessed in the usual way."

Scottish Widows has also confirmed that receiving a Covid-19 vaccine will not impact life insurance, be it life cover or critical illness cover. Stuart McDonald, Life Insurance Expert at the insurance provider, said:

> "We are aware of some commentary saying that having the Covid vaccine will impact life insurance cover – this is absolutely false. Receiving a Covid vaccine will not impact your life insurance, be it life cover or critical illness cover. You’ll still be covered whether you have the vaccination or not."

Covid-19 vaccine and life insurance in other countries

The Covid-19 vaccine does not affect life insurance coverage in the United States. This has been clarified by state departments, insurance industry groups, and the American Council of Life Insurers. Life insurers do not consider vaccination status when deciding on claims, and Covid-19 vaccination is not a valid reason for benefit denial.

In the United States, some insurers do not ask about vaccination status, while others do, particularly if the customer's health condition makes them more vulnerable to Covid-19. This could affect the cost or size of their coverage. However, the vaccine typically isn't used to determine eligibility for coverage.

In the UK, the Covid-19 vaccine has made life insurers more enthusiastic about offering cover to those with underlying health conditions. Some insurers, such as AIG Life, do not check whether individual customers have been vaccinated. Other insurers, such as Legal & General, typically impose a 12-month waiting period on clinically vulnerable customers and may ask about vaccination status to provide cover to customers who would otherwise be declined.

In the United States, major life insurers Prudential Financial and Lincoln do not ask about vaccine status. The Insurance Compact, standards adopted by 47 U.S. states, currently does not allow insurers to ask about vaccination.

In the WHO European Region, Covid-19 vaccines have reduced deaths by at least 57%, saving over 1.4 million lives. Countries that implemented early vaccination programmes, such as Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Malta, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, saw the greatest benefit in terms of lives saved.

During the pandemic, misinformation circulated online stating that life insurance claims would be denied for people who had received a Covid-19 vaccine. The American Council of Life Insurers and state insurance departments across the United States have reassured customers that these reports are false.

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