Page 168 - IC38 GENERAL INSURANCE

H. Combi-products

Sometimes, products pertaining to life insurance are combined with health
insurance products. This is a good way of promoting more products in a
packaged way through two insurers coming together and entering into an
understanding.

Health plus Life Combi Products therefore mean products which offer the
combination of a life insurance cover of a life insurance company and a health
insurance cover offered by non-life and/or standalone health insurance
company.

The products are jointly designed by the two insurers and marketed through the
distribution channels of both insurers. Obviously, this would entail a tie-up
between two companies and as per current guidelines, such tie-up is permitted
only between one life insurer and one non-life insurer at any time. A
Memorandum of Understanding between such companies must be in place for
the way marketing, policy servicing and sharing of common expenses will be
carried out and also policy servicing parameters and transmission of premium.
Approval of IRDAI for the tie-up may be sought by any one of the insurers. The
agreement should be of a long term nature and withdrawal from the tie-up will
not be permitted except under exceptional circumstances and to the
satisfaction of the IRDAI.

One of the insurance companies may be mutually agreed to act as a lead insurer
to play a critical role in facilitating the policy service as a contact point for
rendering various services as required for combi products. The lead insurer may
play a major role in facilitating underwriting and policy service. However, the
claims and commission payouts are handled by the respective insurers
depending on which section of the policy is affected.

'Combi Product' filing shall follow the File and Use guidelines issued from time
to time and individually cleared. The premium components of both risks are to
be separately identifiable and disclosed to the policyholders at both pre-sale
stage and post-sale stage and in all documents like policy document, sales
literature etc.

The product may be offered both as individual insurance policy and on group
insurance basis. However in respect of health insurance floater policies, the
pure term life insurance coverage is allowed on the life of one of the earning
members of the family who is also the proposer on health insurance policy
subject to insurable interest and other applicable underwriting norms of
respective insurers.

Free Look option is available to the insured and is to be applied to the 'Combi
Product' as a whole. However, the Health portion of the 'Combi Product' shall
entitle its renewability at the option of policyholder from the respective Non-
Life/standalone health Insurance Company.

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