Impartial reviews on the latest products and how they can impact consumers.
February 2020 Scottish Widows: CI
On its Protect menu protection plan, Scottish Widows has introduced a number of changes to the critical illness element. These include: • Simplification. There are now 40 (down from 49) conditions covered. However this has been achieved by combining similar definitions. So, 16 previous definitions have been cut to just five, even though cover is now wider, with some conditions such as heart failure, having been added. • The top ten conditions account for 96.3% of Scottish Widows’ claims, so it has widened some key definitions, concentrating on the two most common claims - for cancer and heart. • A…
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February 2020 LV=: CI
LV= has introduced a number of changes to its CI policies. In total, some 87 conditions are covered, although that is not the full story. There are now 49 rather than 44 full payment conditions, although some previous conditions have been combined. The new conditions covered are: • Brain abscess. • Brain injury due to trauma, anoxia or hypoxia (the old definition but expanded). • Crohn’s disease. • Heart failure. • Severe mental health. • Severe sepsis. • Spinal stroke. • Syringomyelia or syringobulbia. • Ulcerative colitis. Also, nine new additional payment conditions have been added: • Aortic aneurysm. • …
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February 2020 Generali: Other
Generali UK Employee Benefits has enhanced its employee assistance programme (EAP) package in ways it says dispel the industry notion that embedded EAPs within products, such as group risk or health insurance offerings, represent a poor imitation of standalone versions. Now, its group income protection (GIP) customers - and employees – can get 24/7 access to work and life support services at no extra cost from LifeWorks, through a simple app. Generali - LifeWorks Core services now include: More ways to access expert counselling support. Now in addition to telephonic counselling and self-referral for up to six face-to-face sessions per…
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February 2020 National Friendly: Later Life
Through a partnership with Eldercare Solutions, the Long Term Care Annuity is a long term care insurance policy underwritten by National Friendly. In exchange for a single lump sum upfront, the plan pays a monthly income towards the customer’s care fees for the rest of their life. The cost will depend on the income they want to get each month (usually, the difference between the cost of care and the customer’s income from all sources, including pensions, savings and State benefits), their age, state of health and life expectancy. If paid direct to the care provider, benefits are tax free.…
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January 2020 VitalityLife: Later Life
There are two elements to what Vitality is now offering for those looking for some cover to help with care and care fees when they are older. First, is a Plus version of the Dementia and Frail Care Cover (DFCC) option, which was launched in 2018. The option gives customers the opportunity to convert their Serious Illness Cover (SIC) plan later to provide a cash lump sum if they need long term care – or rather are diagnosed as having dementia or becoming frail. The original option cuts the sum insured to half but is free to exercise and cover…
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