Where certificates of insurance are issued under a group life master policy, the contract of insurance may be tripartite (insurer, policy arranger, and certificate holder/applicant) and constituted by a suite of documents including the master policy, certificates, and associated documentation. The certificates have primacy over the master policy in the event of inconsistency. An applicant who is issued a certificate of insurance is a party to the contract of insurance and subject to the obligations and remedies under the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth), including avoidance for fraudulent misrepresentation under s 29(2). An insurer may waive compliance with the formal requirements of a master policy by accepting non-conforming applications and treating the applicant as a member of the group scheme.
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