ABI implements Swiss Re definition changes

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CI: Last year's hotly debated cancer definitions changes have finally been made

By Lucy Quinton

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has decided that two rare types of cancers, previously not included in the updated Statement of Best Practice of critical illness (CI), will be covered by the insurance.

The move came after the trade body caved into pressure from Swiss Re.

It will see two bone marrow diseases, previously classified as pre-malignant and excluded under a CI policy, be considered malignant and covered under CI following new medical evidence put forward by Swiss Re in the autumn.

The changes may cause problems for some providers who have already implemented the policies.

However, Andy Milburn, IFA market manager at Royal Liver - one of the few companies that implemented the CI changes before the ABI's latest move - said he was delighted by the ABI's decision. "We are pleased that the ABI has come to a decision on this quickly.

"We're also glad that the ABI chose to remove the two examples that used pre-malignant cancers in question rather than inserting two new examples of pre-malignant cancers in their place".

He added: "We intend to announce our position with regards to what action we will take on this issue shortly, including how we will treat our existing customers who have bought CI cover with the new definition wordings since 15 October 2006."

Commenting on the move, Jonathan French, spokesman at the ABI, said: "The ABI takes its obligations to consumers of CI insurance very seriously, so when we were presented with this, we held discussions and as a result decided it was in the best interest of consumers to take this action".

Richard Walsh, head of health and protection insurance at the ABI, said: "When the Statement of Best Practice was revised in April last year, it included two examples of pre-malignant cancers."

However, since then, new medical evidence has been found suggesting the two cancers may be malignant, he added, saying: "The ABI Protection Committee has carefully considered all the evidence and has decided the two cancers should be covered by CI.

"To avoid any confusion, they will be deleted from the Statement of Best Practice cancer definition as examples of pre-malignancy."

Potential delays have now been eased with this ruling saving both time and money for the industry.

The ABI reviews the CI definitions once every three years. This process began around seven years ago.

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