Changes to pending applications

We are changing how we will handle pending applications in order to account for paramedical vendors who may not be in operation in certain areas. The following changes are effective immediately, including cases that have already been submitted.

• We will extend the time that a case can stay pending while we wait for underwriting requirements from 60 days to 120 days.
• We will extend our deadline for receiving premiums (after the policy has been issued) from 30 days to 45 days.
• We are extending our shelf life for labs and paramed (case-by-case basis) to 24 months.
• We can also take insurance labs from other companies that have been completed (case-by-case basis) within 24 months.

Reminder about Temporary Insurance Agreements

TIA is valid for 90 days maximum. TIA guidelines will remain the same and will terminate automatically on the earliest of:

• 90 days from the date the application was signed;
• The date that insurance takes effect; under the insurance contracts as applied for in the application
• The date an insurance contract other than as applied for in the application is offered to the proposed owner;
• The date the company mails notice of termination of coverage and refunds the advance premium payment to the proposed owner at the address shown in the application.

Statement of health

As we closely monitor COVID-19, a completed Statement of Health and Insurability form will continue to be required for all New Business and Policy Change cases. For non-1035 cases, the Statement of Health form will be required upon policy delivery. For 1035 cases, the Statement of Health will be required prior to initiating the 1035 exchange.

Policy postponements

Effective Tuesday, April 14, we implemented the following temporary changes to our New Business and Policy Change underwriting guidelines. For all cases not already approved or issued, we will postpone any applications on individuals of the following issues ages* and table ratings:

This applies to all products and:

• All pending business that has not been approved or issued
• New business
• Policy change cases

*Issue age is determined by applicable product rules.

Acceptable forms of submission & document types

If you aren't currently using our e-App process, acceptable forms of submission for documents are as follows:

• Mail
• Fax
• Secure Email
• Document upload from the North American website

Note: Images of documents that are captured via a camera, program or an APP can be accepted, regardless of the program used.

Our vendors have provided us with the current state of their operations and status of their business continuity plans. It is important to note that our vendors are complying with all state, county, and local government directives. To comply with these directives, some areas of the country might experience delays in completing paramedical exams or may be unable to provide these services. Since these directives are frequently changing, please contact your preferred paramedical vendor for availability in your area.

Paramedical exam process updates:
When scheduling appointments to complete paramedical exams, our vendors will now ask the applicant about signs of fever or respiratory distress, recent travel, and close contact with others who have these symptoms or have recently traveled. The answers to these questions will determine the timing of the paramedical appointment. The examiner will also confirm the same information about themselves.

Lab processing:
Our lab companies are operational, have business continuity plans, and do not expect any impacts in processing time.

Medical records providers:
Our medical records providers have also confirmed that they are operational, have business continuity plans, and have stated that there may be some delays in receiving medical records from certain medical facilities. Overall, we are experiencing minimal delays in receiving medical records.

In addition to the electronic version, the administrative office will continue to mail the physical policies as we do today. Please be aware that emailing policies may not be available in all states and clients residing in foreign countries are not eligible for the eDelivery option. We will provide updates as applicable.

We continue to fast track our ability to bring you an end-to-end eDelivery in the near future, but hope this option helps you continue to do business in this uncertain time.

Resources for clients

Grace period for premium payments on inforce policies

In these challenging times, state insurance regulators are issuing bulletins which address insurance carriers making allowance for customers who have been impacted. These temporary procedures do not waive the policyowners' obligation to pay premiums due but may allow the extra time in which to pay them. If you have a client that has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and needs additional time to make their premium payment, please contact our Customer Contact team to discuss the accommodations available.

Accessing policy info online

We’re keeping it simple for policyowners to access inforce policy information on the website.

• Clients who sign up for an online profile at My.NorthAmericanCompany.com can complete a number of transactions and make simple changes like updating contact information or changing beneficiaries themselves online.
• The site also offers Secure Upload, so your clients can scan and transmit paper documents. It works like a modern version of the fax machine (without the long wait).

Policy change

North American's policy change team is here to you keep your business moving forward. We would like to remind you of a few digital options for managing inforce policies:

• Internal exchange requests can utilize the e-submission process
• All policy change forms can use DocuSign, except for those that require a wet signature (i.e. 1035 exchange form)
• Prior medical information, including information gathered through WriteAway^® Online Part 2, may be used up to 24 months on any subsequent policy change requests on a case-by-case basis.

Please continue to use the paper application/.pdf and form process for other inforce policy change requests, including:

• Conversions
• Increase/decrease in face amounts
• Reinstatements
• Adding/removing benefits
• Rate/class changes

When submitting paper documents, the secure document upload tool on NorthAmericanCompany.com offers the quickest option.

We have great resources to keep your business moving and help you remain compliant when you can’t be face-to-face with clients.

• 6 Ways to Keep Selling flyer — Our end-to-end application process and digital tools make it easy when you can’t be face-to-face.
• Digital Selling Webinar — View our webinar recording to learn about tools available to you to help you keep selling and protecting clients.
• Digital Compliance flyer — Stay compliant in the virtual world.
• 3 Quick Tips Flyer — Today's environment of uncertainty, social distancing and market challenges require us to think differently about how we conduct business.
• Best Client Tools Flyer — Get our best tools for getting your clients' attention.
• Client flyer — Use our customizable flyer to help inspire confidence in clients' decision to choose North American.
• Virtual meeting guide — Use our virtual meeting guide to help make planning, preparing and hosting your next virtual meeting a success.
• Virtual meeting checklist — Don't miss a thing! Our checklist walks alongside you as you hold virtual meetings.

More cases can now be run through WriteAway, North American's accelerated underwriting process, as the maximum face amount for ages 18 – 50 doubles from $1 million to $2 million. The maximum face amount for ages 51 – 60 will stay at $500,000.

WriteAway can offer your healthiest clients the ability to secure death benefit protection without an exam or lab. Your client can simply fill out a few personal health and history questions as part of their e-App, or paper application in all states but California, to determine if they are eligible for this process.

To learn more about WriteAway, please visit northamericancompany.com/writeaway or view the resources linked below.

WriteAway Resources:

• Accelerated Underwriting Field Guide
• Accelerated Underwriting Field Guide for California
• Agent Q&A Guide

How do deaths related to COVID-19 impact benefit claims?

There is no specific COVID-19 exclusion impacting death benefit payments of our life insurance policies. Please note that any death that occurs during the contestable period requires a routine contestable investigation, as defined by the incontestability terms in the policy. An investigation includes the review of multiple variables (including accuracy of information presented on the application, policy provisions and applicable state laws, rules and regulations).

North American does not provide legal advice. If your agents or your clients have specific questions with regard to state laws, we recommend that you discuss those with your own independent legal counsel.