COBS 16.6 Life insurance contracts – communications to clients

This section applies to a long-term insurer, unless, at the time of application, the client, other than an EEA ECA recipient, was habitually resident:3

1. (1)

   in an EEA State other than the United Kingdom; or

2. (2)

   outside the EEA and he was not present in the United Kingdom.

If during the term of a life policy entered into on or after 1 July 1994 there is any proposed change in the information referred to in paragraphs (1) to (12) of the Consolidated Life Directive information (COBS 13 Annex 1) the long-term insurer must inform the policyholder of the effect of the change before the change is made.

If a life policy entered into on or after 1 July 1994 provides for the payment of bonuses and the amounts of bonuses are unspecified, the long-term insurer must, in every calendar year except the first, either:

1. (1)

   notify the policyholder in writing of the amount of any bonus which has become payable under the contract, and which has not previously been notified under this rule; or

2. (2)

   give the policyholder in writing sufficient information to enable him to determine the amount of any such bonus.

1. (1)

   When a firm provides information in accordance with this section, it must provide the information in a durable medium, unless (2) applies.

2. (2)

   If the contract is being made by telephone, the firm may give the information orally to the customer. If the customer enters into the contract, a written version of the required information must be sent to the customer within five business days of the contract being entered into.

Where a life policy is effected jointly, the information required by this section may be sent to the first named client.

A firm must make an adequate record of information provided to a customer under this section and retain that record for a minimum period after the information is provided of five years.

1At each anniversary of the date on which a long-term care insurance contract which is based on single premium investment bonds was entered into, the insurer must:

1. (1)

   provide the retail client with a table based on the format of COBS 13 Annex 3 2.2R containing at least the current fund value and projected future policy values (as in column "What you might get back");

2. (2)

   where it is the case, inform the retail client of the possibility that future policy values may be insufficient to fulfil the original purpose of the contract; and

3. (3)

   inform the retail client how to obtain advice on investments in respect of long-term care insurance contracts, and that it is in his best interest to do so.

1At intervals no longer than 12 months from the date of an election by a retail client to make income withdrawals, the relevant product provider must:

1. (1)

   provide the retail client with such informationrequired by COBS 13 Annex 2 2.9R as will enable the retail client to review the election; and

2. (2)

   inform the retail client how to obtain advice on investments in respect of his income withdrawals, and that it would be in his best interests to do so.