Vitality Life has made three changes to its serious illness cover product that the firm believes will lead to more claims.
Cancer relapse benefit is now included. This new offering is unique in the market and means Vitality will pay out an extra 50 per cent of the sum assured on the recurrence of cancer.
This can either be a relapse of the original cancer at the same or lower severity or a new primary cancer - after a one year period of remission.
Multiple claims are also now allowed for heart attack and stroke.
Customers will be able to claim for multiple heart attacks and strokes at the same or lower severity as long as the subsequent episode occurs at least 30 days after the first event.
Currently the policy pays out for multiple heart attacks and strokes that are new or more severe events, so the new enhancement means more customers will be able to claim.
They are welcome enhancements that should mean more customers can claim and receive a pay out to help them during a tough time in their life.Emma ThomsonVitalityLife has also introduced cover for two new conditions: borderline ovarian cancer and permanent defibrillator insertion due to cardiac arrest.
It has also enhanced definitions for three other conditions: primary pulmonary hypertension, multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease.
Together with the above enhancements, Deepak Jobanputra, VitalityLife deputy chief executive, said it means members are now up to three times more likely to receive a payout from serious illness cover over typical critical illness cover policy.
Emma Thomson, life office relationship director of LifeSearch, said: “The improvements to VitalityLife’s serious illness cover are good news for customers who suffer any relapse or recurrence of three of the main reasons for a claim, namely heart attack, cancer or stroke.
“They are welcome enhancements that should mean more customers can claim and receive a pay out to help them during a tough time in their life.”
emma.hughes@ft.com
