FAQ - Disability

Disability insurance provides you with financial compensation if you are disabled by an accident or illness and unable to work.

Your eligibility for this cover will depend on your health, lifestyle and type of employment. If you do qualify, your monthly premium will be based on factors such as your age, gender, health and occupation.

1Life Disablement Cover pays out in the event of the disablement of the life assured, depending on the type and amount of cover bought.

There is no waiting period that applies to disability insurance, however there is a three month deferment period before your policy will pay out.

Yes there is an age limit for this cover type. You can take out disability insurance anywhere between the age of 18 and 60. However your cover level will decrease from your 60th birthday until five years before you turn 65 or your selected retirement age, whichever is earlier.

Yes, you will simply be asked a few health and lifestyle questions as well as be requested to complete an HIV test.

Your premium is based on your specific risk profile. The factors that will affect your risk profile are:

• Age – younger individuals will pay a lower premium, due to the decreased likelihood of dying from natural causes at a young age
• Gender – the premiums are slightly lower on average for women, as statistics have proven that there is an increased likelihood that they live at least 6 years longer than men
• Health – if you have a current health condition or a history of illness, the likelihood of death increases and the risk is much higher compared to someone who is healthy
• Lifestyle – if you participate in dangerous sports, such as regular sky diving, the risk of injury is higher and this would have an effect on your premium.

No, there are no medical exams or tests. You may however be asked a few health and lifestyle questions as well as be requested to complete an HIV test.

Depending on the type of product that you purchase, you may have to either complete an HIV test, or disclose your HIV status in order to determine your risk.

You can do your HIV test via blood test at any Clicks Pharmacy.

1Life will help you to find the closest laboratory in your area, to enable you to complete the test. Visit our Find a Lab or Pharmacy page for more information.

There is no cost to you to complete this test.

Yes, as long as the assured is aware that someone else is taking out disability insurance on his or her life. You would have to prove that you would suffer a financial or material loss should that person become disabled.

Increasing the cover Cover may be increased to the maximum amount that you qualify for at any time once the policy has been issued. Further medical underwriting and an HIV test may be required. Your premium will be adjusted according to the new sum assured that has been requested and the additional cover will start on receipt of the new premium.

Guaranteed Assurability benefit On 1Life's disability insurance, the amount of cover may be increased by 25% of the original insured amount, up to a maximum of 2 times (double) the amount originally insured or up to the 1Life maximum insurable amount at the time – whichever is the lower. This is without the need for any further medical underwriting, other than providing a new negative HIV test for the life assured.

This benefit option may only be exercised every three years on the anniversary date of the policy or after a significant event has occurred as described below:

• The marriage of the life assured
• A child being born to or legally adopted by the life assured
• The life assureds' purchase of a home
• The life assured entering into a business or taking an increased interest in an existing business

As the cover amount is payable to the life assured, the pay-out can only be made to them. Upon death, the cover falls away.

No, the sum assured will not change if your premium increases by 5% annually. However, your premiums will not change for the first two years of cover.

1Life requires that you inform us if you intend on leaving the country to determine if we are able to continue cover. If you fail to notify us and a claim arises, 1Life may reduce or reject a claim.

If any of your habits change, for example you start smoking, you change your career, or even take up a hazardous pursuit such as skydiving, you should inform 1Life of such change. Failure to inform us of these changes could result in your claim being declined or a lesser amount being paid out at claim stage.

No, disability insurance is not tax-deductible.

Failing to pay a premium may mean that you will not be covered for the specific month. It is important to contact your insurer to make alternative arrangements. The policy may lapse if more than one premium is not paid.

If you need to lodge a claim with 1Life, the following procedure would need to be followed:

• Call the claims department on 0860 10 51 96, where one of our dedicated claim consultants will assist
• The claims consultant will provide you with the initial documentation required to process the claim
• Completed forms need to be sent back to 1Life via one of the following:
• Fax: 0860 10 51 97
• Email: [email protected]
• Postal address: PO Box 11250, Johannesburg, 2000

It is important to take note of the following time limits regarding claims:

• An event that may result in a claim for dread disease or disablement must be reported to 1Life within 3 months of its occurrence
• The initial claim documentation must be sent to us within 3 months of 1Life being notified of the event
• Any additional documents required in order to process the claim need to be forwarded to us within 3 months of us requesting them

Additional documentation may be required specific to each claim. This will be communicated to the claimant(s) during the process of assessing the claim. Once 1Life have received all of the necessary documentation needed to assess the claim, a claim may be paid out within 10 working days.

No you don’t. These types of insurance pay-outs are tax-free so that you can enjoy the full benefit they offer.

No you don’t. You can use your pay-out for any expenses from medical bills to adapting your house or vehicle to cater for a disability.