Not in the Group Insurance Scheme?
29 July 2024
Federation members who are not members of the Group Insurance Scheme (GIS) are being offered the opportunity to join up now and get their first two months free of charge.
The ‘amnesty’ is being offered throughout August and September*.
Currently, just over 6,550 Federation members subscribe to the West Midlands Police Federation GIS, but that still leaves around 1,400 who are missing out on the comprehensive cover it provides.
“The Group Insurance Scheme is a market-leading product, providing subscribers with the best value protection possible. It is an essential add-on to officers’ Federation membership and I would urge any officer who is not subscribing to the scheme to consider the cover provided carefully. For me, it really is a case of asking yourself whether you can afford not to be in it given the protection it offers,” says Dawn Murkett, West Midlands Police Federation conduct and performance lead.
“This two-month ‘amnesty’ gives those who are not subscribing to the scheme to get 12 months’ cover for the price of 10 months which for a serving officer is a saving of around £60.”
Full details of the cover can be found on our GIS pages on the Federation website but it includes:
- Care on Demand
- Life assurance including terminal illness benefit and Child Death Grant
- Additional life insurance option
- Critical illness cover, with option to take out additional cover for an added monthly cost
- RED ARC
- RAC motor breakdown cover
- Personal accident cover
- Best Doctors
- Legal expenses cover
- Regulation 28 - sickness insurance
- Worldwide family travel insurance
- Mobile phone/gadget insurance.
In a crucial difference to the previous scheme, on renewal earlier this year the GIS incorporated legal expenses cover. This was previously paid for by the Federation with the West Midlands branch being the only one in the country to offer this funding. However, this was unsustainable and the branch negotiated with insurance provider George Burrows legal expenses to be covered by the scheme.
Without legal expenses cover, officers could find themselves having to self-fund any legal representation for an off-duty incident or an allegation that involves an incident while at work but not in connection with their lawful duties.
Best protection
“Up until 1 April this year we were the only Federation nationally that paid for this specific legal expenses insurance for our members which meant that this was available to all West Midlands Police Federation members,” explains Dawn.
“Cover is provided as part of the Group Insurance Scheme. So this means that if an officer doesn’t subscribe to the Group Insurance Scheme then they will no longer have access to this legal expenses cover.
“It is really important that members check if they are members of the GIS and subscribe if they want to be covered. We just want them to be aware that the way in which this non-duty related legal expenses cover is provided has changed.”
Federation membership gives officers access to legal expenses cover for any allegations encountered in the course of their lawful duties. However, this does not mean it simply covers members for any incident while they are on duty.
If an officer is involved in behaviour that is not part of their policing role, this would not be classed as part of their lawful duty.
In addition to incorporating the legal expenses cover, the GIS cover has also been improved in terms of the life insurance has been increased to £150,000 for serving officers and £75,000 for partners – increases of £20,000 and £10,000 respectively.
Dawn concludes: “It is important as officers that the best possible protection is sought. By being members of the Federation and the Group Insurance Scheme, then essentially officers can give themselves the very best protection possible.
“In their home lives, police officers are treated very differently to other members of the public, your occupation is held against you. For matters in which a member of the public would not lose their job officers can face that jeopardy and that’s why the legal expenses cover is so important.
As in all insurance policies, there may be some exclusions and the legal cover is granted on a case by case basis. Officers are urged to read the policy booklet.
More information about the scheme can be found on the Group Insurance Scheme pages on our website – application forms can be found in the scheme documents section.
There is also a GIS specialist based at Guardians House, the West Midlands Police Federation office, and they can answer any questions. Simply ring 0121 752 4900.
*You must join by 31 August 2024 to qualify for the two months’ free. If you join in September, it will be one month free.
IMPORTANT NOTES: The Group Insurance Scheme is offered to new recruits for free for the first 26 weeks of service, which would have been applied on receipt of your application. As the insurers agree this free period at inception of your policy, this limited offer is only applicable to late joiners, which currently - except for this offer - has no free period offer/incentive to join the scheme.
The late joiner application has a stricter joining criteria due to the life and critical aspect of this policy, in addition products within your package will not be applicable from inception of the policy such as Regulation 28 insurance.
West Midlands Police Federation is an Appointed Representative of Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited, and George Burrows is a trading name of Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Spectrum Building, 55 Blythswood Street, Glasgow G2 7AT. Registered in Scotland. Company Number: SC108909 www.ajginternational.com
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