Insurance for Released Members (IRM)
This term life insurance plan is designed for former members of the Canadian Forces and their spouses. In the event of death, the IRM pays the insured amount purchased to chosen beneficiaries. IRM can be purchased in increments of $10,000, to a maximum of $400,000. As of October 1, 2005, the IRM replaced the Coverage After Release (CAR) insurance plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
By completing and submitting an application form to a SISIP Financial Services (SISIP FS) insurance
representative or to the SISIP FS Ottawa Office at the address
indicated on the application form. You can get a form in any of
our SISIP
FS offices, by calling 1(800) 267-6681 (in Ottawa, 233-2177),
or you can download
the form. (PDF format).
FAQ
Do I have to provide evidence of insurability?
Unless you are transferring an existing coverage as a serving CF member within 60 days of your effective release date, you must complete the appropriate section of the application form titled "Medical History". It should be noted that a medical examination may be requested by the Insurer.
FAQ
What are some of the most important features?
- No exclusions for dangerous occupations, hobbies, volunteer activities or sports;
- Less stringent medical underwriting requirements;
- Accidental dismemberment benefits for:
- insured members whose injuries are "non-attributable to military service" equal to their SISIP FS coverage in force at the date of accident up to a maximum of $250,000;
- insured spouses same as for members;
- dependent children to a maximum of $10,000;
- Dependent Life (DL) insurance coverage of $10,000;
- Claim payments are guaranteed, even if you die while serving in a theatre of operations;
- A living benefit that provides, under specific circumstances, access to:
- An amount not to exceed 50% of the face value of the life insurance in force to a maximum of $50,000, provided that the insured has a terminal illness, and the prognosis by the physician, and confirmed by Manulife Financial's consulting physician, is that death is expected within 12 months.
FAQ
What are the exceptions and limitations of the accidental dismemberment benefits?
No benefit is payable for dismemberment:
- incurred while participating in a criminal offence; or
- caused by or related to an intentionally self-inflicted injury or attempted self-destruction, while sane or insane; or
- resulting from an accident occurring prior to enrolling in or being insured under IRM; or
- incurred through sickness or disease or the medical or surgical treatment thereof except pus-forming infection which occurs through an accidental cut or wound: or
- if the accident occurred on or after the insured member or spouse's 75th birthday.
FAQ
Who is eligible for Dependent Life (DL)?
A dependent child is eligible for DL until their 25th birthday . The term "child", unless stated otherwise, means a member's:
(i) dependent natural children;
(ii) natural stillborn children;
(iii) dependent step-children;
(iv) dependent legally adopted children;
(v) dependent children to whom the member stands in loco parentis .
Dependent child means a child who is:
(i) unmarried and not employed (on a regular and full time basis);
(ii) ineligible to be insured as a member under policy # 901102;
(iii) dependent upon:
a. a living member; or
b. a former member's surviving spouse; or
c. a legal guardian, or in the absence of a legal guardian, a relative of
either the member or the member's spouse.
"Stillborn," unless stated otherwise, means any fetus which, after having been completely expulsed or extracted from its mother, demonstrates no breathing, beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or unmistakable movement of the voluntary muscle, and where the expulsion or extraction occurs after a pregnancy of at least 20 weeks; or where the fetus weighs 500 grams or more.
There shall be no maximum age limit applied if the dependent child has been continuously and wholly dependent upon one of the parties ( in (iii) a - c above), and is unable to provide for his own maintenance as a result of a physical or mental infirmity.
FAQ
What are the limitations of DL?
DL coverage is limited in all circumstances to $10,000 per "dependent child".
FAQ
How is the term "spouse" defined?
- A person who is married to a serving or released member;
or
- A person for whom a written declaration of common law
status has been filed with SISIP FS.
FAQ
How are my premiums for IRM determined and how do I pay them?
Premiums for IRM are age-banded, based on your smoker/non-smoker status, the amount of coverage requested, and increase in five-year increments.
Your premiums can be paid using one of the following
methods, depending on your specific circumstances:
- By monthly Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT);
- By one cheque covering the annual premium; or,
- By completing a Pension Deduction Authorization Card (CFSA) for automatic monthly deductions.
FAQ
When does life insurance coverage begin?
If you are transferring the same coverage you had while serving, your IRM coverage commences on the 61st day after your effective date of release (DOR), as long as we receive the completed (no medical questions necessary) and signed IRM application within the 60 days. Your existing OGTI/RTIP coverage protects you for 60 days after your DOR.
If you want to increase your coverage upon your release, the existing coverage you had while serving will commence as indicated above and you will have conditional coverage on the new requested increased amount on the day after your DOR.
If you are applying for IRM without having OGTI or RTIP coverage, conditional coverage under IRM begins when a SISIP FS office receives your completed and signed application.
If you should pass away while your application is going through the underwriting process, your claim will be paid unless the cause of death is related in any way to a non-insurable pre-existing medical condition.
Any new coverage is subject to the approval of SISIP FS or the Insurer, Manulife Financial. Therefore, you must be cautioned that NO action should be taken to terminate your existing life insurance coverage until notified of the final decision.
FAQ
Can I apply for or increase IRM coverage?
Yes. If you're a former member currently without IRM, you can apply for a new coverage. As well, if you're currently insured under IRM, you may apply to increase your coverage. In both cases, you must:
- Be age 65 or less; and
- Provide evidence of insurability.
FAQ
Are the benefits under IRM taxable?
No, the IRM benefits are not taxable to the beneficiary(ies).
FAQ
Can my benefits be assigned?
No. You can't assign, encumber or commute any rights or benefits under this Policy.
FAQ
Who can I designate as my beneficiary(ies)?
Any person(s) or organization(s) may be designated as the beneficiary(ies) of a member's IRM policy. However, the primary beneficiary of a spousal coverage is the applicant unless you specified otherwise. In the absence of a beneficiary designation on a member's coverage, the proceeds are paid to the estate. In most cases, this is not recommended, so please see a qualified, licensed SISIP FS insurance representative.
FAQ
What are the documents required to file a claim?
Please note that, when notified of a loss, the Insurer (Manulife Financial) mails the necessary forms and instructions to the beneficiary(ies) of record. Your beneficiary(ies) can also obtain the forms and assistance from a SISIP FS representative, or by calling the SISIP FS Ottawa Office.
FAQ
What are the limitations and exclusions of IRM?
If your death results from self-destruction while you're sane
or insane:
- No IRM life insurance benefit is payable unless the life insurance became effective or was reinstated for more than two years prior to the date of death; and,
- No increase in IRM coverage is payable unless that increase became effective or was reinstated more than two years prior to the date of death.
The maximum insurance benefit payable on the insured cannot, in aggregate, exceed $400,000 under each, or a combination of, OGTI, RTIP, CAR and/or IRM.
FAQ
When does my insurance coverage terminate?
- The day we receive notification in writing that you have withdrawn authorization for the payment of the required premiums;
- On the Insured's 75th birthday;
- The date on which the group policy is terminated.
What happens if I re-enrol in the Regular Force or in the Reserve Force?
If you re-enrol in the Regular or Reserve Force, you have 60 days following your date of enrolment to switch your coverage to the appropriate plan (Optional Group Term Insurance (OGTI) for Regular Force members or Reserve Term Insurance Plan (RTIP) for Reserve Force members).
FAQ
In the case of conflict between this document and the insurance
contract, Policy #901102, the terms of the contract will prevail.
