critical illness cover

[DaveW_42]

Hi all,
Saw this a few days ago and thought it was a bit harsh. It apparently comes down to a defiinition of limb loss which means you have to loose 2 limbs before it classes as critical! True, the guy might be able to return to work at some point but isn't this type of thing why you take the cover out in the first place?
I have the same cover as this guy on my mortgage and if I lost a quarter of my limbs, I'd judge that to be pretty critical really. Guess that's just where me and insurance companies disagree.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2019201/Insurance-Man-leg-amputated-wont-payout-unless-cut-off.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Is it even worth having the cover!? There'll be some twinge I went to the doctors for 25 years ago that I forgot to mention on the form and the whole thing'll be null and void anyway.

Discuss...

[keithd]

I saw this earlier, I might be missing something (not a limb btw) but didnt the policy state it would pay out on the loss of 2 limbs not one?

[DaveW_42]

I got the impression it was in the small print. The main body of it said loss of limb, then the definition defined loss of limb as loss of 2...

The spokesman said: 'Under the Association of British Insurers loss of limb definition, adhered to by Scottish Widows, a critical illness policy only pays out when two limbs are lost.'
There's a bit further down about 'enhanced cover' which pays out for 1 limb. Maybe I should think about upgrading my cover!?

[Owenski]

Going to give my policy a re-read tonight following reading this.

They do say these things will cost you an arm and a leg....

[Biker Biggles]

These policies have come in for a lot of scrutiny over the years and have very often been found to be little more than legalised rip offs.I recall a classic example of health insurance that covered you for loss of lungs----but only both lungs.

[454697819]

loosing a leg isnt a critical illness, so I cant see his point, accident cover would cover him or a personal injury policy bit not critical illness,

cancer, that is critical,

the best policy out there is Brightgrey as I understand it and their CI covers nearly all cancers including non fatal or typically recovered from cancers.

[DaveW_42]

While I knew about critical illness cover from mortgage advisors and such, I had pretty much no idea that serious illness cover existed. Just having a look round now, it appears that, generally, critical illness covers about 32 conditions, serious illness covers about 160. Might look into it a bit more. I'd rather have a bit more piece of mind that I'm likely to be covered for something.

[DaveW_42]

I'll have a look at Brightgrey.
came across this re:cancer...
Kevin Carr, spokesman from PruProtect, said: "Breast cancer is covered by critical illness policies, but many policies exclude 'early stage cancer' which is when cancer is considered to be non-invasive. Breast cancer may be considered 'early stage' even if a lumpectomy or mastectomy is required and therefore many insurers will not pay out. The other main exclusions are for certain types of prostate and skin cancer."
Always read the small print!

[454697819]

I just called bright grey to check my cover, I have a Income cover for sickness which pays out a monthly figure if I am off sick for more than 6 months, having one limb amputated would comply, however like scotish widow having only one limb amputated wont pay out under critical or life cover, I would need to have both for them to pay off the mortgage.

http://www.brightgrey.com/critillnesscoverlist.html

is the link for their cover, 2 years ago I was advise that at 36 critical illness's it was the most thorough on the market,

and here is the link for caners.. it gets confusing

http://www.brightgrey.com/cancer1.html

[timwilky]

I have a friend who was paid out for breast cancer on a critical illness policy. Her current life projection is now in months. She would give the money back to have her health. Double mastectomy at age 26. She is now in her 30s with an 11 year old daughter knowing she is going to be dead soon. At least the payment has allowed her to spend time with her daughter and help her plan for what happens afterwards.

[Dicky Ticker]

I was off work for 2 1/2 years waiting for and having heart surgery and that did not count either----------I wonder if this comes under the mis-sold category of insurance scams.
Apart from the fact I can't now get any private medical or death insurance I had already cancelled all mine as I considered them a rip-off

[Sir Trev]

My broker constantly referred to my "CI" policy as "lifestyle protector" when we changed mortgage a few years ago and updated this sort of thing. So if I lose a limb and have to give up the bike I will be kicking up a fuss (assuming it's an arm I've lost of course or I'd just fall over) if payment was refused. Memory is sketchy but I'm sure it covererd things from loss of fingers upwards but I cannot even remember which direct debit it is now... Wonder if it covers loss of memory?

[Mrs_giggles]

dave has the critical illness cover but his also has a sickness cover included, yes we pay a heafty price per year for it £49.00 monthly or abouts but when he was off for a year with the knee injury it was a god send covered his full wages for the year. the rest of the policy is quite good too, glad we had a clued up adviser