Pregnant women can now insure themselves against the risk of their child being born with cerebral p...
Pregnant women can now insure themselves against the risk of their child being born with cerebral palsy.
Launched by Birthplan, Babysure is a not-for-profit insurance policy for people starting a family and is designed to give parents of children with cerebral palsy financial support during the first five years of their life.
The policy covers a range of different injuries caused by complications in pregnancy and birth that are collectively known as cerebral palsy. Every year, 6,500 children under the age of five are affected by the condition, which results in different degrees of impaired muscle control.
Grant Slatter, managing director at Birthplan, said: 'People tend to look to the screening process to check their baby is healthy, but the biggest problem is cerebral palsy, and you can not screen for it. We realise it is an emotive issue and we are being careful not to scare people into it.'
Babysure has four objectives: no catches, simplicity, universal eligibility, and a degree of benevolence. The plan has a one-off premium and any pregnant woman is eligible for cover. The only exclusion in the policy is substance abuse. All profits from the plan, underwritten by Foresters Friendly Society, are paid to the Birthplan Trust, a charitable organisation established to help parents of children not covered by Babysure.
The plan is available in two versions, Standard Fund and Premier Fund. The standard policy pays £400 on diagnosis then 16 quarterly payments of £600 for a single premium of £139. The premier pays £1,200 initially then 16 quarterly payments of £1,800, for a single premium of £369.
When asked if there was an intention to vary the premiums for differing benefit levels, Slatter said: 'We may do if there is demand, but our idea is that this is a family product. We do not target the sales at pregnant women as such, I think this is the sort of thing perspective grandparents might buy for their daughter, so we need to keep the plan simple with universal acceptance.'
Details are available from Birthplan on 08453 30 60 10
