Aviva enhances critical illness plan to increase breadth of cover

Aviva has enhanced its critical illness plan to increase breadth of cover for its customers.

Critical illness cover is designed to pay a tax free lump sum on the diagnosis of one of a number of predefined serious illnesses.

Insurer Aviva previously offered cover for 33 full conditions, two partial conditions and up to £20,000 in child benefit. Aviva now offers cover for 42 full conditions, five partial conditions and up to £25,000 in child benefit.

Newly added conditions include rheumatoid arthritis and severe lung disease. Partial payments now include significant visual impairment, Crohn’s disease treated with intestinal resection and removal of an eyeball.

With a partial payment, claimants receive a proportion of the sum assured if their condition meets a less severe definition than the full one. Partial payment claimants with Aviva receive 20 per cent of their sum assured up to a maximum of £20,000.

Robert Morrison, chief underwriter at Aviva, said: “We’re determined that we only add conditions which increase breadth of cover and provide greater clarity for customers.

"We know exactly which conditions account for the largest number of claims, so we’ve taken great care to make changes where customers will benefit most.”

In addition, Aviva has enhanced the definitions of five conditions to achieve Association of British Insurers plus (ABI+) status. This has increased the number from 12 ABI+ conditions to 17.

The insurer has also published a guide to its critical illness cover for advisers and consumers, which shows at a glance which conditions are covered and the level of payment for each.

Critical illness cover can be added to a life insurance policy or brought as a standalone product.