TopCover Income Protection provides up to US$15,000 a month in benefits. These benefits are paid for up to 60 months for any one claim for the same or related cause. Monthly benefits do not have to be paid consecutively. For example, if you recover from your illness and return to work, but after a period of time you are grounded again for the same or related medical condition, then the balance of any monthly benefits not yet paid remain available to you. Any new medical disability in the future would be eligible for the full 60 monthly benefits.

There is a Waiting Period of 180 days from the first day that you are unable to fly before any benefits are paid. TopCover is designed for serious medical conditions and not for short-term illnesses or injuries,which should be managed using the company paid sick leave and medical insurance provisions.

Monthly benefits are paid until the earlier of:

• all 60 monthly benefits have been paid
• age 60
• death

The amount of benefit paid each month depends upon the actual loss of income you have suffered. The income you can insure is your entire gross income from your employment with the company and includes all salary, flight time and duty payments, and all expatriate allowances.

If you are still employed during your claim you will receive your full insured benefit, subject to a limit of 100% of your pre-disability gross income. This means that if you are still employed but receiving a lower monthly salary due to being grounded, TopCover can 'top you up' to a maximum of your full income.

If you leave the airline and subsequently return to regular employment, either as a pilot or in any other role, TopCover will continue to pay benefits in accordance with the Proportionate Benefit Formula as described in the policy. Basically, your new income will be supplemented by benefit payments in proportion to your actual loss of income and the percentage of your income that you had insured. You will always be financially better off working, than not working. In this way, TopCover provides a period of financial rehabilitation to enable you to re-start your career in another airline, or in any other occupation that you choose.

If you do not return to work following a disability then benefits will be paid until the benefit period is exhausted.

Personal accident insurance provides a cash benefit in the event of death caused by an accident, or for a permanent injury. To assist with a claim, the insurer offers a Nomination of Beneficiaries form (see claims page) for your use. Please keep this safely with your insurance documents, and remember to keep it updated. Spouses may also be insured for up to US$500,000, and this is something all families should consider carefully, as the costs of additional help at home can be substantial when a spouse is killed or seriously injured. Dependent children may also be insured, meaning the whole family can be covered for personal accident, wherever you travel. TopCover personal accident cover is not affected by other policies you may have, and of course is not affected by any income protection benefits that you may receive.

The main exclusion for accident cover is professional flying - because we know that you are covered for this under the company's policy. (Cover is of course provided when you travel as a fare-paying passenger.) There are very few other exclusions and most sports are fully covered. The exceptions are: racing in any motor-powered vehicle, SCUBA diving below 40m, and professional sport or sport for remuneration. Please refer to the policy wording for full detail.

For pilots aged over 55, as each month passes, fewer monthly income protection benefits are available until the end of cover at age 60. That is why income protection premiums in this age bracket are lowered. If an insured pilot were to suffer a critical illness, even just before his 60th birthday, the critical illness benefit is paid in full. Many pilots have now been paid this benefit, and several have subsequently returned to flying duties, some even within the 180 days waiting period applied to income protection benefits. Your health is critical to you as a pilot, and this very special benefit was designed to extend cover for any health problem, illness or injury, that is critical to your ability to fly as a career.

Cover does not apply if the condition is diagnosed within 90 days of first taking out the Critical Illness cover, or when death occurs from the illness within 30 days of diagnosis.