Impartial reviews on the latest products and how they can impact consumers.
February 2016 Simplyhealth: HCP
On 1 April, health cash plan market leader Simplyhealth is launching a flex version of its Everyday Health Plan. The health cash plan is available to employers to offer as part of a flexible benefits (flex) package and is available in three levels. For the top (Level 3) plan, the main benefits are: Healthy mind. Includes up to six face-to-face counselling sessions and a 24/7 helpline service. Healthy body. This gives discounted gym membership plus pays up to £390 a year for physiotherapy; osteopathy; chiropractic; acupuncture, and homeopathy, plus up to £150 a year for chiropody, podiatry and reflexology. Healthy…
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February 2016 Aviva: Term
Aviva has added an option to include critical illness benefits on its RLP (relevant life policy). Previously, RLPs have offered life cover only or (more recently) have included terminal illness cover too. Indeed, the general consensus was that that was all an RLP could include. However, Aviva has revisited the law around RLPs and come up with a different interpretation of Section 393B (3 and 4) of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (ITEPA). The reasoning behind this reinterpretation is set out in useful detail on Aviva’s adviser website. The CI benefit is essentially the same as on…
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February 2016 Punter Southall: Other
Punter Southall is now one of the largest health and protection advisers in the UK and this new plan is designed to help employees of its clients once they leave hospital after treatment. The plan is underwritten by Astrenska Insurance and administered by Collinson Insurance Services. The plan includes two key elements: Personal homecare and assistance. This is delivered by Intana, which is part of Collinson’s. The first element is personal care assistance in the patient’s home. This can include help with bathing and toileting, getting dressed/undressed, hair care, teeth cleaning, personal hygiene and help with general health needs and…
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February 2016 InsureWithMax: Other
Child Max is a policy that pays a parent if their child suffers a specific medical condition and the parent has to take time off work to look after them. The child must suffer from a specific medical condition (blindness; coma; deafness; loss of a hand or foot; paralysis of limbs; third degree burns, or traumatic brain injury) or a specified illness (aplastic anaemia; bacterial meningitis; benign brain tumour; blindness; cancer; deafness; kidney failure; loss of a hand or foot; major organ transplant; multiple sclerosis with persisting symptoms; paralysis of limbs, or stroke). Each condition is defined in the policy.…
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February 2016 VitalityHealth: PMI
VitalityHealth has launched a new underwriting initiative for firms with between two and nine employees. It contacts each employee individually and asks two questions: Have you or any dependant to be insured on the plan been diagnosed with and/or had any consultations, tests or treatment for any cancer, mental or heart conditions in the last two years, or any joint disorder or disease (including arthritis and back problems) in the last six months? Have you or any dependant to be insured on the plan made a claim on your private medical insurance policy within the last two years (excluding any…
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