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Life Protection
Added value benefits
Which insurers provide nutritional support to clients and how do they compare?
In reading this article you will understand Which providers offer nutritional support to clients The details on how these services differ in terms of who can access the service, how, the consultation methods, and the nutritional areas covered Which providers have the...
Which insurers provide the best estate administration support?
In reading this article you will understand: Who offers estate administration support services and how they differ. How these services can help clients difficult times. The various options clients have on using these services and the costs involved. Providing...
Value Added Services – Everything you need to know
In reading this article you will understand: Granular detail about a range of popular Added Value Services that providers offer and how providers compare What products each service is offer on How such services are provided Restrictions that apply Which providers our...
Health checks – how providers compare
In reading this article you will understand: Which providers offer health check services to protection clients The differing ways in which providers carry out their health checks and who does what Which members of the live assured’s family, if any, can access each...
Second medical opinion services – how insurers compare
In reading this article you will understand: Which insurers do / do not offer a second medical opinion service for clients and if they are provided in-house or by third party suppliers Which family members can access the service, beyond the life assured How...
Who offers access to GP services and how do they compare?
In reading this article you will understand: Which providers offer GP services to protection clients Apart from the insured, who else can access GP services and any restrictions that apply How many times per annum these services can be used Many clients would welcome...
Blue monday – how providers’ mental health support compares
Today is ‘Blue Monday’ which is claimed to be the most depressing day of the year. It’s origin comes from the fact that we’ll probably have bad weather, we still have dark nights, Christmas is over, there’s a long stretch to next pay-day and many New Year’s...
Can added value benefits keep the north pole running?
Over the last couple of years “added value benefits” have become a core component of most protection plans. It seems that every insurer now offers wider benefits that can help consumers stay healthy both in mind and body as well as benefits that can improve recovery...
How different would ‘A Christmas Carol’ be if key characters had insurance?
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is one of the most famous Christmas stories and has been told numerous times on stage, screen and even by the Muppets. Have you ever wondered however, how different the story might have turned out if some of the key characters had...
What to expect from Aviva’s DigiCare+ for individual policyholders
On the 30th September, Aviva launched their new and innovative DigiCare+ benefits package to members of their group income protection and group critical illness schemes. Next week, the much anticipated launch of DigiCare+ for individual protection customers goes live...
FRACTURE COVER – WHO OFFERS WHAT?
A simple accident, and a broken bone, can easily lead to unforeseen financial stress particularly for those who have physically demanding occupations. Fractures can make it difficult or even impossible for clients to work for weeks or even months whilst they...
Nutritional support – who offers what?
We’re all familiar these days with the benefits of good nutrition as part of a healthy lifestyle. Putting the right and best ‘fuel in the tank’ is the start point to a healthier lifestyle and the services offered by a nutritionist can help us all understand things...
National Fitness Day – How do insurers help improve a clients’ fitness?
Tomorrow marks national fitness day across the UK, which is designed to raise awareness of the importance of leading a healthier and active lifestyle. Regular exercise can help reduce the risk of major illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer by up...
Improving lives through health checks
The old saying that ‘prevention is better than cure’ may be a cliché but like many well-worn phrases, it contains more than a grain of truth. Ask anyone who is living with a health condition that has impaired their quality of life and, given the choice, they would...
Which insurers help reduce the risk of illness through nutritional support
Prevention is better than a cure. It’s a phrase we are all familiar with but in an industry that provides valuable financial support to customers when the worst happens, should we be doing more to help prevent the scenarios we insure against in the first place? There...
Which insurers help clients obtain better medical care abroad?
The NHS is generally seen as one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Whilst the range of treatments available in the UK are vast, how would your clients cope if more effective or even lifesaving treatment was only available elsewhere in the world? In this...
Are all second medical opinion services the same?
As focus shifts from price led protection to quality led protection; demand for additional benefits from insurers will only continue to grow. Second medical opinion services are one such added benefit. It provides clients with the ability to confirm or dismiss doubts...
Providing Emotional Support – How Do Counselling Services Differ?
The impact of losing a loved one, becoming seriously ill or injured affects far more than just a consumer’s financial life. Additionally in the current environment there are a lot of people who are suffering stress related to the impact of COVID-19 on their family and...
Legal services in life assurance: what different insurers offer
Additional services provided by insurers are increasing and legal aid is just one of the additional benefits that is being offered by several insurers. This week we take a closer look at Legal services provided by insurers.There is plethora of reasons as to why...
buyback options
Which insurers have the best buyback options?
In reading this article you will understand Which providers allow clients to reinstate cover free of underwriting after a successful claim through buyback option The range of buyback options available and which providers offer what Restrictions that apply in terms of...
the benefits of buyback options
The ability to claim on a protection plan will provide clients with a financial lifeline and the added comfort of not having to worry about their finances. Where a claim is made on a full payment critical illness condition that plan will usually come to an end. This...
Claims
Which insurers have the best buyback options?
In reading this article you will understand Which providers allow clients to reinstate cover free of underwriting after a successful claim through buyback option The range of buyback options available and which providers offer what Restrictions that apply in terms of...
Zurich’s Claims Stats highlight Fracture cover is not just for active clients
A broken bone or ligament tear can have severe implications on our ability to carry out day to day tasks. It is also something that is not unfamiliar as it is not uncommon to pass someone on the street in a cast (when we could pass people on the street) or see someone...
Supporting the claims process – Everything you need to know
As the pandemic reaches new heights, and we all hunker down for another full lockdown, it’s likely that we’ll see increasing claims in 2021. Whether these continue to be dominated by income protection and life, or an expected increase in critical illness claims will...
What to expect from claims in 2021
In the second edition of our ‘thoughts on 2021’ series, we consider claims. With the pandemic reaching new heights it is likely that the spike we saw in claims in 2020 will continue into 2021, but will these claims continue to be predominately for Income Protection...
Claims… Everything you need to know
Nobody wants to have to make a claim on a life insurance policy, however when a life changing illness or injury happens the reassurance of the financial security they bring can quite literally save a persons life. Our industry is quite rightly proud of the number of...
Going the extra mile – Aviva’s new claims initiatives
At Protection Guru, we are always interested to hear how insurers are going above and beyond what might be reasonably expected of them. In terms of claims, we expect insurers to pay all valid claims, however it is often the little touches that a client may not expect...
Which insurers offer the best support during claims?
Protection policy holders will hope that they or their family never have to make a claim on their protection plan(s). In the current environment however it is likely that insurers will experience a dramatic increase in claims across all benefit types and at such times...
Everything you need to know
Mortgage specific plan features – everything you need to know
When putting in place a protection plan (or plans) to cover a mortgage there are a number of things to consider. Matching the sum assured and term of the plan to the liability is the simple part, however there may be other considerations for advisers. Will the plan...
Value Added Services – Everything you need to know
In reading this article you will understand: Granular detail about a range of popular Added Value Services that providers offer and how providers compare What products each service is offer on How such services are provided Restrictions that apply Which providers our...
Insuring Couples – Everything you need to know
In reading this and the linked articles you will understand: The merits of two single life or joint life plans The benefits of menu plans and how providers offer different approaches How providers support clients when one partner works, or becomes a carer or if the...
Family income benefit features – Everything you need to know
The world we live in has changed immeasurably over the last 12 months but if there is any positive to take away it is that the pandemic, and especially the furlough scheme, has opened many consumers eyes to the benefits of replacing income when the worst happen. It’s...
Supporting the claims process – Everything you need to know
As the pandemic reaches new heights, and we all hunker down for another full lockdown, it’s likely that we’ll see increasing claims in 2021. Whether these continue to be dominated by income protection and life, or an expected increase in critical illness claims will...
What were the big product developments in the second half of 2020? Everything you need to know
It is fair to say that by the second half of 2020, insurers had got over the initial shock of the pandemic and started to return to business as normal (whatever that was). Whilst there was and still is a lot of focus on getting cases underwritten in difficult...
What were the big product developments in the first half of 2020? Everything you need to know
With much of the focus this year being centered around insurer reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic, product developments (certainly in the first half of the year) were fairly limited. That being said there were a number of very significant enhancements made by insurers...
What features are available on life insurance – Everything you need to know
What is a life assurance contract? Yes, it’s a promise to pay when the very worst happens, to create money in times of trouble where none existed before. But it’s much more than that; life plans today have so many features and so much flexibility it’s hard to imagine...
What cover is offered in advance of a plan being put in force… everything you need to know
Over the last six months there has been a lot of focus about the length of time it can take to get cover in place, especially when medical underwriting is required. The reasons behind this are numerous and the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the debate and desire to...
When is medical evidence automatically requested… Everything you need to know
For most clients, submitting an application where there are no medical or other disclosures will mean that terms are offered pretty quickly. Such clients are usually deemed as relatively low risk and as such medical evidence will not be required. Where the client is...
Claims… Everything you need to know
Nobody wants to have to make a claim on a life insurance policy, however when a life changing illness or injury happens the reassurance of the financial security they bring can quite literally save a persons life. Our industry is quite rightly proud of the number of...
Everything you need to know about when cover can be increased without underwriting
When recommending protection to a client, advisers will weigh up many different factors in order to ascertain the right policies and the right level of cover. This will include factors such as current income/expenditure, liabilities and what their family might need if...
Family income benefit
Family income benefit features – Everything you need to know
The world we live in has changed immeasurably over the last 12 months but if there is any positive to take away it is that the pandemic, and especially the furlough scheme, has opened many consumers eyes to the benefits of replacing income when the worst happen. It’s...
When can family income benefit be increased without underwriting?
As the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted protecting a clients income is a vital part of any advice process. Whereas income protection will replace lost income due to a clients’ inability to work through ill health, Family income Benefit will replace a family’s lost...
Is converting family income benefit to a lump sum worth it?
We can all make an educated guess about what life has in store for us and work towards certain outcomes, but we never really know how things will pan out – for good or bad - until they happen. Financial planning helps people prepare for life events and achieve their...
Will your clients need medical evidence for FAMILY income benefit?
For some clients looking for life cover, family income benefit will be the most suitable solution. This policy is the same as conventional life insurance except that the benefit is paid out as a regular income rather than a lump sum. Some clients may feel a regular...
Free Cover
free life cover during the application process – how insurers compare
In reading this article you will understand How providers protect clients with free cover during underwriting and / or mortgage completion How each provider differs in their approach to each free cover and how they compare The limits or exclusions that apply to both...
What cover is offered in advance of a plan being put in force… everything you need to know
Over the last six months there has been a lot of focus about the length of time it can take to get cover in place, especially when medical underwriting is required. The reasons behind this are numerous and the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the debate and desire to...
What cover do insurers offer before a LIFE policy is put in force?
When a client makes that decision to commit to buying protection, like any buying decision we make, they’re likely to want the cover in place as quickly as possible. Often, and especially in recent times, obtaining medical evidence, can be a painful and time consuming...
Guaranteed insurability options
Increasing life and critical illness cover without underwriting – how providers compare
In reading this article you will understand What Guaranteed Insurability Options (GIOs) are and how they help clients whose circumstances change How providers differ in their approach to GIOs in differing life circumstances The limits and restrictions insurers place...
How flexible are protection plans for renters?
The current squeeze on mortgage lending, and the increasingly large deposits needed, more people are staying in the rental sector. According to Zoopla’s September 2020 Rental Index, demand is still outstripping supply in many markets, underpinning rental growth. If...
When can family income benefit be increased without underwriting?
As the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted protecting a clients income is a vital part of any advice process. Whereas income protection will replace lost income due to a clients’ inability to work through ill health, Family income Benefit will replace a family’s lost...
Everything you need to know about when cover can be increased without underwriting
When recommending protection to a client, advisers will weigh up many different factors in order to ascertain the right policies and the right level of cover. This will include factors such as current income/expenditure, liabilities and what their family might need if...
When can life and critical illness cover be increased without underwriting?
Submitting a life or critical illness application for anyone that has or is suffering from symptoms related to COVID-19 will almost certainly lead to a postponement of terms being offered. Where a client has no other cover in place there is little that can be done...
Insuring Couples – Everything you need to know
In reading this and the linked articles you will understand: The merits of two single life or joint life plans The benefits of menu plans and how providers offer different approaches How providers support clients when one partner works, or becomes a carer or if the...
Advising on multiple benefits… Everything you need to know
When recommending protection to clients there will often be multiple needs that cover will be required for. Whether this be protecting the clients income against ill health, covering a liability or simply providing their family with financial security in the event of...
The difference between Life AND CI and Life OR CI
Over the last few years there have been a marked increase in the number of multi-benefit policies put in place by advisers. All quotation portals now make it far easier to compare multi-benefit prices, but advisers need to be aware of exactly what cover they are...
Why two single life plans are better than a joint life plan
Two single life policies or one joint life plan, which is more suitable? The answer as always is that it will depend on the clients' situation, however most compliance departments will agree that two single life plans are usually the better option. But this is not the...
What are the benefits of Menu Plans?
It is hard to disagree that for most clients their protection needs will not be solved by one product. Mortgage protection will pay off their mortgage in the event of death or critical illness, if included, but how will their family cope without their income? What if...
Minimum/maximum limits
Life Cover for older clients – who offers what?
In reading this article you will understand The maximum age limits and minimum ages at entry that providers apply to life cover plans The increases to maximum ages LV= have made today and how this benefits clients How providers approaches differ across the age ranges...
Age limits – Everything you need to know
In reading this and the linked articles you will understand: The age limits, at entry and expiry that providers apply to clients for different types of products How these affect different client groups from children to older adults Limitations placed on maximum...
Life cover for older clients – who offers what?
Finding life cover for younger clients is not likely to be a problem, but if the client is older, the age limits that insurers put on their policies may restrict the advisers’ choice. With many mortgages running to later ages and people often needing to work into...
Which plans offer life cover to older clients?
The term of a life protection plan will depend on a number of different factors. Where cover is in place to protect against a mortgage the term of the plan will generally mirror the term of the liability, however where the plan is to provide family protection this...
Sum assured limits
Terminal Illness
Which insurers help clients with life limiting illnesses?
Being given a prognosis of having just months to live must be a desperate time. Not only does someone need to manage their own emotions, they will also see the impact of their situation on their loved ones. At times like these, clients may want to organise their...
Underwriting limits
Who has the highest non-medical underwriting limits for life assurance?
Understanding an insurers’ requirements to assess a protection application before submitting the case can make a big difference in ensuring the process is as smooth as possible. Where medical disclosures are made, it’s reasonable to expect an insurer to ask for...
When is medical evidence automatically requested… Everything you need to know
For most clients, submitting an application where there are no medical or other disclosures will mean that terms are offered pretty quickly. Such clients are usually deemed as relatively low risk and as such medical evidence will not be required. Where the client is...
Will your clients need medical evidence for FAMILY income benefit?
For some clients looking for life cover, family income benefit will be the most suitable solution. This policy is the same as conventional life insurance except that the benefit is paid out as a regular income rather than a lump sum. Some clients may feel a regular...
Waiver of premium
Waiver of premium – how insurers compare
In reading this article you will understand: What waiver of premium is and how it can help clients maintain cover if they are unable to work and maintain their premiums The different deferred periods available and how providers’ propositions differ The maximum ages to...
Will Guardian’s approach to Waiver of Premium trigger changes in market practice?
The financial impact of becoming ill or injured and unable to work can mean that clients' will need to cut costs. Cancelling a life or critical illness policy to save the premiums could leave the client at greater financial risk. In this article, we look at how this...
Critical illness
Added value benefits
Which insurers provide nutritional support to clients and how do they compare?
In reading this article you will understand Which providers offer nutritional support to clients The details on how these services differ in terms of who can access the service, how, the consultation methods, and the nutritional areas covered Which providers have the...
Fracture cover – who offers what?
In reading this article you will understand Which providers offer fracture cover benefit The details on how these services differ in terms of what is covered and how much is paid Restriction that apply in terms of claims for multiple fractures or the number of claims...
Value Added Services – Everything you need to know
In reading this article you will understand: Granular detail about a range of popular Added Value Services that providers offer and how providers compare What products each service is offer on How such services are provided Restrictions that apply Which providers our...
Health checks – how providers compare
In reading this article you will understand: Which providers offer health check services to protection clients The differing ways in which providers carry out their health checks and who does what Which members of the live assured’s family, if any, can access each...
Second medical opinion services – how insurers compare
In reading this article you will understand: Which insurers do / do not offer a second medical opinion service for clients and if they are provided in-house or by third party suppliers Which family members can access the service, beyond the life assured How...
Who offers access to GP services and how do they compare?
In reading this article you will understand: Which providers offer GP services to protection clients Apart from the insured, who else can access GP services and any restrictions that apply How many times per annum these services can be used Many clients would welcome...
Blue monday – how providers’ mental health support compares
Today is ‘Blue Monday’ which is claimed to be the most depressing day of the year. It’s origin comes from the fact that we’ll probably have bad weather, we still have dark nights, Christmas is over, there’s a long stretch to next pay-day and many New Year’s...
Can added value benefits keep the north pole running?
Over the last couple of years “added value benefits” have become a core component of most protection plans. It seems that every insurer now offers wider benefits that can help consumers stay healthy both in mind and body as well as benefits that can improve recovery...
How different would ‘A Christmas Carol’ be if key characters had insurance?
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is one of the most famous Christmas stories and has been told numerous times on stage, screen and even by the Muppets. Have you ever wondered however, how different the story might have turned out if some of the key characters had...
What to expect from Aviva’s DigiCare+ for individual policyholders
On the 30th September, Aviva launched their new and innovative DigiCare+ benefits package to members of their group income protection and group critical illness schemes. Next week, the much anticipated launch of DigiCare+ for individual protection customers goes live...
CARERS RIGHTS DAY 2020 – WHICH INCOME PROTECTION PLANS OFFER SUPPORT FOR CARERS?
The UK has an unpaid army of dedicated carers made up of mums, dads, brothers, sisters, aunties and uncles and friends who take it upon themselves to look after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental...
FRACTURE COVER – WHO OFFERS WHAT?
A simple accident, and a broken bone, can easily lead to unforeseen financial stress particularly for those who have physically demanding occupations. Fractures can make it difficult or even impossible for clients to work for weeks or even months whilst they...
Nutritional support – who offers what?
We’re all familiar these days with the benefits of good nutrition as part of a healthy lifestyle. Putting the right and best ‘fuel in the tank’ is the start point to a healthier lifestyle and the services offered by a nutritionist can help us all understand things...
Career support services – who does what?
Unfortunately, some clients who make a claim on their income protection policy will be unable to return to the same job they did before they had an accident or became ill. For example, they may have claimed on their policy for stress, so a less stressful or...
National Fitness Day – How do insurers help improve a clients’ fitness?
Tomorrow marks national fitness day across the UK, which is designed to raise awareness of the importance of leading a healthier and active lifestyle. Regular exercise can help reduce the risk of major illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer by up...
Improving lives through health checks
The old saying that ‘prevention is better than cure’ may be a cliché but like many well-worn phrases, it contains more than a grain of truth. Ask anyone who is living with a health condition that has impaired their quality of life and, given the choice, they would...
Which insurers help reduce the risk of illness through nutritional support
Prevention is better than a cure. It’s a phrase we are all familiar with but in an industry that provides valuable financial support to customers when the worst happens, should we be doing more to help prevent the scenarios we insure against in the first place? There...
Helping Clients Return to Work Quicker – Who Offers The Best Rehab Services?
The loss of ability to earn due to injury or illness can have devastating effects, not only on immediate income but also potential future income. A sustained period of absence could mean that a client may need to upskill quickly in order to catch up with the...
Which insurers help clients obtain better medical care abroad?
The NHS is generally seen as one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Whilst the range of treatments available in the UK are vast, how would your clients cope if more effective or even lifesaving treatment was only available elsewhere in the world? In this...
Are all second medical opinion services the same?
As focus shifts from price led protection to quality led protection; demand for additional benefits from insurers will only continue to grow. Second medical opinion services are one such added benefit. It provides clients with the ability to confirm or dismiss doubts...
Providing Emotional Support – How Do Counselling Services Differ?
The impact of losing a loved one, becoming seriously ill or injured affects far more than just a consumer’s financial life. Additionally in the current environment there are a lot of people who are suffering stress related to the impact of COVID-19 on their family and...
Financial assistance during the deferred period – Who offers hospitalisation benefit on Income Protection?
Spending a prolonged amount of time in hospital can have financial impacts on clients and their families not related to loss of income. Whilst Income Protection plans are designed to subsidise a loss of income due to illness or injury, the deferred period often means...
buyback options
the benefits of buyback options
The ability to claim on a protection plan will provide clients with a financial lifeline and the added comfort of not having to worry about their finances. Where a claim is made on a full payment critical illness condition that plan will usually come to an end. This...
Children’s critical illness
who helps advisers introduce critical illness cover to young people?
Children outgrow many things their parents provide for them. Everything from clothing with in-built animal ears to child-friendly tablets will eventually be cast aside for something more age appropriate as the years pass. The animal ears become fashionable hoodies...
How children are covered on critical illness plans – everything you need to know
In reading this and the linked articles you will understand: How providers compare in the way they offer critical illness plans for children How eligibility, age and sum assured limits differ across providers Who supports and pays what if children are hospitalised or...
Children’s funeral cover – how providers compare
In reading this article you will understand How critical illness plans can help clients cover the cost of a child’s funeral Which providers and which of their products offer this benefit How much those providers pay Organising a funeral for a loved one is stressful...
Are all children eligible for children’s critical illness cover? How providers compare
In reading this article you will understand Which children are eligible for critical illness cover under the adults’ plan How providers differ in their eligibility criteria Restrictions that apply to some children Children’s critical-illness cover is a difficult issue...
what are the limits for childrens critical illness cover?
In reading this article you will understand: The age limits that apply to children’s critical illness cover and how providers differ What providers will pay for a child critical illness claim and what limits apply Which providers can extend their support to include...
Which critical illness plans support parents when their child is hospitalised?
For any parent, witnessing their child suffering in hospital must rank highly among the more stressful times in their entire life. Feelings of helplessness, fear and anxiety will be soaring. The need to focus on the child’s support and care is paramount, leaving...
IF OVERSEAS TREATMENT CAN SAVE A CRITICALLY ILL CHILD, WHO WILL PAY FOR IT?
When a child is suffering from a critical illness, the best treatment or even pioneering surgery that could save their life may only available abroad. However, as we all know, medical costs in other countries are so expensive. With no equivalent to our NHS elsewhere...
who has the broadest eligibility for children’s critical illness cover?
There’s no point talking to clients about the children’s element of any given critical-illness plan until you know whether their children meet the eligibility criteria. Advisers might know their favourite insurers’ plans inside out and wax lyrical about the range of...
Everything you need to know about… How children are covered on critical illness policies
Raising children is one of the greatest joys in life but also one of the biggest responsibilities. Not only do you financially support your children, you also need to give them your time. Nobody wants to think about doing these things in the context of their children...
LV= Launch Enhanced Children’s Cover
During the last few months the critical illness market has been relatively quiet with regard to enhancements as insurers have rightly been tackling the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought. In the first upgrade announcement since the lockdown measures...
How flexible should children’s critical illness be?
Over recent times there has been much debate on whether protection plans should include everything as standard or whether clients should only pay for the features they can use. Children’s Critical Illness cover is one protection feature that falls into this category...
Claims
Zurich’s Claims Stats highlight Fracture cover is not just for active clients
A broken bone or ligament tear can have severe implications on our ability to carry out day to day tasks. It is also something that is not unfamiliar as it is not uncommon to pass someone on the street in a cast (when we could pass people on the street) or see someone...
Which insurers offer the best cover for overseas treatment?
In reading this article you will understand Which providers support clients who need to have medical treatment overseas Which of each provider’s plans within their proposition the service is available on How their services differ in terms of benefits and costs In our...
Supporting the claims process – Everything you need to know
As the pandemic reaches new heights, and we all hunker down for another full lockdown, it’s likely that we’ll see increasing claims in 2021. Whether these continue to be dominated by income protection and life, or an expected increase in critical illness claims will...
What to expect from claims in 2021
In the second edition of our ‘thoughts on 2021’ series, we consider claims. With the pandemic reaching new heights it is likely that the spike we saw in claims in 2020 will continue into 2021, but will these claims continue to be predominately for Income Protection...
Can added value benefits keep the north pole running?
Over the last couple of years “added value benefits” have become a core component of most protection plans. It seems that every insurer now offers wider benefits that can help consumers stay healthy both in mind and body as well as benefits that can improve recovery...
WILL COVID IMPACT INSURER’S CLAIMS PHILOSOPHIES? WHY THE PRECISE POLICY WORDINGS ARE MORE IMPORTANT.
An insurance contract is a promise on a piece of paper, and the point of claim is the moment of truth. For the life insurance industry paying claims and helping consumers when the unforeseen strikes is the most important thing we do. It is also something that we are...
The stories behind critical illness claims
It is well publicised that consumers have a misconception that the protection industry does not pay claims. All insurers now publish their claims paid stats that highlight claims paid are often well in excess of 90% and this data is freely available for advisers to...
the benefits of buyback options
The ability to claim on a protection plan will provide clients with a financial lifeline and the added comfort of not having to worry about their finances. Where a claim is made on a full payment critical illness condition that plan will usually come to an end. This...
Claims… Everything you need to know
Nobody wants to have to make a claim on a life insurance policy, however when a life changing illness or injury happens the reassurance of the financial security they bring can quite literally save a persons life. Our industry is quite rightly proud of the number of...
How one adviser is using her experience to highlight the benefit of protection
As many advisers know stories behind protection claims can be a powerful tool to help clients understand the importance of protection. Claims statistics can highlight that the industry does pay the vast majority of claims, but the stories behind these claims show the...
Going the extra mile – Aviva’s new claims initiatives
At Protection Guru, we are always interested to hear how insurers are going above and beyond what might be reasonably expected of them. In terms of claims, we expect insurers to pay all valid claims, however it is often the little touches that a client may not expect...
Where will COVID-19 cause critical illness claims Pt. 2
In our last articlet our independent panel of medical experts identified the two critical illness conditions where insurers are most likely to see an increase in claims due to Coronavirus because of admission to an intensive care unit. In the most severe cases of...
Where will COVID-19 cause critical illness claims Pt. 1
It is fair to say that the coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on the protection market. Whilst much of the focus has been on income protection which is the most affected benefit type, it is expected that claims will also rise for life and critical illness....
Which insurers offer the best support during claims?
Protection policy holders will hope that they or their family never have to make a claim on their protection plan(s). In the current environment however it is likely that insurers will experience a dramatic increase in claims across all benefit types and at such times...
How Aviva have used their claims experience to improve their Extra Care Cover
Claim statistics are used in a number of ways by different parties across the industry. They can tell us not only the number of claims paid but also what they were paid for and therefore help build both adviser and consumer confidence. Most insurers will have a team...
Critical illness conditions
Multiple Sclerosis Awareness week – How is MS covered in critical illness plans?
In reading this article you will understand What Multiple Sclerosis is and how it affects the body The long term prognosis of Multiple Scleorosis How Multiple Sclerosis is covered by critical illness plans and how different approaches could lead to different outcomes...
World Parkinson’s day – How do critical illness plans cover parkinson’s disease?
In reading this article you will understand The main symptoms caused by Parkinson's Disease The long term prognosis of Parkinson's Disease How Parkinson's Disease is covered by critical illness plans and how small wording changes can make a big difference to cover The...
Brain tumour awareness month – How are brain tumours covered in critical illness plans.
Brain tumour awareness month is an initiative that was launched in 2004 by the founding members of Brain Tumour Research. It was launched to help increase awareness around the lack of funding into brain tumour research by the UK government and larger cancer charities....
Ovarian cancer awareness month – how is ovarian cancer covered in critical illness plans?
UK survival rates for ovarian cancer are among the worst in Europe and the condition is widely recognised as the biggest gynaecological killer of women in the UK. In order to increase awareness, the month of March is dedicated to ovarian cancer awareness in order to...
World Kidney Day – How do critical illness plans cover kidney disease?
Thursday 11th March depicts World Kidney Day which this year focuses on living well with kidney disease. Suffering from any form of kidney disease can have a massive impact on a persons day to day life and this important cause looks to raise awareness of the...
World Cancer Day – How is cancer covered in critical illness plans?
In reading this article you will understand: What the terms staging, malignance, metastasis & pre-cancerous mean? Which cancers are the most common in the UK by type, gender and age How critical illness plans cover stage 1-4 cancers Thursday 4th February signals...
CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION WEEK – How is cervical cancer covered in critical illness plans?
This week signals Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, a week where health services and charities such as Jo’s cervical cancer trust come together to raise awareness about Cervical Cancer and how it can be prevented. Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women...
Which critical illness policies come top if clients have a serious accident?
There’s no way of knowing if or when clients will have a serious accident but should that happen the impact on a client’s life can be severe. Clients may think they are invincible but as our independent panel of medical practitioners explain: “Accident and injuries...
Lung Cancer Awareness Month – How do critical illness plans cover lung cancer?
November is lung cancer awareness month, during which a coalition of leading international research and advocacy organisations come together with the aim of improving outcomes for lung cancer patients across the world. As one of the most common causes of cancer deaths...
Which insurers make extra payments to younger clients with a critical illness?
Helping a younger client plan their future takes on a whole new dimension for advisers if that client is diagnosed with a critical illness. Their plans to travel the world, get married, buy a house, study or change jobs could either be put on hold or accelerated,...
WHO OFFERS HIGHER CRITICAL ILLNESS PAYMENTS BASED ON QUALITY OF LIFE?
Quality of life is something that separates a living meaningful life from simply existing. This is why living with a critical-illness that impairs quality of life over time can be so devastating for clients and their families. It can change what clients are able to do...
IF OVERSEAS TREATMENT CAN SAVE A CRITICALLY ILL CHILD, WHO WILL PAY FOR IT?
When a child is suffering from a critical illness, the best treatment or even pioneering surgery that could save their life may only available abroad. However, as we all know, medical costs in other countries are so expensive. With no equivalent to our NHS elsewhere...
World diabetes day – how is diabetes covered in critical illness plans?
There are 4.7 million people in the UK living with diabetes and this number is expected to increase to 5.5 million by 2030. The condition causes raised sugar levels in the bloodstream which can lead to problems like cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney damage...
Movember – How do critical illness plans cover prostate cancer?
The month of November has become etched into many peoples minds as the month where men let go of their inhibitions and fun with their facial hair in aid of Movember. This important cause encourages men to grow a moustache and raise money and awareness of issues such...
Breast cancer awareness month – How do Critical illness plans cover Breast cancer
As many insurers have reported over the last couple of months, the measures put in place to slow the spread of Coronavirus have had a massive impact on Critical Illness claims. With many people not able (or reluctant) to see a GP when suffering symptoms, there are...
Everything you need to know
Mortgage specific plan features – everything you need to know
When putting in place a protection plan (or plans) to cover a mortgage there are a number of things to consider. Matching the sum assured and term of the plan to the liability is the simple part, however there may be other considerations for advisers. Will the plan...
How children are covered on critical illness plans – everything you need to know
In reading this and the linked articles you will understand: How providers compare in the way they offer critical illness plans for children How eligibility, age and sum assured limits differ across providers Who supports and pays what if children are hospitalised or...
Everything you need to know about enhanced critical illness payments
In reading this and the linked articles you will understand: The circumstances in which providers make enhanced claim payments. How providers differ in their approaches for a variety of enhanced payment conditions. The limits, exclusions or other restrictions that can...
Making changes to in force critical illness plans – Everything you need to know
In reading this and the linked articles you will understand: Provider and product details on a range of flexibility options included in critical illness plans How those options help customers with changing needs ensure their cover remains relevant How they can help...
Value Added Services – Everything you need to know
In reading this article you will understand: Granular detail about a range of popular Added Value Services that providers offer and how providers compare What products each service is offer on How such services are provided Restrictions that apply Which providers our...
Insuring Couples – Everything you need to know
In reading this and the linked articles you will understand: The merits of two single life or joint life plans The benefits of menu plans and how providers offer different approaches How providers support clients when one partner works, or becomes a carer or if the...
Family income benefit features – Everything you need to know
The world we live in has changed immeasurably over the last 12 months but if there is any positive to take away it is that the pandemic, and especially the furlough scheme, has opened many consumers eyes to the benefits of replacing income when the worst happen. It’s...
Supporting the claims process – Everything you need to know
As the pandemic reaches new heights, and we all hunker down for another full lockdown, it’s likely that we’ll see increasing claims in 2021. Whether these continue to be dominated by income protection and life, or an expected increase in critical illness claims will...
What were the big product developments in the second half of 2020? Everything you need to know
It is fair to say that by the second half of 2020, insurers had got over the initial shock of the pandemic and started to return to business as normal (whatever that was). Whilst there was and still is a lot of focus on getting cases underwritten in difficult...
What were the big product developments in the first half of 2020? Everything you need to know
With much of the focus this year being centered around insurer reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic, product developments (certainly in the first half of the year) were fairly limited. That being said there were a number of very significant enhancements made by insurers...
Features that can be added to critical illness – Everything you need to know
In the simplest of terms a critical illness plan is there to provide money when the client suffers a critical illness! That’s what ‘it says on the tin’, but today’s plans offer clients so much more than that. An array of available features really can make critical...
What cover is offered in advance of a plan being put in force… everything you need to know
Over the last six months there has been a lot of focus about the length of time it can take to get cover in place, especially when medical underwriting is required. The reasons behind this are numerous and the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the debate and desire to...
When is medical evidence automatically requested… Everything you need to know
For most clients, submitting an application where there are no medical or other disclosures will mean that terms are offered pretty quickly. Such clients are usually deemed as relatively low risk and as such medical evidence will not be required. Where the client is...
Claims… Everything you need to know
Nobody wants to have to make a claim on a life insurance policy, however when a life changing illness or injury happens the reassurance of the financial security they bring can quite literally save a persons life. Our industry is quite rightly proud of the number of...
Everything you need to know about… How children are covered on critical illness policies
Raising children is one of the greatest joys in life but also one of the biggest responsibilities. Not only do you financially support your children, you also need to give them your time. Nobody wants to think about doing these things in the context of their children...
Free Cover
Which insurers offer free cover for critical illness?
In reading this article you will understand: Which providers offer free cover during underwriting and free cover during mortgage completion on critial illness cover What the limits for the free cover are in terms of sum assured and time frames The exclusions that...
What cover is offered in advance of a plan being put in force… everything you need to know
Over the last six months there has been a lot of focus about the length of time it can take to get cover in place, especially when medical underwriting is required. The reasons behind this are numerous and the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the debate and desire to...
Which policies cover critical illness during underwriting?
For many advisers, the coronavirus pandemic has led to an increase in protection enquiries. This is great news, however social distancing and the strain the virus has placed on the NHS has meant that obtaining medical evidence for clients with disclosures has in some...
How do insurers help get Critical Illness in force quicker?
There are many reasons why a client might need cover in place quickly, however where medical underwriting is required, this may not always be possible. Likewise, where cover is being put in place to cover a mortgage it is important for the client to be insured from...
Funeral Cover
Children’s funeral cover – how providers compare
In reading this article you will understand How critical illness plans can help clients cover the cost of a child’s funeral Which providers and which of their products offer this benefit How much those providers pay Organising a funeral for a loved one is stressful...
Funeral Cover – Which insurers give more?
The passing of a loved one is an emotional and stressful event. At a time where a family will understandably want to grieve, the last thing they want to think about is how they are going to cover the associated costs, such as the funeral. In this article, we look at...
Guaranteed insurability options
Increasing life and critical illness cover without underwriting – how providers compare
In reading this article you will understand What Guaranteed Insurability Options (GIOs) are and how they help clients whose circumstances change How providers differ in their approach to GIOs in differing life circumstances The limits and restrictions insurers place...
How flexible are protection plans for renters?
The current squeeze on mortgage lending, and the increasingly large deposits needed, more people are staying in the rental sector. According to Zoopla’s September 2020 Rental Index, demand is still outstripping supply in many markets, underpinning rental growth. If...
When can family income benefit be increased without underwriting?
As the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted protecting a clients income is a vital part of any advice process. Whereas income protection will replace lost income due to a clients’ inability to work through ill health, Family income Benefit will replace a family’s lost...
Everything you need to know about when cover can be increased without underwriting
When recommending protection to a client, advisers will weigh up many different factors in order to ascertain the right policies and the right level of cover. This will include factors such as current income/expenditure, liabilities and what their family might need if...
When can life and critical illness cover be increased without underwriting?
Submitting a life or critical illness application for anyone that has or is suffering from symptoms related to COVID-19 will almost certainly lead to a postponement of terms being offered. Where a client has no other cover in place there is little that can be done...
Minimum/maximum limits
Age limits – Everything you need to know
In reading this and the linked articles you will understand: The age limits, at entry and expiry that providers apply to clients for different types of products How these affect different client groups from children to older adults Limitations placed on maximum...
what are the limits for childrens critical illness cover?
In reading this article you will understand: The age limits that apply to children’s critical illness cover and how providers differ What providers will pay for a child critical illness claim and what limits apply Which providers can extend their support to include...
Who has the broadest age criteria for critical illness cover?
Advisers with a diverse client base need to be able to place protection business for clients across the age spectrum. With age being an important factor when selecting critical-illness cover, particularly as it has cost implications for the client, it helps to know...
who has the broadest eligibility for children’s critical illness cover?
There’s no point talking to clients about the children’s element of any given critical-illness plan until you know whether their children meet the eligibility criteria. Advisers might know their favourite insurers’ plans inside out and wax lyrical about the range of...
Underwriting limits
When is medical evidence automatically requested… Everything you need to know
For most clients, submitting an application where there are no medical or other disclosures will mean that terms are offered pretty quickly. Such clients are usually deemed as relatively low risk and as such medical evidence will not be required. Where the client is...
When do Critical Illness Policies require Medical Evidence? – How different insurers compare
Updated: 14/04/2020 As many advisers will understand, long delays between a client agreeing to put a protection plan in place and them being accepted can often lead to NTU’s. One of the main reasons for long delays is an insurer requiring medical evidence and...
How to get High Sum Assured Critical Illness plans on risk quickly
Putting a policy on risk quickly can often be the difference between a NTU and in force policy. So what can be done to minimise delays when medical evidence is needed? Having a good understanding of what will trigger requests for such evidence can make a difference...
Waiver of premium
Waiver of premium – how insurers compare
In reading this article you will understand: What waiver of premium is and how it can help clients maintain cover if they are unable to work and maintain their premiums The different deferred periods available and how providers’ propositions differ The maximum ages to...
Will Guardian’s approach to Waiver of Premium trigger changes in market practice?
The financial impact of becoming ill or injured and unable to work can mean that clients' will need to cut costs. Cancelling a life or critical illness policy to save the premiums could leave the client at greater financial risk. In this article, we look at how this...
Income Protection
Added value benefits
Which insurers provide nutritional support to clients and how do they compare?
In reading this article you will understand Which providers offer nutritional support to clients The details on how these services differ in terms of who can access the service, how, the consultation methods, and the nutritional areas covered Which providers have the...
helping clients recover after a critical illness – how insurers compare
In reading this article you will understand Which providers offer rehabilitation services to critical illness clients aiding their recovery after a serious illness What therapies are available from each provider and how the services are offered Restrictions that apply...
Value Added Services – Everything you need to know
In reading this article you will understand: Granular detail about a range of popular Added Value Services that providers offer and how providers compare What products each service is offer on How such services are provided Restrictions that apply Which providers our...
Health checks – how providers compare
In reading this article you will understand: Which providers offer health check services to protection clients The differing ways in which providers carry out their health checks and who does what Which members of the live assured’s family, if any, can access each...
Second medical opinion services – how insurers compare
In reading this article you will understand: Which insurers do / do not offer a second medical opinion service for clients and if they are provided in-house or by third party suppliers Which family members can access the service, beyond the life assured How...
Who offers access to GP services and how do they compare?
In reading this article you will understand: Which providers offer GP services to protection clients Apart from the insured, who else can access GP services and any restrictions that apply How many times per annum these services can be used Many clients would welcome...
Blue monday – how providers’ mental health support compares
Today is ‘Blue Monday’ which is claimed to be the most depressing day of the year. It’s origin comes from the fact that we’ll probably have bad weather, we still have dark nights, Christmas is over, there’s a long stretch to next pay-day and many New Year’s...
Can added value benefits keep the north pole running?
Over the last couple of years “added value benefits” have become a core component of most protection plans. It seems that every insurer now offers wider benefits that can help consumers stay healthy both in mind and body as well as benefits that can improve recovery...
How different would ‘A Christmas Carol’ be if key characters had insurance?
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is one of the most famous Christmas stories and has been told numerous times on stage, screen and even by the Muppets. Have you ever wondered however, how different the story might have turned out if some of the key characters had...
What to expect from Aviva’s DigiCare+ for individual policyholders
On the 30th September, Aviva launched their new and innovative DigiCare+ benefits package to members of their group income protection and group critical illness schemes. Next week, the much anticipated launch of DigiCare+ for individual protection customers goes live...
FRACTURE COVER – WHO OFFERS WHAT?
A simple accident, and a broken bone, can easily lead to unforeseen financial stress particularly for those who have physically demanding occupations. Fractures can make it difficult or even impossible for clients to work for weeks or even months whilst they...
Nutritional support – who offers what?
We’re all familiar these days with the benefits of good nutrition as part of a healthy lifestyle. Putting the right and best ‘fuel in the tank’ is the start point to a healthier lifestyle and the services offered by a nutritionist can help us all understand things...
National Fitness Day – How do insurers help improve a clients’ fitness?
Tomorrow marks national fitness day across the UK, which is designed to raise awareness of the importance of leading a healthier and active lifestyle. Regular exercise can help reduce the risk of major illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer by up...
Improving lives through health checks
The old saying that ‘prevention is better than cure’ may be a cliché but like many well-worn phrases, it contains more than a grain of truth. Ask anyone who is living with a health condition that has impaired their quality of life and, given the choice, they would...
Which insurers help reduce the risk of illness through nutritional support
Prevention is better than a cure. It’s a phrase we are all familiar with but in an industry that provides valuable financial support to customers when the worst happens, should we be doing more to help prevent the scenarios we insure against in the first place? There...
Helping Clients Return to Work Quicker – Who Offers The Best Rehab Services?
The loss of ability to earn due to injury or illness can have devastating effects, not only on immediate income but also potential future income. A sustained period of absence could mean that a client may need to upskill quickly in order to catch up with the...
Which insurers help clients obtain better medical care abroad?
The NHS is generally seen as one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Whilst the range of treatments available in the UK are vast, how would your clients cope if more effective or even lifesaving treatment was only available elsewhere in the world? In this...
Are all second medical opinion services the same?
As focus shifts from price led protection to quality led protection; demand for additional benefits from insurers will only continue to grow. Second medical opinion services are one such added benefit. It provides clients with the ability to confirm or dismiss doubts...
Providing Emotional Support – How Do Counselling Services Differ?
The impact of losing a loved one, becoming seriously ill or injured affects far more than just a consumer’s financial life. Additionally in the current environment there are a lot of people who are suffering stress related to the impact of COVID-19 on their family and...
Benefit payment period
Claims
Zurich’s Claims Stats highlight Fracture cover is not just for active clients
A broken bone or ligament tear can have severe implications on our ability to carry out day to day tasks. It is also something that is not unfamiliar as it is not uncommon to pass someone on the street in a cast (when we could pass people on the street) or see someone...
Support during claims – how providers compare
In reading this article you will understand How providers support clients and advisers during the claims process What events trigger a claims progress update, how insurers communicate and processes to keep advisers up to date on directly notified claims How providers...
How income protection providers help with a hospital stay
In reading this article you will understand What hospitalisation benefit is and how it helps income protection clients Which providers offer hospitalisation and on which income protection products How insurers differ in their approach With human nature being what it...
Supporting the claims process – Everything you need to know
As the pandemic reaches new heights, and we all hunker down for another full lockdown, it’s likely that we’ll see increasing claims in 2021. Whether these continue to be dominated by income protection and life, or an expected increase in critical illness claims will...
What to expect from claims in 2021
In the second edition of our ‘thoughts on 2021’ series, we consider claims. With the pandemic reaching new heights it is likely that the spike we saw in claims in 2020 will continue into 2021, but will these claims continue to be predominately for Income Protection...
Can added value benefits keep the north pole running?
Over the last couple of years “added value benefits” have become a core component of most protection plans. It seems that every insurer now offers wider benefits that can help consumers stay healthy both in mind and body as well as benefits that can improve recovery...
who offers the best support during income protection claims?
Should your client need to claim on their income protection plan it means the worst has literally happened. With their ability to earn an income curtailed clients will be worried about their future and so need all the support they can get to make it through a tough...
The LOWDOWN ON LINKED CLAIMS
There are many reasons why people do the jobs they do. Doing something they enjoy and are good at, helping others and having a purpose in life are all very valid reasons for working. However, for most people, the main reason for working is to earn money to live on and...
Claims… Everything you need to know
Nobody wants to have to make a claim on a life insurance policy, however when a life changing illness or injury happens the reassurance of the financial security they bring can quite literally save a persons life. Our industry is quite rightly proud of the number of...
How one adviser is using her experience to highlight the benefit of protection
As many advisers know stories behind protection claims can be a powerful tool to help clients understand the importance of protection. Claims statistics can highlight that the industry does pay the vast majority of claims, but the stories behind these claims show the...
The stories behind Income Protection Claims
Income Protection provides far more than just financial support to those that are unable to work due to injury or ill health. Within this page we have brought together a selection of videos that explore the impact that having income protection has had on a number of...
Going the extra mile – Aviva’s new claims initiatives
At Protection Guru, we are always interested to hear how insurers are going above and beyond what might be reasonably expected of them. In terms of claims, we expect insurers to pay all valid claims, however it is often the little touches that a client may not expect...
Which insurers offer the best support during claims?
Protection policy holders will hope that they or their family never have to make a claim on their protection plan(s). In the current environment however it is likely that insurers will experience a dramatic increase in claims across all benefit types and at such times...
Deferred Periods
which insurers apply Covid exclusions to income protection
Few areas of our lives remain untouched by Covid-19 and the protection market is no exception. People who have been furloughed, lost their jobs, seen their usual income fall or are worried about falling ill with Covid-19 may have a lot of questions to ask about...
Income protection deferred periods – who offers what?
In reading this article you will understand: Why choosing the right deferred period on income protection plans is important and the factors that can influence recommendations. The different deferred periods available and how providers’ propositions differ across their...
Waived deferred periods for linked income protection claims – how insurers compare
In reading this article you will understand: What ‘linked claims’ are and how they help clients who need to claim again on income protection plans shortly after a return to work The differences in the ways providers support linked claims How the claims process differs...
Who provides more relevant Income Protection cover for teachers?
As we enter ‘Lockdown II’ with schools closed until at least February half term, teachers again become front and centre of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is widely accepted that teaching is stressful profession and the last 12 months will not have eased any of those...
LV= reintroduce 1 day & 1 Week deferred periods
It is fair to say that COVID-19 decimated the short deferred period market, with all but one insurer pulling their one day and one week options in pretty quick order. Given the landscape it was quite understandable, however it left a massive gap for those that may...
income protection for the non-working partner – who does what?
The need for income protection cover has become even more apparent during the Covid crisis, when the furlough scheme really brought to the fore the importance of the ability to maintain and income. Usually when advisers talk of protecting income they naturally...
The LOWDOWN ON LINKED CLAIMS
There are many reasons why people do the jobs they do. Doing something they enjoy and are good at, helping others and having a purpose in life are all very valid reasons for working. However, for most people, the main reason for working is to earn money to live on and...
Making income protection add up for teachers
After four months of home schooling during the Coronavirus lockdown, the pressure on teachers is mounting. Tasked with getting children safely back into school to catch up – thereby getting parents back into work to help the ailing British economy – there is a lot of...
Which insurers are still offering short deferred periods?
Selecting the right deferred period is one of the most important considerations when recommending an income protection plan. Insurers offer a range of different options to meet client needs, however the COVID-19 pandemic has led to some insurers making changes and...
Everything you need to know
Addressing the income needs of different demographics – Everything you need to know
Income protection plans should be the foundation of every clients financial planning. The base upon which resiliance can be added to other finances; from the house they call home, through family holidays (when we can again) to those special little treats that make a...
Additional payments on Income Protection Plans – Everything you need to know
In reading this and the linked articles you will understand: The circumstances in which income protection providers can provide either faster or additional payments to clients Which providers pay what for Fracture cover, Trauma benefit, Terminal illnesses and...
Helping a client return to work – Everything you need to know
Who helps clients return to work? – Everything you need to know In reading this and the linked articles you will understand: The support providers offer clients claiming on income protection to help their return to work The wide range of services available and how...
Value Added Services – Everything you need to know
In reading this article you will understand: Granular detail about a range of popular Added Value Services that providers offer and how providers compare What products each service is offer on How such services are provided Restrictions that apply Which providers our...
Supporting the claims process – Everything you need to know
As the pandemic reaches new heights, and we all hunker down for another full lockdown, it’s likely that we’ll see increasing claims in 2021. Whether these continue to be dominated by income protection and life, or an expected increase in critical illness claims will...
What were the big product developments in the second half of 2020? Everything you need to know
It is fair to say that by the second half of 2020, insurers had got over the initial shock of the pandemic and started to return to business as normal (whatever that was). Whilst there was and still is a lot of focus on getting cases underwritten in difficult...
What were the big product developments in the first half of 2020? Everything you need to know
With much of the focus this year being centered around insurer reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic, product developments (certainly in the first half of the year) were fairly limited. That being said there were a number of very significant enhancements made by insurers...
Deferred periods on income protection – everything you need to know
Clients taking income protection will all have different circumstances which will drive the deferred periods they choose when setting up their plan. A level of savings may mean clients can opt for a longer deferred period and reduce the cost of their plan as a result....
Income Protection Product Features – Everything you need to know
I read a thought article earlier this week that suggested income protection plans were far too complicated and sales were still the poor relation to life and critical illness. Whilst it’s still true that IP sales do lag behind life and critical illness cover by some...
Claims… Everything you need to know
Nobody wants to have to make a claim on a life insurance policy, however when a life changing illness or injury happens the reassurance of the financial security they bring can quite literally save a persons life. Our industry is quite rightly proud of the number of...
Everything you need to know about when cover can be increased without underwriting
When recommending protection to a client, advisers will weigh up many different factors in order to ascertain the right policies and the right level of cover. This will include factors such as current income/expenditure, liabilities and what their family might need if...
Funeral Cover
Which income protection plans pay a lump sum on death?
In reading this article you will understand: Which providers offer a lump sum death benefit on their income protection plans How each provider calculates the funeral benefits Through examples, how much each provider would pay at different benefit levels Income...
Funeral Cover – Which insurers give more?
The passing of a loved one is an emotional and stressful event. At a time where a family will understandably want to grieve, the last thing they want to think about is how they are going to cover the associated costs, such as the funeral. In this article, we look at...
Guaranteed insurability options
Increasing income protection without underwriting – How do insurers compare?
When the American mathematician John Allen Paulos said that uncertainty is the only certainty there is, he perfectly summed up the protection industry’s view on life. Despite our best laid plans, none of us knows what’s around the corner, for good or bad. Life can...
How flexible are protection plans for renters?
The current squeeze on mortgage lending, and the increasingly large deposits needed, more people are staying in the rental sector. According to Zoopla’s September 2020 Rental Index, demand is still outstripping supply in many markets, underpinning rental growth. If...
Everything you need to know about when cover can be increased without underwriting
When recommending protection to a client, advisers will weigh up many different factors in order to ascertain the right policies and the right level of cover. This will include factors such as current income/expenditure, liabilities and what their family might need if...
Aviva add renter specific options to Income Protection
Generation rent is a term that is used regularly to describe the increasing number of renters in society today. Whilst the term generally refers to the volume of young adults who rent due to high house prices, there remains a significant proportion of older adults...
Who makes it easier to increase Income protection?
If there is one thing you can be sure about, it is that you cannot be sure what your clients’ circumstances will be in the future. In terms of protecting your clients income, regular changes to earned income and expenditure can mean that an income protection plan put...
Minimum/maximum limits
Age limits – Everything you need to know
In reading this and the linked articles you will understand: The age limits, at entry and expiry that providers apply to clients for different types of products How these affect different client groups from children to older adults Limitations placed on maximum...
Income Protection: How do minimum benefit guarantees measure up?
In reading this article you will understand: What minimum benefit guarantees are on income protection plans and how they benefit clients How providers’ minimum benefit guarantees including qualification criteria and minimum payment levels How providers’ proposition...
Which income protection plans offer cover to older clients?
Some insurers are better than others when it comes to making their income protection plans accessible to older clients. Plenty of advisers will have older clients who continue to work beyond the state retirement age, whether through choice or necessity. Many of these...
Which insurers offer the highest Income Protection benefit?
When recommending an income protection plan, there are many factors that need to be understood in order to select the right level of benefit. The clients’ expenditure is clearly critically important as this ultimately is what is being protected however, in many cases...
income protection for the non-working partner – who does what?
The need for income protection cover has become even more apparent during the Covid crisis, when the furlough scheme really brought to the fore the importance of the ability to maintain and income. Usually when advisers talk of protecting income they naturally...
The Minimum Benefit Guarantee – A Safety net for Income Protection plans
Changes in working patterns is causing greater fluctuations in individuals’ income during their careers. Workers are increasingly making career moves or switching to part-time roles as they grow older, which could see their income level fall. As well as changing...
How much will Income Protection plans pay if you become unemployed?
With the rise of the gig economy and flexible working the status quo of staying in the same 9 to 5 job for most or all of one’s career is becoming a thing of the past. A side effect of this is that there will be greater uncertainty for consumers over the benefits...
Occupations
Addressing the income needs of different demographics – Everything you need to know
Income protection plans should be the foundation of every clients financial planning. The base upon which resiliance can be added to other finances; from the house they call home, through family holidays (when we can again) to those special little treats that make a...
income protection for nhs professionals – how providers compare
In reading this article you will understand: How the NHS sick pay scheme works. Which providers offer income protection plans that match the NHS sick pay scheme and for which occupations. What an enhanced minimum benefit guarantee is and which providers offer it. As...
Who provides more relevant Income Protection cover for teachers?
As we enter ‘Lockdown II’ with schools closed until at least February half term, teachers again become front and centre of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is widely accepted that teaching is stressful profession and the last 12 months will not have eased any of those...
income protection for the non-working partner – who does what?
The need for income protection cover has become even more apparent during the Covid crisis, when the furlough scheme really brought to the fore the importance of the ability to maintain and income. Usually when advisers talk of protecting income they naturally...
Making income protection add up for teachers
After four months of home schooling during the Coronavirus lockdown, the pressure on teachers is mounting. Tasked with getting children safely back into school to catch up – thereby getting parents back into work to help the ailing British economy – there is a lot of...
Which income protection plans offer support for carers?
A policy briefing by Carers UK in August 2019 found that there are approximately 6.5 million people in the UK providing unpaid care. Whilst a large proportion of these people were providing care for elderly relatives, it also shows that a significant proportion are...
How much will Income Protection plans pay if you become unemployed?
With the rise of the gig economy and flexible working the status quo of staying in the same 9 to 5 job for most or all of one’s career is becoming a thing of the past. A side effect of this is that there will be greater uncertainty for consumers over the benefits...
Return to work
How do insurers help income protection clients needing a career change?
In reading this article you will understand: Which providers offer support services to help income protection clients change their career upon their return to work What specific support each provider is able to offer clients The ways those services are offered and...
helping clients recover after a critical illness – how insurers compare
In reading this article you will understand Which providers offer rehabilitation services to critical illness clients aiding their recovery after a serious illness What therapies are available from each provider and how the services are offered Restrictions that apply...
Helping a client return to work – Everything you need to know
Who helps clients return to work? – Everything you need to know In reading this and the linked articles you will understand: The support providers offer clients claiming on income protection to help their return to work The wide range of services available and how...
Supporting clients returning to work – how insurers compare
In reading this article you will understand: Which providers engage with the client’s employer to support both parties with a return to work plan What client circumstances trigger rehabilitation support from providers and how these differ Which providers employ third...
How do income protection providers support clients returning to work on a limited basis?
Returning to work after a period of incapacity can be a daunting prospect. If the absence has been over a long period, as is the case in many situations where an income protection policy has been claimed on, the return to work may be part of a phased plan where they...
Career support services – who does what?
Unfortunately, some clients who make a claim on their income protection policy will be unable to return to the same job they did before they had an accident or became ill. For example, they may have claimed on their policy for stress, so a less stressful or...
The LOWDOWN ON LINKED CLAIMS
There are many reasons why people do the jobs they do. Doing something they enjoy and are good at, helping others and having a purpose in life are all very valid reasons for working. However, for most people, the main reason for working is to earn money to live on and...
Helping Clients Return to Work Quicker – Who Offers The Best Rehab Services?
The loss of ability to earn due to injury or illness can have devastating effects, not only on immediate income but also potential future income. A sustained period of absence could mean that a client may need to upskill quickly in order to catch up with the...
Providing Emotional Support – How Do Counselling Services Differ?
The impact of losing a loved one, becoming seriously ill or injured affects far more than just a consumer’s financial life. Additionally in the current environment there are a lot of people who are suffering stress related to the impact of COVID-19 on their family and...
Short Term Benefit
Catering for cost-conscious clients with short-term income protection – how providers compare
In reading this article you will understand What Short Term Income Protection (STIP) plans are and how they can help clients on a limited budget What short term benefits payment periods are available from different providers The differing ways providers treat...
State Benefits
How to compare income protection to state benefits
As people that work within the protection industry we are all well aware of the financial impact could be if a client fell ill and was unable to work. As an industry we are also aware that for most clients state benefits will not be sufficient to cover their essential...
Why Universal Credit should not impact Income Protection recommendations – Tom Baigrie explains
The re-energised ABI Protection Committee and their policy team held a fascinating Round Table late last month, at which they unveiled a New Policy Institute (NPI) report on the impact of individual income protection (IP) on Universal Credit (UC), and the implication...
How will Universal Credit impact Income Protection policies?
The introduction of Universal Credit has led to much confusion about how protection policies impact a consumer’s ability to receive state benefits. After excellent work from the Income Protection Taskforce and Building Resilient Households Group the DWP has provided...
sum assured limits
Aviva increases maximum Income Protection Benefit
When recommending an income protection plan, there are many factors that need to be understood in order to select the right level of benefit. The client’s expenditure is clearly critically important as this ultimately is what is being protected however, in many cases...
Getting the maximum amount of income protection for a client
A client’s level of income inevitably changes throughout their working life. The source of that income may also change which can pose challenges for their adviser when looking for a suitable Income Protection plan. Naturally, advisers will seek to ensure clients have...
Terminal Illness
WHICH INCOME PROTECTION PROVIDERS OFFER THE BEST SUPPORT FOR TERMINALLY ILL CLIENTS?
When someone receives the devastating news that they do not have long to live, their emotional responses will vary. Feelings of shock and grief may be difficult for some people to comes to terms with and there is a risk that these feelings can turn into depression....
Underwriting limits
Non-medical underwriting limits for income protection – how insurers compare
Last week we looked at how LV= increased the non-medical limits on their income protection plans. As we re-enter lockdown and the vaccine rollout programme starts we are sure to feel the effect of an overstretched NHS in the provision of medical evidence for...
LV= increase non-medical limits for FPP Income Protection
With the country returning to enforced lockdown, many hospitals at capacity and an ambitious vaccination program being rolled out, the NHS will inevitably be stretched for some time. Understandably every resource should be directed at combating the pandemic, however...
Legal & General Increase Non medical underwriting limits for income protection
The subject of underwriting has been an extremely hot topic in recent times with many advisers raising concerns over the length of time it can take to obtain medical evidence. Where there are medical disclosures within an application this may be difficult to avoid,...
When is medical evidence automatically requested… Everything you need to know
For most clients, submitting an application where there are no medical or other disclosures will mean that terms are offered pretty quickly. Such clients are usually deemed as relatively low risk and as such medical evidence will not be required. Where the client is...
When is medical evidence automatically requested on Income Protection?
Updated: 27/04/2020 The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly put a strain on the NHS in recent times. As such any application referred to underwriting and requiring medical evidence has in many cases taken much longer to progress. Where a client has underlying health issues...
Business Protection
Added value benefits
Which insurers provide nutritional support to clients and how do they compare?
In reading this article you will understand Which providers offer nutritional support to clients The details on how these services differ in terms of who can access the service, how, the consultation methods, and the nutritional areas covered Which providers have the...
Value Added Services – Everything you need to know
In reading this article you will understand: Granular detail about a range of popular Added Value Services that providers offer and how providers compare What products each service is offer on How such services are provided Restrictions that apply Which providers our...
Which insurers offer legal support to businesses?
In reading this article you will understand: Which providers offer legal advice services to business protection clients and how they differ The distinction between legal advice and legal guidance Which legal areas the providers’ services can advise on The proceeds...
Health checks – how providers compare
In reading this article you will understand: Which providers offer health check services to protection clients The differing ways in which providers carry out their health checks and who does what Which members of the live assured’s family, if any, can access each...
Second medical opinion services – how insurers compare
In reading this article you will understand: Which insurers do / do not offer a second medical opinion service for clients and if they are provided in-house or by third party suppliers Which family members can access the service, beyond the life assured How...
Who offers access to GP services and how do they compare?
In reading this article you will understand: Which providers offer GP services to protection clients Apart from the insured, who else can access GP services and any restrictions that apply How many times per annum these services can be used Many clients would welcome...
Blue monday – how providers’ mental health support compares
Today is ‘Blue Monday’ which is claimed to be the most depressing day of the year. It’s origin comes from the fact that we’ll probably have bad weather, we still have dark nights, Christmas is over, there’s a long stretch to next pay-day and many New Year’s...
Can added value benefits keep the north pole running?
Over the last couple of years “added value benefits” have become a core component of most protection plans. It seems that every insurer now offers wider benefits that can help consumers stay healthy both in mind and body as well as benefits that can improve recovery...
How different would ‘A Christmas Carol’ be if key characters had insurance?
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is one of the most famous Christmas stories and has been told numerous times on stage, screen and even by the Muppets. Have you ever wondered however, how different the story might have turned out if some of the key characters had...
Small Business Saturday – Everything you need to know
Next Saturday, 5th December, is Small Business Saturday, a grassroots campaign which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to support small businesses in their communities. Now in its eighth year in the UK, the campaign has grown significantly...
FRACTURE COVER – WHO OFFERS WHAT?
A simple accident, and a broken bone, can easily lead to unforeseen financial stress particularly for those who have physically demanding occupations. Fractures can make it difficult or even impossible for clients to work for weeks or even months whilst they...
Nutritional support – who offers what?
We’re all familiar these days with the benefits of good nutrition as part of a healthy lifestyle. Putting the right and best ‘fuel in the tank’ is the start point to a healthier lifestyle and the services offered by a nutritionist can help us all understand things...
National Fitness Day – How do insurers help improve a clients’ fitness?
Tomorrow marks national fitness day across the UK, which is designed to raise awareness of the importance of leading a healthier and active lifestyle. Regular exercise can help reduce the risk of major illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer by up...
Improving lives through health checks
The old saying that ‘prevention is better than cure’ may be a cliché but like many well-worn phrases, it contains more than a grain of truth. Ask anyone who is living with a health condition that has impaired their quality of life and, given the choice, they would...
Helping Businesses Cope with the Loss of Key Personnel – What Additional Benefits Do Insurers Offer?
The loss of a key person or shareholder through death, injury or illness can have devastating effects on a company. Whilst companies can protect themselves financially in the short term via a key person or shareholder protection plan, such plans are evolving to...
Which insurers help reduce the risk of illness through nutritional support
Prevention is better than a cure. It’s a phrase we are all familiar with but in an industry that provides valuable financial support to customers when the worst happens, should we be doing more to help prevent the scenarios we insure against in the first place? There...
Helping Clients Return to Work Quicker – Who Offers The Best Rehab Services?
The loss of ability to earn due to injury or illness can have devastating effects, not only on immediate income but also potential future income. A sustained period of absence could mean that a client may need to upskill quickly in order to catch up with the...
Which insurers help clients obtain better medical care abroad?
The NHS is generally seen as one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Whilst the range of treatments available in the UK are vast, how would your clients cope if more effective or even lifesaving treatment was only available elsewhere in the world? In this...
Are all second medical opinion services the same?
As focus shifts from price led protection to quality led protection; demand for additional benefits from insurers will only continue to grow. Second medical opinion services are one such added benefit. It provides clients with the ability to confirm or dismiss doubts...
Providing Emotional Support – How Do Counselling Services Differ?
The impact of losing a loved one, becoming seriously ill or injured affects far more than just a consumer’s financial life. Additionally in the current environment there are a lot of people who are suffering stress related to the impact of COVID-19 on their family and...
Claims
Which insurers have the best buyback options?
In reading this article you will understand Which providers allow clients to reinstate cover free of underwriting after a successful claim through buyback option The range of buyback options available and which providers offer what Restrictions that apply in terms of...
Zurich’s Claims Stats highlight Fracture cover is not just for active clients
A broken bone or ligament tear can have severe implications on our ability to carry out day to day tasks. It is also something that is not unfamiliar as it is not uncommon to pass someone on the street in a cast (when we could pass people on the street) or see someone...
Supporting the claims process – Everything you need to know
As the pandemic reaches new heights, and we all hunker down for another full lockdown, it’s likely that we’ll see increasing claims in 2021. Whether these continue to be dominated by income protection and life, or an expected increase in critical illness claims will...
What to expect from claims in 2021
In the second edition of our ‘thoughts on 2021’ series, we consider claims. With the pandemic reaching new heights it is likely that the spike we saw in claims in 2020 will continue into 2021, but will these claims continue to be predominately for Income Protection...
Claims… Everything you need to know
Nobody wants to have to make a claim on a life insurance policy, however when a life changing illness or injury happens the reassurance of the financial security they bring can quite literally save a persons life. Our industry is quite rightly proud of the number of...
Going the extra mile – Aviva’s new claims initiatives
At Protection Guru, we are always interested to hear how insurers are going above and beyond what might be reasonably expected of them. In terms of claims, we expect insurers to pay all valid claims, however it is often the little touches that a client may not expect...
Which insurers offer the best support during claims?
Protection policy holders will hope that they or their family never have to make a claim on their protection plan(s). In the current environment however it is likely that insurers will experience a dramatic increase in claims across all benefit types and at such times...
Everything you need to know
Value Added Services – Everything you need to know
In reading this article you will understand: Granular detail about a range of popular Added Value Services that providers offer and how providers compare What products each service is offer on How such services are provided Restrictions that apply Which providers our...
Supporting the claims process – Everything you need to know
As the pandemic reaches new heights, and we all hunker down for another full lockdown, it’s likely that we’ll see increasing claims in 2021. Whether these continue to be dominated by income protection and life, or an expected increase in critical illness claims will...
What were the big product developments in the second half of 2020? Everything you need to know
It is fair to say that by the second half of 2020, insurers had got over the initial shock of the pandemic and started to return to business as normal (whatever that was). Whilst there was and still is a lot of focus on getting cases underwritten in difficult...
What were the big product developments in the first half of 2020? Everything you need to know
With much of the focus this year being centered around insurer reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic, product developments (certainly in the first half of the year) were fairly limited. That being said there were a number of very significant enhancements made by insurers...
Small Business Saturday – Everything you need to know
Next Saturday, 5th December, is Small Business Saturday, a grassroots campaign which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to support small businesses in their communities. Now in its eighth year in the UK, the campaign has grown significantly...
What cover is offered in advance of a plan being put in force… everything you need to know
Over the last six months there has been a lot of focus about the length of time it can take to get cover in place, especially when medical underwriting is required. The reasons behind this are numerous and the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the debate and desire to...
When is medical evidence automatically requested… Everything you need to know
For most clients, submitting an application where there are no medical or other disclosures will mean that terms are offered pretty quickly. Such clients are usually deemed as relatively low risk and as such medical evidence will not be required. Where the client is...
Claims… Everything you need to know
Nobody wants to have to make a claim on a life insurance policy, however when a life changing illness or injury happens the reassurance of the financial security they bring can quite literally save a persons life. Our industry is quite rightly proud of the number of...
Everything you need to know about when cover can be increased without underwriting
When recommending protection to a client, advisers will weigh up many different factors in order to ascertain the right policies and the right level of cover. This will include factors such as current income/expenditure, liabilities and what their family might need if...
Free Cover
Immediate cover vs Free Cover – What are the differences and who offers what?
In reading this article you will understand What Immediate Cover and Free Cover are and how they differ Which providers offer each type of cover and the restrictions that apply The advantages and disadvantages of Immediate Cover and Free Cover The death of anyone in...
WHICH INSURERS OFFER IMMEDIATE COVER FOR BUSINESS PROTECTION?
The death of any key person of shareholder can have a devastating effect on the ability of any business to continue to function properly and profitably. Small and medium enterprises especially are typically more reliant on a small number of key individuals at the top...
What cover is offered in advance of a plan being put in force… everything you need to know
Over the last six months there has been a lot of focus about the length of time it can take to get cover in place, especially when medical underwriting is required. The reasons behind this are numerous and the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the debate and desire to...
which insurers offer immediate cover for business protection?
The loss of a key person or shareholder though death or illness can have dire effects on a business’s ability to function. Once the need to protect against such circumstances is established, it is important to get cover in place as soon as possible to mitigate the...
Guaranteed insurability options
WHO HAS THE MOST GENEROUS GUARANTEED INSURABILTY OPTIONS ON BUSINESS PROTECTION?
Generous sum assured limits can be a lifeline for businesses that need to claim on their Key Person insurance. If the worst happens and someone who is crucial to a company becomes critically ill or dies, the repercussions can be huge without Key Person cover. There...
Everything you need to know about when cover can be increased without underwriting
When recommending protection to a client, advisers will weigh up many different factors in order to ascertain the right policies and the right level of cover. This will include factors such as current income/expenditure, liabilities and what their family might need if...
Which insurers make it easier to increase business protection?
Business protection can provide a financial lifeline to businesses by paying out a sum of money in the unfortunate event of the loss of a key person or partner/shareholder. Setting up a business protection policy to provide financial security to a company can be...
Who offers the most flexible and beneficial Separation Options for Life Protection?
Separation and divorce can be a harrowing and stressful time. Protection will often be the last thing that clients want to consider but when children or a substantial liability such as a mortgage is involved, keeping cover in place is vital. This week we consider how...
Minimum/maximum limits
Relevant Life sum assured limits – how insurers compare
In reading this article you will understand The maximum sums assured providers allow on relevant life plans The income sources that can be taken into account How providers approaches differ across the age ranges The sum assured is the heart of any life insurance...
Age limits – Everything you need to know
In reading this and the linked articles you will understand: The age limits, at entry and expiry that providers apply to clients for different types of products How these affect different client groups from children to older adults Limitations placed on maximum...
Age limits on business protection critical illness – how insurers compare
Some advice firms specialise in advising smaller businesses and helping clients obtain business protection is a key part of the service they offer. Given that there were around 5.9m small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK last year, comprising over 99 per...
Business protection life cover for older clients – who offers what?
Many advisers work with business owners who need some sort of business protection to protect their business if the worst happens. Some of these business owners requiring business life cover will be older or requiring cover for older employees that are crucial to the...
SUPPORTING ADVISERS SELLING BUSINESS PROTECTION: WHO OFFERS WHAT?
Selling to businesses often raises the stakes for advisers. Yes the problems, premiums and income are often bigger but it’s probably fair to say that businesses will have a high expectation of quality advice and an easy process. So it’s important for advisers to know...
Business Protection – Who offers the best support?
Business Protection is recognised as one of the more complex protection recommendations an adviser will make. Understanding not only the business’s need for protection, but also the monetary risk to the business of losing a key person or shareholder/partner for any...
Relevant Life
Why age is more than a number when researching relevant life cover – how providers compare
In reading this article you will understand What Relevant Life Plans are and the benefits they have for employees and employers The age limits that providers place on Relevant Life plans for entry and end date The maximum terms plans can run for given entry and exit...
How providers are making relevant life cover more relevant
We’re all aware how we’re living longer than previous generations, which has implications for how long people continue to work until they retire. The traditional retirement age of 65 has given way to a more flexible form of retirement where people often continue...
Underwriting limits
WHEN IS FINANCIAL EVIDENCE REQUIRED ON BUSINESS PROTECTION CASES?
The death of a key person or shareholder is likely to have significant impacts on a business and threaten its ability to continue running. With many business owners being time-poor, advisers will want to make sure the application and underwriting journey is as simple...
When is medical evidence automatically requested… Everything you need to know
For most clients, submitting an application where there are no medical or other disclosures will mean that terms are offered pretty quickly. Such clients are usually deemed as relatively low risk and as such medical evidence will not be required. Where the client is...
Product Updates
AEGON
AEGON announce first critical illness refresh in 4 years
It has been some time since AEGON last made any significant changes to their critical illness proposition, nearly four years in fact. In the intervening time, the critical illness market has changed considerably leaving the AEGON proposition feeling tired and out of...
AIG
AIG make welcome move towards impact based cover
In an ideal world, a critical illness plan would provide a payout whenever the client suffers from an injury or illness that has a significant impact on their life. The name of the condition in this case would be inconsequential with a successful claim being based on...
AIG’s Smart Health – Helping Clients Manage their Health and Wellbeing
Agree with the term or not, “added value benefits” have become a core feature of protection plans over the last couple of years with many insurers offering a wide range of services that complement the core cover being provided. Traditionally such services were aimed...
Aviva
Aviva to provide extra support WITH MACMILLAN for cancer sufferers
When asked at the turn of the year, what the industry should expect from claims in 2021, Aviva were very quick to state that delays in screenings would result in higher levels of more advanced cancer claims. In recognition of this they have extended their partnership...
what does Aviva’s non-medical limit changes really mean for advisers?
Aviva have announced today that they will be making changes to their non-medical underwriting limits on 6th December in order to “speed the on-boarding process of customers and provide greater flexibility and service”. In this article we review what the actual changes...
What to expect from Aviva’s DigiCare+ for individual policyholders
On the 30th September, Aviva launched their new and innovative DigiCare+ benefits package to members of their group income protection and group critical illness schemes. Next week, the much anticipated launch of DigiCare+ for individual protection customers goes live...
Aviva launch exceptional free Digital Health service for Group Income Protection & Critical Illness
Today Aviva have announced a significant new healthcare service for members of their Group Income Protection and Group Critical Illness schemes. Employees covered by Aviva under their Group Life schemes will not get these benefits free of charge, but their employers...
Aviva make moves to simplify critical illness wordings
The Aviva critical illness proposition has been a favourite of many advisers for some time. It provides clients with a wide range of options to suit a customers needs with additional options such as global treatment and extra care cover to further extend cover. With...
Aviva add renter specific options to Income Protection
Generation rent is a term that is used regularly to describe the increasing number of renters in society today. Whilst the term generally refers to the volume of young adults who rent due to high house prices, there remains a significant proportion of older adults...
Going the extra mile – Aviva’s new claims initiatives
At Protection Guru, we are always interested to hear how insurers are going above and beyond what might be reasonably expected of them. In terms of claims, we expect insurers to pay all valid claims, however it is often the little touches that a client may not expect...
Aviva reinstate medical requests and commit £15m to health charities
Adam Higgs' note: Aviva have made some very important announcements today both in terms of their approach to medical evidence and support for health charities, so we have given Mark Cracknell from Aviva the opportunity to explain their position in detail. COVID-19:...
Aviva increases maximum Income Protection Benefit
When recommending an income protection plan, there are many factors that need to be understood in order to select the right level of benefit. The client’s expenditure is clearly critically important as this ultimately is what is being protected however, in many cases...
How Aviva have used their claims experience to improve their Extra Care Cover
Claim statistics are used in a number of ways by different parties across the industry. They can tell us not only the number of claims paid but also what they were paid for and therefore help build both adviser and consumer confidence. Most insurers will have a team...
Aviva makes changes to their upgraded proposition
Over the last six months, Aviva have maintained their position of one of the market leaders in the critical illness market. Their coverage for adults remains strong, however the increasing competitiveness in children’s cover has seen several insurers come to market...
Canada Life
Canada Life make big changes to their critical illness proposition
In 2018 there were very few insurers that did not make changes to their critical illness proposition. So far 2019 has been relatively slow in comparison, however today sees Canada Life making their long-awaited move. With 37 new definitions, 27 condition wordings...
Guardian
Getting into the detail of Guardian update
Changes to critical illness wordings have come thick and fast over the last 24 months. A slight tweak to a wording here and a new condition added there no doubt leads to better coverage in most cases, however this is only offered to new cases. Today, Guardian have put...
Brief but huge advice opportunity following Guardian announcement
Since their launch in May last year, the industry has been eagerly awaiting the first cover upgrade by Guardian and particularly how they will apply their “Cover Upgrade Promise”. Todays announcement that such an upgrade is in the pipeline and that existing customers...
A first look at the highly innovative new protection products from Guardian
Guardians new product range will stimulate even more competition in the protection market, for the benefit of consumers and advisers. This summary explores key issues to consider when exploring their products. Amid much market anticipation, the day has finally...
Holloway Friendly
Holloway Friendly extend payment holiday option
Holloway Friendly have announced today that they are extending their payment holiday facility until September 2021. The facility, initially introduced on 16th April 2021, had been due to expire in April however this extension will be welcome to many clients that are...
Holloway friendly remove covid exclusions on most deferred periods
One of the great achievements from the industry over the past year was the fact that the pandemic led to relatively little change in protection products. Income protection was the product that perhaps endured the most scrutiny as all insurers either removed or applied...
Some Good Things and Some Bad – Holloway Friendly’s revised One2Protect plan
In reading this article you will understand: The changes Holloway Friendly have made to their One2Protect plan How their Rental GIO works and how this compares to other providers How the changes affect those with fluctuating incomes There have been far fewer changes...
HSBC
Legal & General
Legal & General Increase Non medical underwriting limits for income protection
The subject of underwriting has been an extremely hot topic in recent times with many advisers raising concerns over the length of time it can take to obtain medical evidence. Where there are medical disclosures within an application this may be difficult to avoid,...
Legal & GEneral add new plans to income protection proposition
Any regular reader of Protection Guru will know that we love a comprehensive protection plan. We also recognise that a comprehensive and feature packed plan, will usually be more costly and not every client will be able to afford the higher premiums. Having options to...
Legal & General launches dedicated tools to help advisers offer Income Protection products to renters
Today Legal & General become the latest insurer to launch dedicated tools to help advisers looking to offer Income Protection products to renters. They have launched an adviser toolkit as part of the rental protection area in their website...
COVID & NOVAD – Legal & General embrace new approach to trusts
During the period of lockdown, advisers have had to find new ways of interacting with clients. The use of digital services have been a real enabler to carrying out tasks that were taken for granted when face-to-face meetings were possible. When it comes to completing...
Legal & General Upgrades Critical Illness Proposition
It is fair to say that the raft of critical illness upgrades and changes made throughout 2018 left Legal & General somewhat behind in the comprehensive end of the market as a number of insurers broadened their cover beyond what was available through the CIx...
How does Legal & General’s new Critical Illness proposition compare?
The critical illness market has undergone a transformation recently. Not long ago Aviva started the ball rolling by introducing their standard and upgraded propositions. Since then Royal London, Legal & General, and Vitality to name just three have all introduced...
How does Legal & General’s new Child Critical Illness offering compare?
Children’s cover is promoted by many insurers as one of the factors that most frequently lead to Critical Illness policies paying claims. For clients' with, or planning to have, children it may be a very attractive feature. Legal & General’s announcement today...
LV=
LV= increase non-medical limits for FPP Income Protection
With the country returning to enforced lockdown, many hospitals at capacity and an ambitious vaccination program being rolled out, the NHS will inevitably be stretched for some time. Understandably every resource should be directed at combating the pandemic, however...
LV= reintroduce 1 day & 1 Week deferred periods
It is fair to say that COVID-19 decimated the short deferred period market, with all but one insurer pulling their one day and one week options in pretty quick order. Given the landscape it was quite understandable, however it left a massive gap for those that may...
LV=’s new and improved family income benefit offering
At Protection Guru we love Family Income Benefit plans. As a decreasing plan it is often a more cost effective way of protecting a clients family in the event of their death or terminal illness and provides an ongoing income to help them meet their day to day...
LV= Launch Enhanced Children’s Cover
During the last few months the critical illness market has been relatively quiet with regard to enhancements as insurers have rightly been tackling the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought. In the first upgrade announcement since the lockdown measures...
LV= introduce big Critical Illness changes
Throughout 2018 and 2019 there were a spate of changes in the critical illness market, with most insurers making a raft of alterations and additions largely to the benefit of consumers. Throughout this period, it was noticeable that a small number of insurers did not...
Unique new features added to LV=’s Income Protection plan
With the current pace of product development in the protection market, maintaining a position of market leader requires fresh thinking. Product updates have to focus on providing features that are valuable to clients and not just ticks in the box. Today, LV= have...
Royal London
Can Royal London help advisers sell the “value of Menu”?
When assessing the protection needs of a client it is unlikely that just one plan will meet all of their needs. For all but the smallest minority of clients, protecting their income in the event of ill health will be the most imminent need, however if you look at...
Can Royal London’s “Underwrite Later” answer advisers medical evidence woes?
In reading this article you will understand: How the Royal London ‘Underwrite Later’ initiative will benefit your business protection clients How the process works. Time limits or sum assured limits that apply. Over the last year, perhaps the biggest issue advisers...
Royal London launch an alternative to trusts
Putting a life policy in trust has many benefits. For a start the proceeds of such a policy will bypass the deceased’s estate and as such beneficiaries will receive the money quicker and without any inheritance tax implications. It also gives the policyholder greater...
Royal London Enhance Critical Illness Proposition
In the latest of a string of insurer enhancements, Royal London have launched upgrades to their critical illness policy today. The changes promise improvements in cover for surgical procedures, the removal of exclusions, improved definitions, simplification and longer...
Royal London make enhancements to high incidence Critical Illness Conditions
At the end of a year when the critical illness market has made huge strides towards more comprehensive coverage for clients, Royal London have today introduced new updates to their plan. Recognising that moves by other insurers have seen many overtake them, the new...
Scottish Widows
How does Scottish Widows’ clinic in a pocket compare?
Over the last year by far the most popular “added value benefit” in terms of views of articles and selections within our various benchmarking tools has been virtual GP services. Whilst clearly driven by difficulties in being able to visit a GP face to face throughout...
SIMPLE, CLEAR & CONCISE – HAVE SCOTTISH WIDOWS SET THE BAR?
Providing clear and concise critical illness definitions whilst giving broad coverage is something that the industry as a whole has not been particularly good at. But before we beat insurers up too much, we must understand that it is also not easy. Make definitions...
“Plan & Protect” – A fresh approach to critical illness?
Simplification in protection products is topic that has had a lot of debate in recent times and to be fair it is something the industry has tried numerous times. The results however, often lead to reduced levels of cover or increased cost. So, is it true that you...
The Exeter
The Exeter deliver excellent Income Protection toolkit
It’s become fashionable of late for income protection providers to create tool kits for advisers, to help them demonstrate the need for cover to clients. I’m not normally a fan of tools built by insurers or platforms, but in this case, this is money well spent. Many...
Vitality
Vitality simplification – Getting into the detail
This morning Vitality announced major changes to their product range. There is no doubt that the Vitality product range is complicated and takes time to understand, but as they say in the old lager advert their products "refreshes the parts others don’t reach." At...
Getting into the detail of Vitality’s innovative Benefit Reduction
Since the coronavirus outbreak, the industry has been increasingly concerned that clients suffering from financial difficulty may cancel their valuable life policies at a time when they may need them most. Insurers are constantly being asked whether they will provide...
Vitality announce big changes
When launching enhancements to products, Vitality are certainly not backward in coming forward. Their launch conferences are more akin to the launch of a new iPhone than insurance products but in my view that is certainly not a bad thing. At their conference...
Zurich
Zurich’s Claims Stats highlight Fracture cover is not just for active clients
A broken bone or ligament tear can have severe implications on our ability to carry out day to day tasks. It is also something that is not unfamiliar as it is not uncommon to pass someone on the street in a cast (when we could pass people on the street) or see someone...
How good is Zurich’s Pre-Application Tool?
In reading this article you will understand: What Zurich’s pre-application tool does. How to use the tool. What results it can provide and how to get the information you need if it cannot. Where a client has a pre-existing medical condition or other disclosure on an...
Are Zurich leading the way on financially vulnerable customers?
There is much speculation around the current lock down being partially lifted from next week however, for many this is unlikely to ease the financial hardship they are suffering in the short term. Those that have lost their jobs may find it hard to find new...
A massive overhaul of Zurich’s protection proposition
Over the last year it seems that nearly every insurer has made substantial product updates. Today it is the turn of Zurich and unlike other insurers that have focused on one product – typically Critical Illness – they have produced a re-vamped proposition across all...
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