The Government’s decision to recognise superannuation fund members’ insurance decisions when their account is transferred through a successor fund transfer or a trustee initiated intra-fund transfer has been welcomed by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA).
ASFA said the proposed legislative change would help to minimise the possibility of members who had opted-in for insurance cover from unintentionally losing their insurance entitlement and reduce confusion for members during a successor fund or intra-fund transfer.
ASFA chief executive, Martin Fahy, said: “This is a win for consumers who will retain their valuable insurance cover through superannuation where they have elected to do so, keeping them and their families protected in the instance of a tragic event occurring”.
The association noted the recognition would also provide greater certainty for trustees who were contemplating or engaged in a fund merger and were concerned that member insurance benefits might be adversely affected by the transfer.
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.