Impartial reviews on the latest products and how they can impact consumers.
March 2012 Bright Grey: CI
Bright Grey has extended its simplified product Lifestyle plan by introducing a ‘plus’ version. Effectively, the new plan adds a TPD (total and permanent disability) and waiver of premium benefit to its existing life and critical illness proposition. The new plan features: Up to £500,000 life cover with or without critical illness benefit. Terms can be between 5 and 40 years. 22 critical conditions are covered plus TPD. Terminal illness is also covered (although not within the final year of the plan’s term), as is waiver of premium (called ‘Payment Cover for Sickness’), which has a 26 week deferred period.…
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February 2012 PruProtect: Other
February 2012 Other PruProtect’s Premium Saver is an add-on benefit to its existing protection solutions. For a small extra premium (or inbuilt on new plans taken out), customers build up accrued premium discounts over a five year period. After five years, those savings are then applied towards premiums over the next two years. A customer who fully engages with the Vitality programme could get up to two free years of premiums every five years. In year six, as well as benefiting from any premium benefits, the five year clock starts again and benefits start accruing for the next five year…
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February 2012 Universal Provident: Other
Universal Provident’s Oasis is a new hybrid health/protection insurance product that pays cash lump sums for serious illness and major medical expenses and also has a hospital cash benefit. There are three main elements: Serious illness. This benefit pays a £15,000 cash lump sum on being diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, cancer, heart attack, or stroke. The policy then continues after a claim is made, albeit with some restrictions. For example, if the customer suffers a heart attack following a stroke (or vice versa), the plan’s benefit would be halved for the second condition (or there would be no second payment…
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February 2012 Medicare International: iPMI
MediCare International (MCI) has brought in two changes to its International range of IPMI (international private medical insurance) plans. Now, customers can choose one of four voluntary excesses: • A £500 (or the equivalent in US $ or €) per claim excess gives a premium reduction of 10%. • A £1,000 excess gives a 20% premium discount. • A £5,000 excess gives a 35% premium discount. • A £10,000 excess gives a 50% premium discount. MCI has also added a multi-currency feature to its online quote and buy package. The plan is available to both individuals and groups, with discounts…
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February 2012 Bupa: Dental
Dental Cover is Bupa’s first consumer dental insurance product. Previously dental cover was available to individuals but only as an option on the group Bupa By You product. The new plan is available in two versions. • Dental Cover 10 is annually renewable dental insurance for people with an NHS dentist. It reimburses 100% of all NHS treatment charges (in NHS bands 1, 2 and 3) and pays up to £15,000 a year for oral cancer treatment (which includes up to £400 a year out-patient costs and £380 for each course of radiotherapy treatments). Non NHS dental costs that may…
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