UK: Aviva becomes the first Group Protection provider to offer cover for child-specific illnesses

16 Jan 2017

Aviva, the UK's largest insurer, has announced a range of enhancements to its Group Critical Illness (GCIC) policy, including cover for child-specific illnesses - a first in the UK. As well as providing protection against a range of serious conditions, the new, enhanced policy now covers:

- Cerebral palsy

- Cystic fibrosis

- Muscular dystrophy

- Spina bifida

- Hydrocephalus - treated with the insertion of a shunt

In addition, it also includes cover should a child need intensive care treatment requiring mechanical ventilation for 7 days, or if they suffer a loss of independent existence which would continue to affect them throughout their life.

Aviva has also removed the 30 day age limit previously in place on its GCIC cover, meaning children are now covered from birth and against congenital conditions which are diagnosed during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth.

While some individual protection products offer this type of cover to the customer's children, this is a first in the GCIC market in the UK. If a child suffers from a critical illness or one of the above child-specific conditions and their parent is an Aviva Group CIC member, they will receive a payment of up to 25% of the policyholder's benefit up to a maximum of £20,000.

These enhancements will continue to be complemented by Aviva's added-value services such as Best Doctors® second medical opinion and RedArc Personal Nurse Adviser service - both of which are available to employees, their spouse, partner and children.

Steve Bridger, Managing Director of Group Protection at Aviva, said:

'Protecting your family is the priority for all parents so I am delighted that Aviva is the first provider to add specific children's cover to our Group Critical Illness proposition. Seeing your child become ill must be one of the hardest things a parent can go through, so if we can ease the burden at all by providing a financial safety net or an extended support network, then it is the right thing to do.

'No parent should be worrying about money while taking care of their sick child and our enhanced Group CIC policy can remove that worry, leaving the parents to concentrate on helping their child get better.'

Further enhancements

Child cover is not the only area where Aviva is enhancing its GCIC offering. Other enhancements include:

- Making the existing 'Cancer - Second and Subsequent' option standard as well as extending cover to the spouse/partner of an employee.

- Offering access to a Cancer Drugs Fund benefit as an additional option selected by the policyholder (Employer) across both Standard and Extended cover options.

The 'Second and Subsequent' cancer definition means that both the employee and their spouse/partner will now be able to make a claim should they be diagnosed with a new unrelated cancer during the term of the policy. This allows employers to provide cover to extended family members who have previously been diagnosed with cancer and may not be able to get cover elsewhere.

The Cancer Drugs Fund benefit is an optional extra the employer can choose to include on behalf of their employees and provides a fund of up to £100,000 to pay for cancer medication which has been rejected by their NHS trust on financial grounds.

'I believe strongly in protecting the whole family, not just the employee,' said Steve Bridger. 'Why should the partner and children of an employee who has made a claim, lose valuable benefits? '

'Aviva has always tried to think beyond just the policy holder and more widely about their family and loved ones. Our offering really increases the value of a Group CIC to both the employer and the employee and we've worked hard on these enhancements, trying to put the family at the heart of what we do and I'm very proud of the changes we have made.'

- Ends -

If you are a journalist and would like further information, please contact:

Ben Moss in the Aviva Press Office

Landline: 0117 928 5843

Mobile: 07827 832 395

Email: ben.moss@aviva.com

Notes to editors:

• Aviva provides life insurance, general insurance, health insurance and asset management to 33 million customers, across 16 markets worldwide

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