We’ve upgraded our critical illness cover, for new and existing customers. Without raising costs.

Placement on the NHS waiting list for, or the undergoing of, balloon angioplasty or stent insertion to correct a lesion that has been shown to produce ischaemia, on the advice of a UK Consultant Cardiologist.

The following are not covered:

• Atherectomy.
• Rotablation.
• Laser treatment.

Placement on the NHS waiting list for, or the undergoing of, surgery for disease or trauma of the aorta requiring surgical replacement with a graft on the advice of a UK Consultant.

A definite diagnosis by a UK Consultant Neurologist of a non-malignant tumour or cyst in the brain, cranial nerves or meninges within the skull resulting in either:

• Placement on the NHS waiting list for, or the undergoing of, surgery to treat the tumour, radiotherapy, chemotherapy.

OR

• Permanent neurological deficit with persisting clinical symptoms.

The following are not covered under this definition but are covered as an additional payout.

• Pituitary tumours.

A definite diagnosis by a UK Oncologist of a malignant cancer with histological confirmation.

The following are not covered under this definition but are covered as additional payouts:

• All tumours of the prostate histologically classified as having a Gleason score between 2 and 6 inclusive and having progressed to clinical TNM classification T1N0M0-T2aN0M0 inclusive (if the prostate cancer is classified as having progressed to a Gleason score of 7 or above or clinical TNM classification T2bN0M0 or pT2N0M0 following prostatectomy (removal of the prostate), we’ll pay out the full cover amount).
• Carcinoma in situ with surgery to remove the tumour.
• Ovarian tumour of borderline malignancy/low malignant potential that has resulted in the surgical removal of the ovary.
• Non-melanoma skin cancer with histological confirmation of spread beyond the epidermal layer that has not caused invasion to the lymph glands or bones or spread to distant organs.
• Tumours in the pituitary gland that have not invaded the lymph nodes or bones or spread to distant organs but have resulted in surgical removal of the tumour or use of radiotherapy to destroy tumour cells.

The following is not covered:

• Any other cancer in situ. This includes melanoma in situ.
• Tumours in the pituitary gland that have not resulted in either surgical removal of the tumour or use of radiotherapy to destroy tumour cells.

A sudden loss of heart function with interruption of blood circulation around the body resulting in unconsciousness and placement on the NHS waiting list for, or implantation of, either of the following devices on the advice of a UK Consultant:

• Implantable cardioverter (defibrillator), or
• Cardiac resynchronisation therapy with defibrillator (CRT-D).

A definite diagnosis of cardiomyopathy by a UK Consultant Cardiologist resulting in at least one of the following:

• Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 40% measured twice at an interval of at least 3 months.
• Marked limitation of physical activities where less than ordinary activity causes fatigue, palpitation, breathlessness or chest pain equivalent to at least Class III of the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification system over a period of at least 6 months.
• Placement on the NHS waiting list for, or the undergoing of, implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) on the advice of a UK Consultant Cardiologist for the prevention of sudden cardiac death.

The following are not covered:

• All other forms of heart disease, heart enlargement and myocarditis.
• Cardiomyopathy secondary to alcohol or drug abuse.

Placement on the NHS waiting list for, or the undergoing of, surgery to correct a narrowing or blockage of one or more coronary arteries with a bypass graft on the advice of a UK Consultant.

Epilepsy that can’t be controlled by oral medication, resulting in either of the following:

• Invasive surgery to brain tissue, including the insertion of electrodes for deep brain stimulation,

or

• The implantation of a vagus nerve stimulator.

Placement on the NHS waiting list for, or the undergoing of, surgery to replace or repair one or more heart valves on the advice of a UK Consultant Cardiologist.

Placement on the NHS waiting list for, or the undergoing of, surgery to remove one or more lobe(s) of the lung due to underlying disease or trauma, on the advice of a UK Consultant.

Placement on the NHS waiting list for, or the undergoing as a recipient from another person or animal of, any of the following on the advice of a UK Consultant:

• Bone marrow.
• Haematopoietic stem cell proceeded by total bone marrow ablation.
• A complete heart, kidney, liver, lung or pancreas.
• A lobe of liver.
• A lobe of lung.

Or replacement of any of organs listed above with an artificial device.

A definite diagnosis of necrotising fasciitis or gas gangrene by a UK Consultant, requiring removal of necrotic tissue and intravenous antibiotic treatment.

The following are not covered:

• All other forms of gangrene or cellulitis.

A definite diagnosis by a UK Oncologist of a neuroendocrine tumour with histological confirmation.

The following is not covered:

• Pituitary neuroendocrine tumours.

Placement on the NHS waiting list for, or the undergoing of, heart surgery requiring thoracotomy on the advice of a UK Consultant Cardiologist.

The following is not covered:

• Any percutaneous, transluminal or investigative procedure.

A definite diagnosis by a UK Consultant Cardiologist or Vascular Surgeon of peripheral vascular disease with objective imaging evidence of obstruction in the arteries which results in placement on the NHS waiting list for, or the undergoing of, bypass graft surgery to the arteries of the legs.

The following is not covered:

• Angioplasty.

Diagnosis by a UK Consultant of a tumour in the pituitary gland resulting in either of the following:

• Surgical removal of the tumour.
• Use of radiotherapy to destroy tumour cells.

The following are not covered:

• Tumours treated with any other form of treatment other than those stated.

Placement on the NHS waiting list for, or the undergoing of, surgery to remove a complete lung due to disease or injury on the advice of a UK Consultant.

The following is not covered under this definition but is covered as an additional payout condition:

• Removal of a lobe of the lungs (lobectomy).

The following is not covered:

• Lung resection or incision.

Placement on the NHS waiting list for, or the undergoing of, surgery for disease of the pulmonary artery to excise and replace the diseased pulmonary artery with a graft on the advice of a UK Consultant Cardiologist.

The undergoing of surgery to remove the urinary bladder due to injury or disease (total cystectomy).

Placement on the NHS waiting list for, or the undergoing of, surgery to remove the whole of the colon creating an opening on the abdomen joining the small intestine to the abdomen wall called an ileostomy on the advice of a UK Consultant Gastroenterologist.

This procedure is covered if, in the opinion of a UK Consultant Gastroenterologist, it’s established that the ileostomy is permanent.

Loss of physical or mental ability through an illness or injury:

a) To the extent that the person covered is permanently unable to do the material and substantial duties of their own occupation ever again. The material and substantial duties are those that are normally required for, and/or form a significant and integral part of, the performance of the person’s own occupation that can’t reasonably be omitted or modified. If you’re not in paid employment at the time you become incapacitated, we’ll assess your claim under our activities of daily living definition.

The relevant specialists must reasonably expect that the disability will last throughout life with no prospect of improvement, irrespective of when the cover ends or the person covered expects to retire.

OR

b) That results in the permanent loss of the ability to perform 3 or more of our activities of daily living.

OR

c) That causes mental incapacity (as defined by the Mental Capacity Act) which:

• Has failed to respond to optimal treatment and requires the need for continuous medication, and
• Is due to an organic brain disease or brain injury supported by permanent evidence of progressive loss of the ability to:
  • Remember
  • Reason, or
  • perceive, understand, express and give effect to ideas, causing a significant reduction in mental and social functioning, requiring constant supervision of another person

For the above definition, disabilities for which the relevant specialists can’t give a clear diagnosis and prognosis are not covered.

OR

d) A diagnosis by a consultant psychiatrist of any of the following severe mental illnesses:

• Bipolar affective disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Schizo-affective disorder
• Paranoid (delusional) psychosis

Which has resulted in all of the following:

• There has been an admission as an inpatient to a psychiatric ward for at least 14 continuous days; and
• Where the condition is chronic and incurable where symptoms have lasted at least 1 year; and
• The person covered is under the care of a UK consultant psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse or community health team.

In relation to severe mental illness the following are not covered:

• Conditions that are caused by, or exacerbated by, alcohol or drug abuse.

Your cover summary will state which total permanent disability definition applies to you.

A definite diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus made by a UK Consultant, requiring the permanent use of insulin injections.

The following are not covered:

• Gestational diabetes.
• Type 2 diabetes (including type 2 diabetes treated with insulin).