ABI decision removes uncertainty of using troponin evidence in CI claims
The use of troponin tests in the definition of heart attack in critical illness (CI) policies is to go ahead following the Association of British Insurers (ABI) decision to revise its statement of best practice.
Nick Kirwan, head of product development and marketing at Scottish Provident, said the group had incorporated the new definition into its policies.
'We will be using the new heart attack definition with immediate effect for all new and existing customers with critical illness cover. The change of the heart attack definition is good news for the industry, as it ensures policies are kept up to date with advances in medical science.
'When a heart attack claim is supported by the results of a troponin test, the old definition does not work because it does not refer to troponin at all. By adopting the new definition, it removes the uncertainty of how we will take troponin evidence into account. If a troponin test isn't done, we will continue to accept heart attack claims on the old definition, as before,' he said.
Insurers need to adhere to the changes by May 2003 and the ABI has updated its consumer guide at www.abi.org.uk to comply with the changes.
Using troponin as a test method could eventually increase critical illness premiums as more cases are diagnosed, however, Graham Spittles, chief underwriter at Royal & SunAlliance, said the group would not be altering its premiums for the time being.
He said: 'This is a move which had to be taken and we are in the process of making changes. We will not be looking at increasing premiums initially, however, the more troponin testing is used, the more diagnoses there will be.'
The ABI has included a clause in its statement which excludes conditions such as angina and coronary syndrome where troponin can be present.
Kirwan said: 'It is important to realise troponins can be present for other reasons which is why supporting evidence such as an ECG heart trace is needed. The new definition makes this clear and reflects up-to-date medical science.'
Under the revised statement of best practice, the ABI has also included a new cancer definition which will ensure that CI cover remains affordable in the light of the Government's prostate cancer management programme and enhanced clarity in the way CI is described in key feature documents.
