Impartial reviews on the latest products and how they can impact consumers.
February 2012 Benenden Healthcare Society: HCP
Benenden Healthcare Society subsidiary Friendly Healthcare Organisation Ltd has joined with Engage Mutual to develop this health cash plan aimed at individuals aged 66 and over. There is no upper age limit at outset or later and premiums start at just £10 a month. There are three levels of benefit available providing: Benefit Level 1 2 3 Optical 100% £40 £80 £110 Dental 100% £45 £85 £135 Complementary therapies (chiropractic; acupuncture; osteopathy; homeopathy) 100% £80 £160 £249 Hearing aid 100% £75 £150 £225 Hospital in-patient max 10 - £10 £20 Hospital day surgery max 10 - £5 £10 Plans cost…
read more »
February 2012 Ageas Protect: CI
Ageas Protect, formerly Fortis Life (it rebranded in January 2011), updated its critical illness plan in December: • The number of illnesses with ABI+ definitions has been increased from 11 to 15 (highest in the market, Ageas says) including ABI+ definitions for cancer, stroke and multiple sclerosis. • Two of the existing TPD (total and permanent disability) definitions are now also ABI+. • Total disability is Ageas’ new name for TPD with temporary disability. This puts into one option two previous benefits and pays a monthly income after 26 weeks off work if the condition is likely to be temporary.…
read more »
January 2012 Paycare: HCP
Wolverhampton based Paycare started life in 1874, making it one of the older health cash plans. Its new company paid health cash plan offers a choice of five cover levels. Maximum annual benefits for Level 1 and Level 5 plans being (100% of cost unless otherwise shown) are: Level 1 Level 5 Optical, 100% of cost up to £65 £220 Dental charges, 100% of cost to £65 £220 Specialist consultations and tests £300 £600 Professional therapy (physiotherapy; osteopathy; chiropractic; acupuncture; homeopathy; hypnotherapy, and reflexology) £180 £550 Chiropody £50 £150 Health screening £100 £300 Benefits also cover dependent children and all…
read more »
January 2012 Legal & General: Term
Relevant life policies are a relatively new phenomenon and, in essence, offer pension scheme tax reliefs to employees who want term life cover for as long as they are working. Legal & General’s plan pays a lump sum on death in service or if diagnosed with a terminal illness. Under the relevant legislation (and L&G has obtained a legal opinion on its core literature from William Massey QC so the plan should meet its objectives and is compliant with legislation), RLPs must provide a death benefit only to employees and cannot last beyond age 74. So, this plan must be…
read more »
November 2011 Friends Life: Menu
Protect+ is a menu proposition that can includes life, income protection, critical illness cover and business protection. The plan also brings together many of the best points of previous Friends Provident, AXA and Bupa protection plans. Key benefits of the new plan can broadly be divided into four parts and include: • Life cover. The plan aims for flexibility and options include level, renewable, decreasing and mortgage protection term or a family income benefit. Premiums can be guaranteed or renewable and there are four indexation options plus optional fracture cover up to £2,100. • Income protection. This features a guaranteed…
read more »
