Updates to our Professional Life Plan Policy | 2026

At MAS, we regularly review our policies to make sure Members’ cover keeps pace with modern medicine and continues to provide support when it’s needed most.

Following our 2026 review, a number of serious medical condition definitions within Professional Life Plan have been updated. These changes took effect from 1 May 2026.

Protection that keeps up with change

These updates are designed to strengthen Members’ experience and confidence in their cover:

• More relevant cover that reflects today’s medical diagnostics and treatments
• Clearer definitions to reduce ambiguity and support smoother claims
• Strong protection across some of the most commonly claimed serious conditions
• No increase to premium rates as a result of these changes

Our Recovery insurance continues to be rated among the leading options in the New Zealand market, giving Members reassurance that their cover remains competitive and comprehensive.

More on what’s changed

Recovery insurance cover

The definitions for 12 serious medical conditions have been updated to better reflect current diagnostic methods, treatment advances and real‑world claim scenarios:

• Cancer
• Benign intracranial tumour
• Early-stage cancer – diagnosis benefit
• HIV – medically acquired
• Intensive care treatment
• Major organ transplant
• Loss of independent existence
• Repair or replacement of heart valves
• Severe multiple sclerosis
• Severe osteoporosis
• Significant heart attack
• Stroke

A number of structural updates have also been made:

• Parkinson’s disease has been renamed to Severe Parkinson’s disease to better reflect the level of cover. The definition itself has not changed
• Severe congestive cardiac failure has been removed, as this is already covered under Cardiomyopathy
• Wording across definitions has been simplified to make them clearer and easier to apply at claim time

Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD) cover

The definition of Severe multiple sclerosis has also been updated within the TPD Immediate Assistance benefit.

What this means for Members

The updated definitions apply to conditions occurring from 1 May 2026. At claim time, Members can choose whether their claim is assessed under the original policy wording or the updated definitions (but not a combination of both)

If a condition began before 1 May 2026, it will be assessed under the original policy definitions

No action is required. The updates have been applied automatically

There is no change to premium rates as a result of these updates

Where to find more detail

This page provides a summary of the updates. For full details, including all terms and conditions, See the full policy.