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We’ve changed the names of our insurance occupation categories. Here’s what it means for you

December 20th, 2021

Man in timber warehouse holding and looking down the length of a timber piece

At First Super, we offer members Death, TPD and Income Protection insurance in partnership with our insurer, MetLife.

There are a range of factors that come into play when determining what premiums (or rates) members should pay for their cover. One of these factors is the job you do.

To make it easier for members to work out what premiums (or rates) they should be paying for their insurance based on their work, we renamed our occupation categories effective 1 December 2021.

Here’s what they look like now.

Previous occupation category  Occupation category from 1 December 2021  What it means*  What you’ll pay  
Standard 
(this is the default rate) 		 Blue Collar/manual 
(this is the default rate) 		 Describes workers who spend more than 20% of working time outside an office doing physical work.   $11.20 per week 
Low risk  White Collar/non-manual  Describes workers in majority office-based roles doing administrative, managerial or clerical work.  $5.12 per week 
Professional   No change  Describes workers in office-based senior roles, earning more than $120,000 per year with tertiary qualifications.  $4.64 per week  

Do you need to do anything? 

If you currently have insurance cover and are happy this cover matches your needs, you don’t need to do anything. The name of your occupation category will automatically change, but all other details of your cover will stay the same. 

However, if you currently pay Blue Collar/manual premiums and think you may qualify for White Collar/non-manual or Professional rates, you can complete the Application to Vary Your Insurance Cover Form and apply to change your premiums. (You can also contact our Member Services Team on 1300 360 988 for a copy of any of our insurance forms.) 

Need help? 

If you want to talk to us about your cover or apply for insurance through First Super, read the Insurance Guide and call our Member Services Team on 1300 360 988. We can help you find the best insurance arrangement for your situation. 

*This is a summary only. It’s important you read the Insurance Guide for a full description of these occupation categories.

FAQs

What are occupation categories?

An occupation category classifies the usual activities of your job – see ‘What it means’ above for a brief description. Different rates apply to different occupation categories because some jobs have more risk attached to them than others. 

When you apply for insurance with First Super, you could qualify for one of our three occupation categories. Most members with insurance pay the default rate – now known as Blue Collar/manual. This rate applies to all occupations that are not White Collar/non-manual or Professional. The cost of the Blue Collar/manual rate is based on being able to provide quality cover for a typical member.  

I think I should have been paying lower rates – can I get a refund?

If you have been paying Standard (now Blue Collar/manual) rates and believe you qualify for lower cost premiums, we cannot refund past premiums. However, you can use the Application to Vary Your Insurance Cover Form to apply to change what you pay going forward. Call us if you need a copy of the form mailed to you.

Why does a higher risk job mean higher premiums?

We negotiate group rates for insurance on your behalf with our insurer, MetLife. Because we are acting for thousands of people, we have more bargaining power to get you better prices.

As part of this arrangement, MetLife calculates the level of risk it’s taking on to insure you. One of these risk factors is your occupation. The more dangerous your job, the more likely you (or your loved one) may one day need to make an insurance claim. The point is not to deny your claim. By charging premiums that factor in your occupation’s level of risk, we can make sure our insurance cover remains accessible and affordable for all members.

In the last financial year alone, First Super and MetLife paid out 88% of all insurance claims made by members, totaling around $30 million.

I need to make an insurance claim – what do I do?

If you need to make an insurance claim on your First Super cover, we suggest calling our Member Services Team on 1300 360 988 as your first step. Our team is trained to support you through this difficult time and can clearly explain the claims process and any actions you may need to take.