Synergy is a unique insurance solution. We have simplified the underwriting process for you and your clients to address the primary medical risks.

There is a simple three-step process for screening your clients:

1) Is your client eligible for Life insurance with us on a standard basis? (avocation exclusions are OK)
If ‘yes’ …
2) Would your client be eligible – on some basis for stand-alone Critical Illness insurance?
If ‘yes’ …
3) Is your client engaged in an occupation insurable for our stand-alone Disability insurance products?
If ‘yes’ … for each of these questions, we can consider your client for Synergy.

This Handbook provides a tentative assessment based on the health conditions identified on our application. You will note we do not use any premium ratings or extras on this product. If your client is eligible for standard life insurance, we may apply a medical exclusion to the critical illness insurance policy and/or the disability insurance policy. If an exclusion related to a hazardous sport is required, it will apply to the life, critical illness and disability insurance policies. For your convenience, we have also included our build chart and definition of a “non smoker” for Synergy. We have also provided an overview of the occupations that are insurable under the Synergy disability insurance policy and the related basic financial underwriting guidelines. This Handbook also provides a quick reference to the most common avocations we encounter and a tentative assessment. If we exclude an avocation, the exclusion will apply to all three Synergy insurance policies. It is important to understand that a tentative assessment using this Handbook represents a preliminary opinion only since it is impossible to gauge the entire risk without all the pieces of the puzzle. The final underwriting decision offer will reflect the specific facts.

Family history is important for health

Family history (parents and siblings) is an important risk factor in the assessment for insurance products. Some factors for determining risk will depend on the disease diagnosed and the age of onset, however, advancements in this field develop rapidly and our approach is constantly evolving.

The World Health Organization describes a risk factor as: Any attribute, characteristic or exposure of an individual that increases the likelihood of developing a disease or injury. Some examples of the more important risk factors are underweight, unsafe sex, high blood pressure, tobacco and alcohol consumption, and unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene.

Risk factors for disease can be reduced by eating a healthy diet, getting enough exercise, and not smoking. Family members often share their environment, lifestyles, and habits, contributing to family history being a risk factor for developing a wide range of diseases, including: heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. Awareness of family history can help reduce risk factors for developing health problems through motivation to make better choices.

Key features of family history that may indicate an increased risk are:

• Diseases that occur at an earlier age than expected (10 to 20 years before most people get the disease)
• The same disease in more than one close relative
• Certain combinations of diseases within a family (for example, heart disease and diabetes)

People with a family history of disease may have the most to gain from lifestyle changes and screening tests, prompting a change in unhealthy behaviors like smoking, inactivity, and poor diet. In many cases, adopting a healthier lifestyle can reduce the risk for diseases. Screening tests (such as mammograms and colorectal cancer screening) can detect diseases like cancer at an early stage, when they are most treatable. Screening tests can also detect disease risk factors like high cholesterol and high blood pressure, which can be treated to reduce the chances of getting a disease.

Important: Any reference to testing, tests, test results, or investigations excludes genetic tests. Genetic test means a test that analyzes DNA, RNA or chromosomes for purposes such as the prediction of disease or vertical transmission risks, or monitoring, diagnosis or prognosis.

Please note: The Genetic Non Discrimination Act became law on May 4, 2017 and prohibits the use of any genetic test information in underwriting applications for insurance policies. The penalty for breaking the law is a fine of up to $1 million and/or imprisonment for up to 5 years.