Product
Your universal life policy pays a death benefit when the insured person dies. This policy also has a tax-exempt investment account.
Assuris Protection
If your life insurance company fails, Assuris will ensure that, the coverage under your universal life policy will continue and we will seek to transfer your policy to a solvent company.
- Assuris guarantees that you will retain at least 85% of your death benefit. For policies that have a death benefit of $200,000 or less, you will retain the full amount of your benefit.
- Assuris guarantees that you will retain at least 85% of the value of your tax-exempt investment account under Assuris’ Cash Value protection. For policies that have a tax-exempt investment account with a value of $60,000 or less, you will retain the full amount of your benefit.
Universal life policies may also have an associated investment account often called a universal life overflow account. These accounts may be used to hold pre-paid premiums or savings in excess of the tax-exempt limits. The universal life overflow account receives Assuris’ Accumulated Value protection.
Example 1
Death Benefit
In calculating your Assuris protection, you will retain up to $200,000 or 85% of your death benefit, whichever is higher.
Since the amount is less than $200,000, your death benefit is fully protected.
Value of the tax-exempt account
In calculating your Assuris protection, you will retain up to $60,000 or 85% of the value of your tax-exempt account, whichever is higher.
Since the amount is less than $60,000, your tax-exempt account is fully protected.
Example 2
Death Benefit
In calculating your Assuris protection, you will retain up to $200,000 or 85% of your death benefit, whichever is higher.
Since the amount is more than $200,000, the 85% protection is applied to your death benefit.
Adjusted Benefit
Value of the tax-exempt account
In calculating your Assuris protection, you will retain up to $60,000 or 85% of your value of the tax-exempt account, whichever is higher.
Since the amount is more than $60,000, the 85% protection is applied to the value of your tax-exempt account.
Example 3
Death Benefit
In calculating your Assuris protection, you will retain up to $200,000 or 85% of your death benefit, whichever is higher.
Since the amount is more than $200,000, the 85% protection is applied to your death benefit.
Adjusted Benefit
Value of the tax-exempt account
In calculating your Assuris protection, you will retain up to $60,000 or 85% of the value of your tax-exempt account, whichever is higher.
Since the amount is less than $60,000, your tax-exempt account is fully protected.
The liquidator, appointed to manage the failed company, will seek to sell the assets and transfer the liabilities with the aim to get the best value for policyholders. This will determine the recovery percentage.
Your benefits will be adjusted to the greater of the Assuris protection or the recovery percentage achieved by the liquidator.
For example, if your death benefit is greater than $200,000 and the liquidator recovers 90% of the assets, your policy will be adjusted to 90% instead of Assuris’ guarantee of 85%.
Original Benefit Amount
Recovery
Liquidator Recovery:
$360,000
($400,000 × 90%)
Assuris Protection:
$340,000
($400,000 × 85%)
Explanation
Since the liquidator’s recovery is greater than Assuris’ protection, you will retain $360,000.
Questions and Answers
What happens if you have more than one policy?
Assuris protects each member company separately. If you have more than one policy with the same member company, all similar benefits are added together before Assuris’ protection is applied.
Associated Benefits
A universal life insurance policy may have other benefits and riders added to the policy. Please see below for a list of potential other benefits and riders and how Assuris’ protection will apply:
Accidental Death Benefit
An accidental death benefit pays an additional amount if the insured person dies in an accident. If the death benefit is reduced, your accidental death benefit will be reduced in the same proportion.
Example
Assuris’ Protection on the Death Benefit: Since the amount is more than $200,000, the 85% protection is applied to your death benefit.
$212,500
($250,000 x 85%)
Assuris’ Protection on the Accidental Death Benefit: Since the amount of the death benefit was reduced to 85%, the accidental death benefit is also reduced to 85%.
$212,500
($250,000 x 85%)
Accidental Dismemberments Benefit
An accidental dismemberment benefit pays an amount if the insured person loses the use of their limbs or their sight as detailed in each contract.
If the basic death benefit is reduced, your accidental death benefit will be reduced in the same proportion.
Guaranteed Insurability Rider
A guaranteed insurability rider allows you to increase the death benefit without additional underwriting. This means that the insured will not be asked additional questions or for additional medical tests.
If the basic death benefit is reduced, your guaranteed insurability rider will be reduced in the same proportion.
Disability Waiver Rider
A disability waiver rider continues your coverage without having to pay your premiums if you are disabled and cannot earn an income.
If the basic death benefit is reduced, your disability waiver will be reduced in the same proportion. Your disability waiver is protected separately from any other benefits when adding benefits together.
Disability Income Rider
A disability income rider provides you with an income if you are disabled and unable to earn an income.
If the basic death benefit is reduced, your disability income rider will be reduced in the same proportion. The disability income rider is protected under Assuris’ Monthly Income protection and added to other benefits under that protection.
Return of Premium Rider
A return of premium rider provides for a return of all or part of the premiums you have paid if you do not die during the term of the policy.
If your basic death benefit is reduced, your return of premium rider will be reduced in the same proportion.
Living Benefit
A living benefit pays a portion of the death benefit if you become terminally ill.
If the basic death benefit is reduced, your living benefit will be reduced in the same proportion.