Exciting News About APS Ordering - New Business and Underwriting Update

We communicated to you in December that we were experiencing a significant backlog in our New Business and Underwriting Department and are pleased to provide the following update. Although we continue to experience a backlog, we have made tremendous strides, as our levels of new business normalize. This includes increasing our staff of Underwriters and New Business staff to help manage volumes. 

During the normal course of business, we pride ourselves on providing advisors with direct contact to our Underwriters to discuss and resolve issues on your applications. However, during this busy period, we continue to ask for your patience and that you do not call our Underwriters directly so that they can work through your cases. 

For any inquiries about the status of your applications, we strongly encourage you to use our Advisor Support site. If you need help, please contact your local BMO Insurance Business Development Manager or Regional Vice President who can help provide a current status.

UPDATE – ORDERING APSs

BMO Insurance is pleased to announce changes to Attending Physician’s Statement (APS) ordering. In order to support you during the backlog period and to improve cycle time, we are approving the ordering of APSs by your office for applications where these are stated as age and amount requirements.

Currently, BMO Insurance orders all APSs.  Effective March 1, 2021, if an APS is a stated age and amount requirement on our Wave illustration report (see example below), you can initiate the APS order on either the Watermark or Dynacare portal.

Please be advised that, BMO Insurance will not accept any APS ordered that is not a stated age and amount requirement on our illustration reports. These will continue to be ordered by our Underwriting team based on your applicant’s risk profile.
 

Example of an illustrated age and amount requirement from The Wave V44.0 where you can initiate the APS order.

When ordering the APS, you will follow the usual procedures for ordering age and amount requirements on the Watermark and Dynacare portals.  Once you have selected APS, you will be prompted to provide the following information that you have collected on the application:

• Doctor’s name, address, phone number.
• Signed authorization (must be scanned).
• Optional special instructions if you are aware of your client’s medical history.

Refer to the attached ordering guides from Watermark and Dynacare for complete instructions.

We understand that you’d like to settle as much of your new business as quickly as possible. So, our top priority remains focused on you and your clients. We appreciate your patience during this very busy period.

If you have any questions or issues that need to be escalated, please stay connected with your local BMO Insurance Business Development Manager or Regional Vice President.