Impartial reviews on the latest products and how they can impact consumers.
September 2022 Holloway Friendly: IP
Specialist income protection provider Holloway Friendly now offers its members the ability to pause their insurance and payments for up to six months, in response to the cost-of-living crisis. The option is available to members who’ve had their insurance for at least three months. Holloway, which says it introduced a similar payment break option during the Covid pandemic for members experiencing financial difficulties, has also introduced a member support fund. It will use this, at its discretion, where it identifies members who might benefit from some financial help. The third change is that all remaining Covid exclusions have now been…
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September 2022 Bupa: Dental
From 1 September 2022, Bupa has introduced a range of improvements to its group dental insurance schemes including: Access to oral cancer care from the start of the policy with no wait period, cover for hospital dental treatment, and unlimited oral cancer treatment when using a fee-assured consultant in a partnership facility. Bupa says it is the only UK insurer to currently offer this. Covering all clinically necessary restorative dental treatment up to benefit limits. Covering hospital dental treatment up to benefit limits. A separate fillings and root canal benefit on Dental Plan so employees can now claim more cash-back…
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September 2022 British Friendly Society: IP
Income protection specialist British Friendly has introduced the option of level guaranteed premiums on its short and long-term income protection plan Protect. This is in addition to its existing age-costed guaranteed premium plan. The mutual’s list of changes includes: Under the level guaranteed premium option, premiums are fixed throughout the policy term unless the customer selects the indexation option, when cover rises in line with increases in inflation. A new benefit guarantee on Protect pays up to £1,500 a month. This can especially help customers who experience a genuine drop in income prior to making a claim. New sick pay…
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July 2022 Royal London: Other
We reviewed Underwrite Later back in February 2021, when it just applied to business protection applications. Now, the mutual insurer has extended the Underwrite Later option to include life cover on personal menu plans too, provided they have a sum insured of over £1m and not exceeding £3.5m, and on Whole of Life (WOL) plans over £0.5m and up to £3.5m. The added option also applies to joint life policies, provided both lives are eligible. Introduced in 2021, Underwrite Later allows customers to get cover while medical evidence is being obtained. During the underwriting period, Royal London will lock in…
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July 2022 National Friendly: PMI
National Friendly has launched a private medical insurance (PMI) plan aimed at UK residents aged 18-85 inclusive. Cover is available to singles, couples and families. Terms are offered for five years at a time, but with annual premium reviews. The Extensive plan offers a choice of guided treatment (open referral) or choosing your own provider (with standard or extended treatment options). The main benefits of the plan include cover for: Private hospital inpatient and daypatient costs. Medical appliances or prostheses. Follow-ups and monitoring. Dental procedures. Specified hospital treatments only. Optical procedures. Specified hospital treatments only. Aural procedures. Repair of a…
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