metropolitan
funeral

Plan a dignified funeral for you and your loved ones

We all want to show love and respect when a loved one passes away by being able to afford to pay for a dignified funeral. This may cost you some money, so it is important to plan for a funeral.

The Metropolitan Funeral Plan offers peace of mind for you and your family during your time of need by providing financial assistance to cover your funeral costs.

Protect your whole family on one plan

Metropolitan is making a dignified funeral accessible to your whole family in one plan.
The plan can cover:

• your immediate family
• your parents
• your extended family

You may cover up to a maximum of 20 lives including yourself as the plan owner.

How your funeral solution works

Planning your funeral event

When you pass away you want your funeral to be how you would like it. Planning for it in advance can help your family through a difficult time. Without a funeral plan your loved ones would have to make difficult decisions when time is short and emotions are high. Your funeral may not be something you normally like to think about but if your wishes are unknown there could be disagreements and overspending by family members making tough choices during a difficult time.

Use the GetUp funeral life event planner life hack to help you plan your funeral event. Work out the costs related to the funeral ceremony and the events before and after it. By doing so, you are making sure that your family will be prepared for such an event.

It is important to tell your beneficiaries or someone you trust about your plan and where it is kept to ensure that your loved ones can contact Metropolitan and claim if something should happen to you.

The people who play an important role in your plan

There are people who play an important part in your funeral plan should you pass away:

• The person(s) who may get the money when you pass away.
• The person who will take over your plan when you pass away.

You should tell someone you trust about your plan so that when you pass away, they will know that they must contact Metropolitan GetUp to claim the proceeds from your plan.

The person(s) who may get the money when you pass away

The people you name as your beneficiaries get any money we pay out when you pass away. You must tell us who your beneficiaries are when you take out funeral cover. You can name more than one person, but make sure you review your beneficiaries regularly.

You can change your beneficiaries at any time. It is important that at least one person knows about your plan so that when you pass away, they can contact Metropolitan. If you do not tell someone about it, your beneficiaries may not know they can claim.

Your beneficiaries must have a South African bank account. Metropolitan may ask for proof of this.

Only a living (natural) person can receive benefits. Metropolitan will not pay a trust or a company.

The person who will take over your plan when you pass away

If you pass away, this plan can still continue if there are other insured lives covered on this plan. You can choose a person to take over your Metropolitan Funeral Plan. This person will become the new plan owner. This must be done within one calendar month from the date that the claim was made.

The person who takes over the plan has to be:

• an adult (older than 18 years), and
• a person who could be an insured life on this plan.

If you pass away and your plan has:

• the Payment Protection benefit on death of the plan owner, the new plan owner
  cannot make any changes to the plan. No further premiums are payable.
• no Payment Protection benefit on death of the plan owner, the new plan owner will be allowed to make changes to the plan, for example, removing insured lives or reducing cover, but will not be allowed to add benefits or additional lives or increase cover. The premiums will still be payable up to the date that the original plan owner would have turned age 85.

If premiums are no longer payable due to the Payment Protection benefit on retirement or disability and you pass away, the new plan owner cannot make any changes to the plan.

The new plan owner will have to name a new person to take over the plan when they pass away.

Free Online Will - It’s never been simpler to create a Will using our online app via www.metgetup.co.za

How to claim when someone on your plan passes away

The passing of a loved one is a traumatic time in the lives of a family. Following the loss of a loved one, there are many things the family has to arrange. That is why we do everything we can to support you and your family during such times. Our client service staff is trained to help make your claims process as easy as possible.

The claim process

We make it easy for you to submit your claim. Choose the method you are most comfortable with.

How to claim

You must tell Metropolitan that you want to claim within six months of the event occurring. If you do not inform Metropolitan within this six month period, your claim may not be paid. Metropolitan may request documentation. Without this documentation your claim will not be paid. If there is an inquest, the necessary documents must be sent to Metropolitan within three months of the end of the inquest.

You or your family can notify us of the passing of a family member covered on your plan via our website or via WhatsApp. You can also contact Metropolitan on 0860 724 724. This is a ShareCall number. You pay for the ShareCall at the normal Telkom local call  rates.

When we pay out benefits and to whom

• If  you are still alive and another insured life passes away the benefit will be paid to you.
• On your death the benefit will be paid to the person that you have selected as the beneficiary. You can select more than one beneficiary.
• On your death, if you have not selected a beneficiary or if your beneficiary dies before you, the benefit will be paid to your current spouse or life partner. If you have more than one current spouse or life partner, the benefit will be paid in equal amounts to all of them.
• If neither you, your spouses or life partner(s) or your beneficiaries are alive, the benefit will be paid to those people incurring costs for the funeral. An invoice will be required. Metropolitan will decide who to pay.
• If  payment cannot be made to any of the above persons or if  there is any money remaining after the payments have been made, the benefit will be paid to your estate.

Beneficiaries are the people who may get any remaining money after the one you trust has taken care of all the funeral related costs should something happen to you.

Only a living (natural) person can receive benefits. Metropolitan will not pay a trust or a company.
‍
Delays in winding up an estate can result in your surviving family members having to make funeral payments themselves which can result in hardship for them. To avoid hardship, you should ensure that Metropolitan knows who your beneficiaries are and how to contact them.

When no one claims the benefit

An unclaimed benefit is when Metropolitan expects to pay a claim but is unable to do so because the people who should get the money (your beneficiaries or your estate) cannot be found. Metropolitan will then invest the unclaimed benefit, as it deems appropriate, until such time as the unclaimed benefit is validly claimed by beneficiaries or your estate.

Any return on the investment will be for the benefit of the beneficiaries. Metropolitan will incur the cost of administering and investing the unclaimed benefit. Metropolitan may also incur the cost of trying to find the beneficiaries where the value of the unclaimed benefit is sufficient to incur this cost. Metropolitan will deduct these costs from the unclaimed benefit. Metropolitan will also charge a fee for managing unclaimed benefits.

Make sure that the details of the people who may get any remaining money (your beneficiaries) are kept up-to-date, so that Metropolitan can pay your claims.

Immediate Family

Your immediate family is:

• you, the plan owner;
• up to three life partners; and
• all your children.

Plan owner

As the person who owns this plan, you are the plan owner. You can choose who else you would like to insure on your plan. You can also choose to insure yourself but you do not have to.  The people you insure are called “insured lives”. You can insure up to 20 people, including yourself, on this plan.

The plan owner must be:

• 18 years or older; and
• younger than 60 or 65 years (depending on scheme) when you buy or make changes to this plan.

You must live in South Africa. Metropolitan may ask you for proof of this.

Life partner

You can choose to insure up to three life partners under immediate family cover.

Your life partner:

• is your husband or wife; or
• can be the person living with you who is accepted by the community as your husband or wife.

Your life partner must be 16 years or older and younger than 85 years when:

• you add them to your plan;
• you change their cover level; or
• you add additional benefits.

If you divorce or no longer live with your life partner, they can remain on your plan as part of your immediate family cover. You can only do this if they were insured under the immediate family cover before you divorced or stopped living together. The premium and cover will not change. However, you can no longer increase their cover.

Your life partner must live in South Africa. Metropolitan may ask you for proof of this.

If you have more than three life partners, additional life partners can be insured under the extended family cover.

Children

Your children are your own children, stepchildren or legally adopted children.

Your children can be insured either under:

• Children cover; or
• Child for life cover.

Your plan also includes Stillborn baby cover.

Children cover

If you insure your children under children cover, you can insure an unlimited number of your children.

To be insured, your child has to be:

• younger than 21 years;
• 21 years or older but younger than 26 years old and a full-time student;
• physically or mentally disabled and completely dependent on you; or
• stillborn after 26 weeks of pregnancy.

If your child:

• gets married; or
• becomes financially independent;

they will stop being insured under children cover. If they get divorced or become financially dependent on you again, they cannot be insured under children cover again.

When your child can no longer be insured under Children cover, they can be insured under Child for life cover on your plan. The monthly premium amount may change. You must notify Metropolitan within three months of the child no longer qualifying for insurance under Children cover in order to avoid a new waiting period for your child.

If your child is moved from Children cover to Child for life cover, and the cover amount:

• remains the same, no new waiting period will apply.
• is increased, a waiting period will apply to the increase in your cover level only.

To be insured, newborn children must be added to your plan within six months from the date of birth. Your children must live in South Africa. Metropolitan may ask you for proof of this.

Child for life cover

If you insure your child under child for life cover, the cover for your child will continue for life.

A child must be younger than 85 years old when:

• you add them to your plan;
• you change their cover level; or
• you add additional benefits.

Your children must live in South Africa. Metropolitan may ask you for proof of this.

Stillborn baby cover

Stillborn baby cover provides R5 000 funeral cover for your children who may pass away before you have had the opportunity to add them to your plan. If you have children cover, your children are automatically covered until they are six months old, therefore the additional stillborn baby cover will not apply.

Children that qualify for  this cover are:

• “Stillborn baby”: the birth or surgical removal of a dead baby from the womb of the birth mother after the 26th week of the pregnancy, and
• your newborn baby, who is less than six months old.

You do not have to insure yourself to qualify for this. There is a six month waiting period from the plan’s start date before Stillborn baby cover will apply.

Children cover levels

Cover limits for children and relatives are restricted by legislation. Please refer to your plan summary for your plan’s actual cover levels.

Parents

You can choose to insure up to four parents, regardless of their gender, under this plan.

Your parents are your:

• legally recognised parents;
• step-parents;
• legal guardians; or
• parents-in-law.

A parent must be younger than 85 years old when:

• you add them to your plan;
• you change their cover level; or
• you add additional benefits.

Your parents must live in South Africa. Metropolitan may ask you for proof of this.

Extended Family

You can add up to nine extended family members to your plan.

Extended family members can be chosen from:

Extended family members must be younger than 85 years old when:

• you add them to your plan;
• you change their cover level; or
• you add additional benefits.

Your extended family members must live in South Africa. Metropolitan may ask you for proof of this.

When will your plan start?

Your plan starts from the first of the month in which Metropolitan receives your first premium.

For example, Mr. Jones buys a plan and pays his first premium on the 15th of April. The start date of the plan will be the 1st of April, which is also the date that the waiting period starts.

A premium is a monthly payment made in return for which Metropolitan insures you in terms of the contract. It is the responsibility of the plan owner to ensure that the premium is paid.

Waiting Periods

A waiting period is a period of time in which an insured life is not insured for some or all events. Waiting periods apply to each insured life. The waiting period starts from the first day of the month in which we receive your first premium. The length of your waiting period is stated in your plan summary.

Why are there waiting periods?

The reason for having waiting periods is that they make premiums more affordable for you. Waiting periods also discourage people with life-threatening illnesses from signing up for life insurance and claiming benefits immediately. As a result of waiting periods, medical examinations are not necessary and premiums are more affordable for everyone.

The insured lives are insured for  accidental death during the waiting period. Insured lives are not insured for death due to natural causes during the waiting period.

When waiting periods apply and start:

Waiting periods can apply when you:

• First start your plan.
• Change your cover levels.
• Add a person to your plan.
• Add a new optional benefit to your plan.

If you make changes to your plan, a new waiting period may apply. The new waiting period will apply to the change only. The waiting period will apply from the first day of the month in which we received your increased premium. For example, if you increase your cover level, a new waiting period will apply to the increase in your cover level only.

An example of how the waiting period works:

Let’s say Mr. Jones buys a plan and pays his first premium on the 25th of April. The start date of the plan will be the 1st of April, which is the date that the waiting period starts. The waiting period is six months and stops at the end of September. Cover for death due to an accident starts on the 1st of April. Cover for death due to natural causes starts on the 1st of October.

How the 31 day rule for waiting periods work when cancelling a previous funeral plan

The 31-day rule is aimed at protecting you against a new waiting period when you had a previous policy with another insurer. Under this rule, you won’t lose the benefit of having completed a waiting period or part of it, if it was already completed or partially completed on the policy you had with the previous insurer.

The 31 days rule apply if you had a previous policy which was still active within 31 days of taking out your new policy, the policy benefits under your previous policy had similar or the same benefits as your new policy and you have completed the waiting period or part thereof in respect of your previous policy.

The 31 days is calculated from the previous policy’s cancellation date to the new policy’s issue date and not start date.

Let’s look at the illustration below:

Mr. Dlamini buys a Company A funeral plan on the 10th of January. He covers his immediate family (i.e. plan owner, life partner and two children) for R50 000 on this plan. The start date of the plan is 1st of January; this is the date that the waiting period starts. The waiting period on all lives is six months.

On the 10th of March Mr. Dlamini cancels his Company A funeral plan because it did not suit his needs.

On the 5th of April Mr. Dlamini takes out a Metropolitan Funeral Plan. He covers himself for R80 000, his wife for R50 000, his two children for R30 000 and his mother for R20 000. He pays his first premium on the 25th of April. The start date of  the new plan is 1st of April, which is the date that the waiting period starts. The waiting period on all lives is six months.

Mr. Dlamini’s Company A policy was cancelled effective 31 March. Because he had already completed three months of his six-month waiting period on the previous policy, the waiting periods on his new policy will be as follows:

• Plan owner: remaining three months on R50 000 cover and the full six months on the R30 000 cover increase
• Life partner and children: remaining three months
• Parent: full six months on the total cover, as the parent was not covered on the Company A policy.

Built-in Benefits

Funeral benefit

The Funeral benefit can be used to pay for expenses associated with a funeral when an insured life passes away.

If an insured life passes away from natural causes during the waiting period, the Funeral benefit will not be paid. If an insured life passes away due to an accident during the waiting period, the Funeral benefit will be paid. The waiting period applicable to each insured life is contained in your plan summary.

Payment Protection benefit on the plan owner reaching age 85

The funeral cover for insured lives continues after you, the plan owner, turn 85. No further premiums will be payable and all insured lives on the plan will continue to enjoy funeral cover. If you, the plan owner, pass away before reaching age 85, anybody that can be insured on this plan can become the new plan owner and continue with the plan. The premiums will still be payable up to the date that the original plan owner would have turned age 85.

The Repatriation benefit will continue for all  insured lives until no more premiums are payable. When no more premiums are payable, the Repatriation benefit and CashBack benefit will end.

Repatriation benefit

Repatriation is transporting the deceased person’s body to the place of burial in South Africa. Metropolitan will cover the cost of repatriation. This benefit is available to all insured lives covered on this plan. It is available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.

If an insured life passes away from natural causes during the Funeral benefit waiting period, the Repatriation benefit cannot be used. If an insured life passes away due to an accident during the Funeral benefit waiting period, the Repatriation benefit can be used. The Funeral benefit waiting period applicable to each insured life is contained in your plan summary.

The deceased must have been living in South Africa. However, you can still use this service if the deceased died in any of the following countries: South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Religious customs are taken into consideration when making arrangements.

We help with:

• referrals for an autopsy;
• embalming;
• getting a death certificate; and
• getting the necessary documents to move the deceased person’s body across the border.

This benefit ends when no further premiums are payable for any life insured.

You can only claim once for each event, even if you have more than one Metropolitan plan. Metropolitan is not liable for any damages that you may suffer when you use this benefit. Metropolitan may at any time remove or make reasonable changes to this benefit. We will notify you when this happens.

Optional add-on benefits

These optional, add-on benefits are available on the Metropolitan Funeral plan and can be added to your plan at any time after you have made your online purchase.

Memorial benefit

The Memorial benefit can be used to pay for the tombstone and other costs of the memorial ceremony when an insured life passes away. You can choose this optional benefit for any insured life that is covered under the Funeral benefit on this plan.

A lump sum is paid when the insured life passes away. The lump sum can be paid on any date within 18 months of the insured life passing away. You can choose the date when Metropolitan should pay the lump sum. If you do not claim your money immediately, we will hold it for you until you claim it. We will not deduct any administration charges. We will also not add any interest to this amount. This date can be changed up to three times.

If an insured life passes away from natural causes during the waiting period, the Memorial benefit will not be paid. If an insured life passes away due to an accident during the waiting period, the Memorial benefit will be paid. The waiting period applicable to each insured life is contained in your plan summary.

If you add this benefit to your plan, please refer to your plan summary to see which insured lives the benefit was chosen for.

Monthly Essentials benefit

The Monthly Essentials benefit can be used to cover household costs and other essential items when an insured life passes away. This temporarily helps to cover some expenses when you or a loved one who has contributed to the household are no longer there. You can choose this add-on benefit for any insured life who is 18 years or older and covered under the Funeral benefit on this plan.

You must choose the monthly payout and the payout period. When the insured life passes away, the monthly payout is payable for the number of months chosen.

If an insured life passes away from natural causes during the waiting period, the Monthly Essentials benefit will not be paid.If an insured life passes away due to an accident during the waiting period, the Monthly Essentials benefit will be paid. The waiting period applicable to each insured life is contained in your plan summary.

Please refer to your plan summary to see which insured lives the benefit was chosen for.

Payment Protection benefit on the death or disability of the plan owner

The Payment Protection benefit covers both death and disability. You can choose this benefit for any insured life covered on this plan.

Payment Protection benefit on the death of the plan owner

The cover under the Funeral, Memorial and Monthly Essentials benefits for insured lives will continue after you, the plan owner, pass away and someone else becomes the plan owner. No further premiums will be payable for  the insured lives covered by this benefit and they will continue to enjoy funeral cover.

Premiums will still be payable for those insured lives who do not have this benefit. If you have chosen the Value Protection benefit it will continue to apply to the premiums that are still payable. The Repatriation benefit will continue for all  insured lives until no more premiums are payable. When no more premiums are payable, the Repatriation benefit and CashBack benefit will end.

If you pass away from natural causes during your waiting period, the insured lives’ funeral cover will not become paid-up. Your plan summary tells you how long your waiting period is. The new plan owner will have to continue paying premiums for all benefits that were still in the waiting period when you passed away.

If  you pass away due to an accident during the waiting period:

• The premiums payable for the insured lives with this benefit will become paid-up;
• The premiums payable for the insured lives who do not have this benefit will continue to be paid. If you have chosen the Value Protection benefit it will continue to apply to the premiums that are still payable.

Payment Protection benefit on disability of the plan owner

A person is disabled when they are completely and permanently unable to perform their own or any other similar occupation. Metropolitan will determine whether the disability is complete and permanent and what a similar occupation is.

The cover under the Funeral, Memorial and Monthly Essentials benefits for insured lives will continue after you, the plan owner, pass away and someone else becomes the plan owner. No further premiums will be payable. Premiums will still be payable for lives that do not have this benefit.

If you become disabled from natural causes during your waiting period, the insured lives’ funeral cover will not become paid-up. Your plan summary tells you how long your waiting period is. You will have to continue paying premiums for all benefits that were still in the waiting period when you passed away.

If you become disabled as a result of an accident during the waiting period:

• The premiums payable for the insured lives with this benefit will become paid-up;
• The premiums payable for the insured lives who do not have this benefit will continue to be paid. If you have chosen the Value Protection benefit it will continue to apply to the premiums that are still payable.

The Payment Protection benefit on disability ends when the plan owner reaches retirement age. Refer to your plan summary to see your selected retirement age.

The Repatriation benefit will continue for all  insured lives until no more premiums are payable. When no more premiums are payable, the Repatriation benefit and the CashBack benefit will end.

The Payment Protection benefit on the death or disability of the plan owner is an optional benefit. Please refer to your plan summary to see which insured lives the benefit was chosen for.

Payment Protection benefit on the plan owner reaching retirement age

The funeral cover for all insured lives may continue after you, the plan owner, reach retirement age. You can choose this benefit for any insured life covered on this plan. No further premiums will be payable for insured lives who have this benefit once you, the plan owner reach retirement age. Premiums will still be payable for those insured lives who do not have the benefit. Please refer to   your plan summary to see your retirement age and insured lives who have the benefit. The amount of the cover may vary.

For each insured life, where you have been paying premiums for the Funeral, Memorial and Monthly Essential benefits for at least 10 years prior to you reaching retirement age, the full cover becomes paid-up provided the cover has remained unchanged. For example, Mr. Jones takes out R30 000 funeral cover at age 55. At age 65, his retirement age, Mr. Jones will be insured for R30 000.

For each insured life, where you have been paying premiums for the Funeral, Memorial and Monthly Essential benefits for less than 10 years prior to you reaching retirement age, a reduced amount of cover will become paid-up. The cover levels reduce according to the table below.

If an insured life qualifies for a reduced amount of cover, we will continue to collect premiums until they qualify for the full cover amount. You must tell us if you want the reduced amount of cover to become paid-up. For example, Mr. Jones takes out R30 000 funeral cover at age 57.  At age 65, his retirement age, Mr. Jones will be insured for 80% of his cover since he has only contributed premiums for 8 years. If Mr. Jones wants to qualify for the full cover amount, he has to continue paying premiums for another 2 years.

The premiums payable for the insured lives who do not have this benefit will have to continue to be paid. If you have chosen the Value Protection benefit, it will continue to apply to the premiums that are still payable. When no more premiums are payable, the Repatriation benefit and the CashBack benefit will end.

The Payment Protection benefit on retirement of the plan owner is an optional benefit. Please refer to your plan summary to see which insured lives the benefit was chosen for.

An insured life’s funeral cover is “paid-up” when Metropolitan does not require any more premiums to be paid. The insured life on your plan will continue to enjoy cover.

CashBack benefit

The CashBack benefit pays part of your premiums back to you. You can choose this benefit for any    insured life covered on this plan.

HOW it works

• Metropolitan will pay two premiums back to you after 12 months, provided that your plan did not lapse during this 12 month period.
• Thereafter, Metropolitan will pay six premiums back to you after 36 months, provided that your plan did not lapse during this 36 month period.

Any premium skips used during the CashBack period, will not affect the value of your CashBack benefit. If you miss premiums (other than using your available premium skips) these will be deducted from your CashBack payment before it is paid out to you.

When this benefit ends

This benefit ends:

• when no more premiums are payable due to payment protection death, disability and/or retirement;
• your plan lapses;
• you cancel your plan; or
• all insured lives have passed away.

CashBack benefits apply to each life insured individually. A CashBack benefit is paid 12 and 36 months after the benefit was added to the individual life insured. CashBack benefits are therefore paid at different dates for different lives insured. If an insured life passes away, no further Cashback payments will be made for that life insured.

Metropolitan may remove the CashBack benefit from your plan on three months’ written notice. If this happens, you will be paid any CashBack benefit that you are entitled to.

Please refer to your plan summary to see which insured lives the CashBack benefit was chosen for.

What happens if you do not pay your premiums

If you:

• miss a premium;
• have no premium skip available; and
• become entitled to a CashBack benefit;

Metropolitan will deduct your unpaid premium from your CashBack benefit before it is paid to you.

If you:

• miss a premium;
• have no premium skip available; and
• have CashBack benefits which Metropolitan has been unable to pay to you;

Metropolitan will use the unpaid CashBack benefit to pay the premium that you have missed.

If you miss more premiums, we will continue to use your unpaid CashBack benefit to pay further missed premiums until we have used all the unpaid CashBack amounts. If you do not start paying premiums again, your plan may lapse.

If you:

• miss a premium;
• have no premium skip available; and
• have a Cashback benefit which Metropolitan has been unable to pay you;

Metropolitan will first use your premium skip to pay the premium that you have missed.

If you miss more premiums, we will continue to use your premium skips to pay missed premiums until we have used all the premium skips available. If you miss more premiums, we will use your unpaid CashBack benefit to pay further missed premiums until we have used all the unpaid CashBack amounts. If you do not start paying premiums again, your plan may lapse.

Claiming your cashback benefit

Cashback payments are automatic. When you become entitled to your CashBack benefit, Metropolitan will inform you of  the value of your CashBack benefit. If we have your bank details, we automatically pay your CashBack into your bank account. If we are unable to do this, we will hold the CashBack benefit for you until you claim it or we use it to pay missed premiums. We will not deduct any administration charges from or add any interest to yourCashBack benefit.

Value Protection benefit

The Value Protection benefit automatically increases your premium and cover once every year on your plan anniversary. Your first plan anniversary date is 12 months from the beginning of the month in which you paid your first premium. The cover levels of all  your benefits will automatically increase. This will help to protect your insurance cover against future increases in the cost of a funeral (inflation).

Inflation is the rise in the cost of living over time.

How the benefit works

When applying for the Metropolitan Funeral plan online, a six percent Value Protection benefit is included on application. Once your policy is issued, you can choose whether you want to keep or remove the benefit.

You can also change the percentage between the options below. For each option your premium and cover will increase by the percentage chosen.

Changes you can make

You may make the following changes:

• add Value Protection at any time if you do not have it;
• change between Value Protection options; or
• cancel Value Protection.

You must notify Metropolitan if you want to make these changes.

You can skip the Value Protection increases as many times as you want. If you skip an increase, there will be no increase to your monthly premium and cover. You must tell Metropolitan if you want to skip Value Protection increases. Value Protection will not apply if  your plan is paid-up. If your plan includes the Payment Protection on retirement benefit, then you must add the Value Protection benefit at least five years before you reach your retirement age. Please refer to your plan summary for your retirement age.

Metropolitan will remind you of your Value Protection increase three months prior to the increase. This increase will however not take place:

• if you choose to cancel Value Protection;
• if you asked us to skip the next Value Protection increase;
• if your stop order agency does not allow Value Protection increases;
• for new insured lives, added within three months of the plan anniversary;
• for existing insured lives where their cover was increased or add-on benefits were added within three months of the plan anniversary;
• if you are within five years of your scheme's retirement age, Value Protection increases for insured lives with the Payment Protection at retirement will not take place; or
• if you have reached the plan's retirement age.
• if the plan is paid-up.

Changes metropolitan may make

Metropolitan may need to review the percentages by which the cover or  premium will increase or decrease. In this review, Metropolitan will look at the current economic environment and assess the appropriateness of the current rates for all  Metropolitan Funeral Plans in protecting you against inflation. As a result of this review, the rates may increase or decrease.

Metropolitan will give you three months’ notice of any change. No additional waiting periods will apply to the increases in cover from Value Protection.

The Value Protection benefit is an optional benefit. If chosen, this benefit applies to all insured lives. Please refer to your plan summary to see the Value Protection increase percentage that you chose.

Suicide and self-inflicted injury

No benefit is paid if death is as a result of suicide within the first year of the plan start date or adding an insured life or a Payment Protection benefit on death of the plan owner.

Every time cover is increased, there is a one year exclusion period for suicide for the increased portion of the cover. If there is a suicide within the new one year exclusion period, Metropolitan will pay a benefit equal to the previous cover level. This exclusion period does not apply to Value Protection increase

No benefit is paid if death is as a result of suicide within the first year of the plan start date or adding an insured life or a Payment Protection benefit on death of the plan owner.

Every time cover is increased, there is a six months exclusion period for disability as a result of self-inflicted injury for  the increased portion of the cover. If there is a disability within the exclusion period, Metropolitan will pay a benefit equal to your previous cover level.

Accidents

If any of the following contributed to an insured life dying in an accident, no benefit will be paid:

• drinking too much alcohol (any amount above the legal limit to drive a motor car is too much alcohol);
• having taken drugs;
• consumption of harmful substances;
• taking any medicine that was not prescribed by a doctor who is currently registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa; or
• taking more than the prescribed dosage of medicine.

If an insured life dies in an accident as a result of the insured life breaking the law, no benefit will be paid.

Providing incorrect information

The information contained in your application forms the basis of this plan. You must make sure that there is full and accurate disclosure of information concerning all insured lives that is relevant to Metropolitan’s assessment of the risks and premiums in respect of the application.

Withholding or misrepresenting information that is material to Metropolitan’s decision on whether to offer benefit(s) to you or on what terms these benefits are offered to you, constitutes non-disclosure. Assistance by a financial adviser or another person in completing documentation does not change your duty to disclose the required information.

If the non-disclosure was deliberate it will result in all premiums paid to Metropolitan being forfeited with no claim being paid. Metropolitan will follow guidelines to ensure consistent and fair treatment of non-disclosure at claims stage. If you gave any information that is not correct, you should correct it immediately.

Committing fraud

If you commit fraud or try to commit fraud, we will not pay your claim and we will not refund your premiums.

The insured life passes away in another country

If any insured life has been outside South Africa’s borders for more than 12 consecutive months immediately prior to their death, the cover under this plan ends. Metropolitan will not pay any benefits for this insured life.

Residence in South Africa

Each insured life must live in South Africa. Metropolitan may require proof of residence.

Monthly payments

Paying for your plan

As the most flexible insurer in South Africa, we offer a full range of payment options. We have created flexibility to put control back in your hands, allowing you to pay any amount, at any time, through a variety of payment methods.

These payment options include:

• Cash (via selected retailers and spaza shops)
• Smartphone apps (Zapper, Snapscan, Telkom Pay, MTN Mobile Money, Vodacom)
• EFT / Recurring subscription payment
• Card payments
• Debit order

You must pay your premium until:

• premiums are no longer required due to the Payment Protection benefit; or
• your plan ends.

If you do not pay your premiums, your plan may lapse and you may not be insured or able to claim any benefits. Metropolitan does not charge penalties if you stop paying your premium.

Changes Metropolitan may make to monthly payments, benefits, cover levels and terms

Metropolitan may need to review the premiums, benefits, cover levels and terms of the Metropolitan Funeral plan. In a review, Metropolitan looks at the assumptions that were used to calculate the premiums, benefits, cover levels and terms of Metropolitan Funeral plan. Some of the assumptions include mortality, expenses and lapses.

Metropolitan compares these assumptions with what actually happened over a reasonable period of time. We then use the results of this comparison to work out if it's necessary to make any changes. As a result, premiums and cover levels may increase or decrease or terms and benefits may change. There is no limit to these increases or decreases, if you are not satisfied you can change your plan. For example, you could reduce or increase your cover, add, or remove lives or remove or add benefits. We will give you three months’ notice of any change

Premium skips

Premium skips help you manage your plan payments in tough financial times. When you cannot afford your payment, you can use a premium skip to replace it, so you do not have to lose your cover and benefits.

How they work

When your plan starts, you will receive one premium skip immediately. You earn one premium skip for every 12 full premiums paid. You can skip a maximum of six premiums during the lifetime of your plan. A premium skip used also counts as a premium paid.

Using a premium skip for a payment

You must tell us in advance if you want to use an available premium skip, we use it to replace your payment. If we do not receive a payment from you in any particular month, and you have a premium skip available, we will automatically use it to pay your premium.

When you do not tell us you want to use a premium skip

If you do not pay a premium and you do not notify us, we will check if you have any premium skips available. If you:

• have premium skips available, we will use your premium skip to cover the missed premium. The following month you will be required to pay your monthly premium again.
• do not have any premium skips available, we will require you to pay two premiums the next month from your bank account.

An example

In this example, you decide to use the two premium skips you got after your first 12 payments.

In year two, you use the two premium skips you got for the first two payments in year two. Because premiums skips count as payments, you only need to make another 10 payments to get your next premium skip.

You continue paying and earn four more premium skips.

Reinstating your plan

Your plan can be reinstated as long as three months have not passed since it lapsed. While your plan is lapsed, you will not be insured. Your insurance cover will start again from the first day of the month in which you start paying premiums again.

Metropolitan will confirm the number of missed premiums that you need to pay to reinstate your plan and will deduct your unpaid premiums from your benefit payment before it is paid to you. Only the original waiting periods will apply if they have not expired.

When your plan restarts

Your plan will start again:

• in the month that payment is made to Metropolitan, if you selected to pay premiums via the flexible payment options.
• if your premiums are paid by bank debit order, on the day on which Metropolitan deducts the premium from your bank account.
• if your premiums are paid by stop order, on the day on which your premium is deducted from your salary.

Metropolitan may limit the number of times you may reinstate your plan.

Making changes to your plaN

You may make changes to your plan, but Metropolitan must agree to the changes. Contact us or call 0860 724 724 if you would like to:

• Add or remove a person from your plan.
• Change the cover level to a higher or lower level for an insured life.
• Add or remove an optional benefit.
• Add or remove a beneficiary.

Some of these changes may affect your premium, your benefits or both.

When your plan ends

Your plan will end when:

• you decide to cancel your plan;
• you pass away and:
• you do not have the Payment Protection benefit on death, or
• no one insured on the plan wants to continue with it;
• all the insured lives have died;
• your plan lapses.

When your plan ends, all cover on this plan also comes to an end and no benefits can be claimed under this plan.

Additional Information

Can I borrow any money on my plan?

No, you cannot borrow any money on this plan.

Can I sell my plan for cash?

You cannot sell your plan to Metropolitan or anyone else for cash.

Can I transfer my plan?

You may not transfer this plan to another person. For example, you cannot take out a loan or credit at a bank and use this plan as security.

What law applies to my plan?

South African law applies to your plan.

What currency are premiums and claims paid in?

Premiums and claims must be paid in South African Rand.

What happens if my funeral scheme is terminated?

Metropolitan may decide to terminate the scheme by giving three months notice. You will be given the option to either move to another funeral scheme or end your plan with Metropolitan.

Privacy Statement

• This statement applies only to Metropolitan in South Africa.
• Metropolitan collects and uses your personal information for the purpose of providing you with:
• insurance, including benefits under an insurance policy; and
• intermediary and advisory services.
• To provide these services, Metropolitan may need to share or request your personal information with or from other long-term insurers, beneficiaries, health care providers, intermediaries, reinsurers, trade unions, third-party data providers, credit bureaus or third-party administrators. You agree that we can share or request your information to provide these services to you.
• To provide these services, Metropolitan may need to request your medical information from a health care provider for the purpose of providing the insurance, including for underwriting and the assessment of claims. You agree that we can request your information as necessary and consent to the health care provider providing such information.
• Metropolitan may also use your personal information for any other purposes which you would reasonably expect us to use your personal information for.
• Metropolitan will not sell or share your information with another party unless it is in your or our legitimate interest to do so or you have consented.
• You may provide us with the personal information of other persons (e.g. beneficiaries and lives insured). In so doing, you confirm that you have their consent to allow Metropolitan to process their personal information.
• Metropolitan takes reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized access to your personal information which we hold.
• We try to hold accurate information about you. If your information is not correct you should contact us. Where possible, we will correct the information.
• Metropolitan is a division of Momentum Metropolitan Life Limited. Our head office is at Parc du Cap, 10 Mispel Road, Bellville, Cape Town.
• For our full privacy statement, please refer to our website: www.metropolitan.co.za.
• By taking out this policy, you confirm that you have given Metropolitan consent to share important information and policy documentation with you, securely via WhatsApp.

Contact us

Should you have any queries, need assistance or would like to send us written instructions, you are welcome to contact Metropolitan GetUp. All our contact options are displayed on the contact us page of our website.

As a Metropolitan Funeral Plan policy holder, you may also make use of any of the contact information provided below:

Metropolitan

Complaints and Compliance

If you received inadequate information or unsatisfactory service, you can complain in writing to Metropolitan’s Complaints Resolution Office or the compliance department at:

If your complaint is not resolved you may also contact:

Long Term Insurance Ombud

The Long Term Insurance Ombud assists clients with complaints about insurance. The Ombud provides a free service to you.

Particulars of FAIS Ombud

The FAIS Ombud assists clients with complaints on advice or intermediary services. The Ombud provides a free service to you.