Legal & General Group Protection has made updates to its group critical illness cover definitions to enable “greater clarity”.
These updated definitions apply to cancer, heart attack and dementia coverage.
Legal & General added that, in the case of its cancer definition, the changes also allow greater scope in the type of cancer claims that can be made.
This was explained by Legal & General Group Protection head of product and proposition, James Walker, who said: “These latest changes aim to help ensure simplicity, reducing any confusion amongst intermediaries, business customers and insured employees alike.
“The cancer wording changes may also result in providing greater certainty, when it comes to claims, helping give reassurance at a vulnerable time whilst boosting confidence in the value of CIC.”
The updated definitions
These updated definitions include for early-stage prostate cancers - the revised wording of which allows tumors classified as below Gleason score 7 to be included if they have undergone treatment by prostatectomy.
Dementia coverage will also be included in the changes as, previously, Alzheimer’s and pre-senile dementia appeared as separate definitions for Legal & General’s coverage.
However, the new definition combines Alzheimer’s with all other forms of dementia which will provide greater clarity to customers around a dementia diagnosis and what is covered.
Additionally, the evidence required for a definite diagnosis of a heart attack has now been extended to include “typical clinical symptoms (for example, characteristic chest pain)”.
This change reflects the latest medical diagnostic techniques used to diagnose this condition and help provide clear expectations of the scope and limitations of what we cover.
Walker also stated that Legal & General is already seeing CIC “becoming more important to customers.”
He added: “After seeing group CIC claims almost double in 2021 to £13.2mn (from £7.2mn in 2020), our latest results announced earlier this year revealed another increase in 2022 to £18mn.”
The changes made by Legal & General are designed to help keep pace with the latest changes to both diagnostic techniques and treatment.
tom.dunstan@ft.com
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