Legal & General’s (L&G’s) Group Protection business has made a number of upgrades to its critical illness cover (CIC).
This includes the addition of new conditions which aims to make it easier for intermediaries to compare against the options available for their clients.
The changes also reflect advances in medical diagnoses and aim to support an improved experience for employers and their employees and policy administration.
The upgrade will see two new conditions covered, plus a range of updates and clarifications to help clients when there’s a claim.
The new conditions are systemic lupus erythematosus (a long-term autoimmune disease) and primary pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure in the blood vessels that supply the lungs).
Additionally, updates to seven existing conditions have been made, alongside updates to various aspects of the cover.
A Suited Occupation definition has been added to Total and Permanent Disability, improving the options available.
In addition, the terms relating to salary increases have also been made clearer, to help reduce the administration in many cases.
L&G has also improved the clarity for continuing cover for employees when they are temporarily absent.
Improvements to policy administration include: Employees who are temporarily absent may now increase their partners’ voluntary critical illness cover, employees whose employer has provided the option for them to take out cover on a voluntary basis, can increase their cover when on parental leave, and Flex and Voluntary terms are now aligned, meaning Flex now allows a 3-month selection window on first entry.
James Walker, head of product and proposition – group protection, L&G, said: “The addition of two new conditions improves our proposition, making it easier for intermediaries to recommend L&G when looking for suitable arrangements for their clients.
“Importantly, our existing Group Critical Illness Cover customers will also benefit from the enhancements from their next rate review, helping to improve the experience for all our customers.”
