This
is one of the famous schemes that helped to launch the federation
into being. Although it is unpleasant to talk about, one cannot
run away from or wish death away. Each and every one of us
is therefore expected to assist, especially financially, in
the event of death in the family.
The
scheme comes out as a funeral group package. This means that
all subscribing BOFESETE members should be subscribing to
this scheme, as a policy requirement.
The
scheme covers immediate family members as well as parents
and parents-in-law for a minimum premium of P27.80 per month.
The member/spouse and children who are 16 years and over get
P5,000.00 each in the event of death. Children who are 6 yrs
old but younger than 16 and those under 1 year including stillborn
get P2,000.00 and P750.00 respectively. Parents and parents-in-law
and children 1 year and older but younger than 6 years each
get P1,000.00. Dependents who are over 21 years and are neither
in full time studies nor disabled are not covered.
In
the event of death, one has to call the office for the details
about processing claims. The claims are processed within a
record period of 48 hours. School reps and Heads should also
advise members and/or relatives about making their claims
as soon as they can within 6 months after death (after six
(6) months the claim expires).
Metropolitan
Botswana has clarified two points of major concern. First
was that they received a number of death claims whereby the
deceased are not the legal parents to the member as should
be according to section 6 of the contract with Metropolitan.
Section 6 is said to clearly define parents to be covered.
It further states that a legally recognised parent is the
one whom there is a court order, or documentation clearly
granting custody of the child to this person and not a letter
usually written once the said parent is dead, nor a letter
from the Chief confirming that the deceased was a guardian
of the member. Step-parents should also have legally adopted
the children in order for them to be covered, otherwise legally,
marriage does not confer parenthood. The second point was
that, according to the rules, children are covered up to the
age of 21. However, this cover can only be extended to children
above this age up to the age of 25 when they are full time
students and Metropolitan has been provided with such proof.
In addition,
children who are incapacitated from maintaining themselves
by mental or physical disability are covered up to no limit
and when claims are made in this respect, they should be accompanied
by a doctors’ medical evidence to the effect that the
said child was indeed incapacitated. The company regrets that
it is not going to pay claims to any questionable covers.
For further details contact BOFESETE office.
