Major health industry fund HESTA has upgraded its insurance offering to members, increasing cover and lowering premiums.
The new HESTA offering, announced this week, provides increased cover for those in the 40 to 55 age bracket, better coverage and a lower premium on income protection, access to death cover lump sum total and permanent disability cover, and a doubling of default death cover.
HESTA chief executive Anne-Marie Corboy said the improved offering was a product of HESTA’s size and reputation in the marketplace.
She said that HESTA’s insurance offering could provide up to twice the cover of other superannuation funds at the same price.
The insurance company has joined this year’s awards as a principal partner.
The $135 billion fund has transitioned away from TAL Life Insurance following an “extensive tender process”.
The $80 billion fund is facing legal action over allegedly signing up new members to income protection insurance by default without active member consent.
In a Senate submission, the Financial Services Council has once again called for further clarification that the government will assess the consumer outcomes of group insurance against the enshrined objective of superannuation.