Aviva has upgraded its Critical Illness+ and Life Insurance+ with critical illness policies to cover a greater number of conditions.
Children’s benefit, which is available as part of Aviva’s critical illness (CI) policy, will now cover three new conditions: diabetes mellitus type 1; brain abscess when undergoing a defined treatment; and less severe third-degree burns meeting a defined criteria.
Parents of children diagnosed with these conditions will be eligible for a fixed £25,000 payment.
Children will now be covered from birth up to their 22nd birthday, whether they are in full time education or not. Previously, children were covered up to their 18th birthday, or 21st birthday if in full time education.
The adults’ CI benefit will now cover two new conditions: brain abscess when undergoing a defined treatment, which will be eligible for full payment; and less severe third degree burns meeting defined criteria, which will be eligible for the lower of £25,000 or the cover amount.
HIV has been removed from the policy, while a new hospital benefit has been introduced whereby customers who stay in hospital for more than seven consecutive nights will be eligible for £100 per night up to a maximum of £3,000.
Mark Cracknell (pictured), head of protection distribution at Aviva, said the changes mean more customers will be able to claim successfully and receive financial as well as emotional support at a very difficult time in their lives.
“These critical illness enhancements add to our already comprehensive suite of protection products, and come at a time when we are running a number of initiatives and campaigns to provide advisers with tools and support to help them develop and grow their protection business,” he added.
Alan Lakey, of CI Expert, said the removal of HIV is noteworthy because very few claims have been successful given the severity of the claims requirements.
“Aviva is not addicted to playing the condition numbers game and, mindful of the comments within the recent ABI Guide to Minimum Standards for Critical Illness cover, has chosen to remove the condition,” he explained.