A major Australian life insurer has moved to cut off payouts to customers who die from the new coronavirus, including frontline doctors.
A document obtained by the ABC revealed insurance giant TAL has started adding an exclusion clause for COVID-19 in its new insurance policies.
According to the outlet, the insurer plans to apply the exclusion to doctors who may be exposed to the virus as well as smokers, people aged over 50, and those with asthma or other respiratory illnesses.
“No benefit will be payable under this cover for any claim resulting directly or indirectly from COVID-19, any related condition or infection or any complication thereof,” the internal document read.
The exclusion does not affect existing customers or those who take out life insurance through their superannuation.
The company, which has about 4 million Australian customers, said the exclusion had so far been added to “only a very small number of new customer policies”.
In a statement, TAL said: “If during the underwriting process it has been determined that they have recently travelled abroad, or are showing symptoms of COVID-19, or are in high risk groups (broadly based on current government guidelines), then these customers will be individually assessed, and individual underwriting terms may be offered.”
This article originally appeared on Over60.