Aviva Cancer Essentials
Cancer Essentials is Aviva Health’s new low cost cancer only insurance policy. The annually renewable policy provides the following main benefits:
A once in the policy lifetime payment of £5,000 if the customer is diagnosed with cancer. Non-melanoma skin cancer is excluded unless it has spread and active treatment is now recommended.
Up to £100,000 to pay for drugs recommended by an NHS specialist if they are not approved by the NHS on financial grounds. Certain terms and conditions apply to this benefit, for example, the drugs must essentially be proven or established treatment and must be supported by published peer-reviewed clinical evidence.
The RedArc help service is automatically included. This provides the customer and their family with emotional support and practical advice, provided by a team of personal nurse advisors, who offer support during both diagnosis and treatment.
Unlimited use of a confidential 24/7 GP Helpline.
Cancer Essentials is available to UK residents aged between 18 and 70 who have not already had cancer or are awaiting tests. The plan also excludes anyone placed on or advised to join a screening or review programme because they are considered to be at a higher risk of developing cancer. Pre-existing cancer, non-spreading non-melanoma skin cancer and prostate cancer (unless being actively treated) are also excluded. Customers can add their spouse or partner, but not their children.
A 50 year old taking out a plan would pay between £5 and £8 a month, depending on their age and smoking status. Being a smoker includes those who chew tobacco or use tobacco or nicotine replacement products, including vaping.
Premiums rise with age and an 18 year old non-smoker would pay £1.68 a month initially. Smoking status must be disclosed at each annual renewal.
Comment: According to Cancer Research UK, half of all people born after 1960 can expect to be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. So it’s no surprise that cancer remains such a big fear for so many people, even if cancer is most common in old age.
That said, cancer can affect all age groups. The good news is that the majority of those diagnosed with cancer will now survive it and the figures are continuing to improve.
Aviva’s new plan offers a simple package for those worried they may get cancer. It starts with £5K on diagnosis - enough to cover various incidental expenses (time off work, travel and a holiday perhaps) and, if the customer’s specialist recommends drugs the NHS won’t pay for, that’s covered too, up to a generous £100K. Not all such drugs will be covered though and unproven treatments won’t be. In both these areas a critical illness policy, with its typically much larger sum insured, offers perhaps a better, more flexible solution – albeit at higher cost.
The third element of Aviva’s package is to include both a 24/7 GP helpline and the RedArc nurse-led support service. Both can be invaluable.
Downsides? With regard to the detail, one important one is that unlike Aviva’s own CI policy, the T&Cs on this plan don’t go into a lot of detail as to what is and is not covered. CI insurers learned early on that that’s a good idea, so it’s surprising that Aviva hasn’t (yet) applied that lesson here too. Another downside (again covered under most CI policies) is that conditions with possibly similar outcomes (e.g. brain tumours) are not covered. There is always a balance to be struck (too much cover must mean higher prices) but the ‘cancer only’ line can be very harsh if applied literally.
Overall, it’s hard to see that this plan offers a better solution than using the same monthly cost towards buying more critical illness cover instead. Especially as long term CI plans don’t attract Insurance Premium Tax so in theory every £1 of premium should go further. Which really just leaves low cost and simplicity as this plan’s key benefits.
Plus points: Simple concept; Easy to buy; Three tiers of cover – help, cash and drugs; Includes RedArc and 24/7 helpline.
Not so plus points: The cash sum on diagnosis is quite small; What isn’t covered needs to be clearer; Could usefully include other serious conditions such as benign brain tumours; CI cover likely to be a better solution.
Website: http://www.aviva.co.uk/health-insurance/.
Rating (max 10): Innovation: 8. Overall: 7. Silver
Tags: Other; Aviva