Aviva improves international PMI offer

Aviva has enhanced benefits on its international Private Medical Insurance offering.

The product, International Solutions, has seen an increase in its overall benefit limit from £1.5m to £5m million and newborn lifetime cover of £20,000 for 112 days increased to £100,000 for 112 days

Routine chronic cover annual benefit has also been increased from £7,500 to £15,000, while medical practitioner annual benefit is increased from £1,500 to £2,500.

There is now an option to remove mandatory per claim excess on individual policies.

Aviva has also added StandbyMD, an arrangement giving Aviva customers access to a physician offering medical support and advice any time of the day or night.

The 24-hour healthcare concierge service is available in 4,000 cities, across 86 countries globally gives. StandbyMD gives its international health insurance customers telephone access to a physician.

Alternatively, customers can have a face-to-face consultation or home visit.

The insurer has also set up a new US Network arrangement with Miami-based Olympus Managed Healthcare. This arrangement will offer Aviva customers additional security, dedicated support and ease of access to medical care in the US.

Aviva will also settle all medical bills direct with the network providers removing the need for individuals to settle costly bills themselves.

Teresa Rogers, international business lead, Aviva UK Health commented: "We've enhanced the benefits and support that our customers tell us are most important to them. This not only includes increasing monetary limits, but also adding expert support services."

Aviva has also improved a number of its optional benefits. The maternity option benefit limit has increased from £7,500 to £10,000 and there is an increased annual limit for consultations with a specialist, diagnostic tests, surgical procedures and specialist-referred physiotherapy from £1,000 to £2,500

Improvements have also been made to the dental and optical, and increased out-patient options on both its individual and corporate International Solutions policies.

All new benefits will be available from July 2011 to new customers taking out a policy for the first time and existing customers renewing an International Solutions policy.