CIExpert said that AIG Life has ‘laid down a challenge to other providers with substantial enhancements to its critical illness plan.'
The improvements announced by AIG Life include cover against advanced stage skin cancer and all in situ cancers are covered if undergoing the requisite surgery.
Children's cover is expanded to include Down's syndrome and Type 1 Diabetes.
The Changes
New 100% Conditions added
• Anoxia/Hypoxia - causing death of brain tissue & permanent neurological deficit
• Benign Spinal Cord Tumour - if surgically removed or causing permanent neurological deficit
• Crohn's Disease - if treated by more than one intestinal resection
• Parkinson Plus Syndromes - a heading encompassing five progressive neurological conditions that generally cause permanent deficit
• Spinal Stroke - death of spinal cord tissue causing permanent neurological deficit
• Ulcerative Colitis - treated by colectomy (surgical removal of the bowel)
New Additional Payment Conditions Added all now pay lower of £25,000 or 25% of sum assured
• Central Retinal Artery/Vein Occlusion - more colloquially known as eye strokes; these are now specifically excluded under the ‘stroke' definition
Claim Improvements for 100% Conditions
• Benign Brain Tumour - claims will now be admitted for any surgery or stereotactic radiosurgery
• Blindness - definition has been widened to a 6/60 Snellen score or restricted visual field
• Dementia - widened to incorporate Alzheimer's Disease which is no longer separately included
• Heart Surgery - upgraded to incorporate thoracotomy as well as splitting the chest bone
• Liver Failure - scope of cover widened beyond cirrhosis
• Major Organ Transplant - now includes transplantation of animal or artificial organs
• Multiple Sclerosis - enhanced to cover clinical impairment from diagnosis or two or more attacks
Claim Improvements for Additional Payment Conditions
• Cerebral Aneurysm - extended to cover aneurysms of the spine
• Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation - extended to cover AVM's of the spine
• Less Advanced Cancers - eighteen in situ cancers have been included covering anus, bile ducts, cervix, colon& rectum, gallbladder, larynx, lung & bronchus, oesophagus, oral cavity, ovary, pancreas, pituitary gland, renal pelvis & ureter, stomach, urinary bladder, uterus, vagina and vulva.
• Other cancer in situ sites - other in situ cancers that require surgery to remove the tumour
• Significant Visual Impairment - various lesser requirements than needed for a blindness claim
• Skin Cancer - of an advanced stage
• Children's Cover - now includes Type 1 Diabetes and Downs Syndrome
CIExpert Verdict
Alan Lakey, director of CIExpert said: "AIG has staked out its claim as offering the most comprehensive critical illness plan in the market.
"The changes will ensure payment of claims that might currently be declined and in particular provides a substantial boost to the value of its children's cover.
"Cover against cancer coverage is now the most comprehensive available."
Further reading
AIG Life enhances critical illness
