Aviva has added the first partial payments to its critical illness (CI) policy and halved the length of time for a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) claim.
The partial payments are in addition to the main policy, meaning that CI cover will continue to be in place should the customer need to make a further claim in the future.
New customers can receive partial payments for two early forms of cancer: low grade prostate cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ, an early form of breast cancer.
Claimants will receive a lump sum of 20% of the sum assured up to £20,000 while for both conditions all forms of recognised surgical treatments are covered.
The provider said this was particularly important for breast cancer patients, given that as a third of breast cancer cases are treated by a mastectomy, compared to two thirds treated by lumpectomy.
It is also now offering 12 ABI plus conditions becoming, it claimed, the first provider to make MS an ABI plus condition.
The standard ABI definition requires six months of continuous symptoms to be presented after a definite diagnosis before a claim is paid, but Aviva has reduced this to three months.
Robert Morrison, chief underwriter for Aviva, said: "Cancer treatments can take a huge emotional and physical toll, so this extra financial support is there to provide peace of mind so patients can concentrate on getting well.
"We wanted to be sure that any additions and changes to our CI policies would offer real benefits to our customers.
"Unfortunately one in three people in the UK get cancer: breast cancer is the most common form for women, while prostate cancer is the most prevalent for men, so we believe these enhancements could make a genuine difference to a great many people," he said.
