Critical health insurance (Halifax TMPP)

shadow1800

Hello all

I have a few questions for anyone out there in the know

Firstly I would like to state that although I ask these question I have the best news, that I have been very lucky and have been given the all clear.

So here we go......

Roughly in the 1990's when I was in my 20's I took out a life / critical health insurance policy with the Halifax (Halifax total mortgage protection plan critical illness), I never thought I would ever need it but it would be wise. Ever since I have paid my monthly payment.

However this year I found out I had bowl cancer and had major surgery to remove it, I am very lucky that after a nightmare few months I have the all clear, but have lost.... lets say some pipe work :P.

The NHS, doctors, GP and nurses were absolutely fantastic... anyway I need to get to the point.

I was advised if I had any critical health policies to apply which I have done 3 months ago, the policy provider are still awaiting information from the specialist (I understand as these people are very busy).

The policy booklet states:

Critical illness cover : Our promise that if you are diagnosed as suffering with a critical illness, we will pay the critical illness benefit. This cover will continue to the end of the term unless it is ended in line with these conditions.

Ok the detail:

Crit illness cover:
If you have a critical illness cover under the plan and you are diagnosed as suffering from a critical illness and no other claim of life cover benefit or critical illness benefit has been paid!
The definition of a critical illness is:

cancer ( leaving the other stuff out)
Any malignant tumour characterised by the uncontrolled growth and spread of malignant cells and invasion of tissue. The term cancer includes Leukaemia and Hodgkin's but the following is excluded:

• All tumours which are histologically described as pre- malignant, none invasive or as cancer in situ
• All tumours of the prostate unless histologically classified as having Gleason score greater than 6 or having progressed to at least TNM classification T2N0M0.
• All forms of lymphoma in the presence of any human immunodeficiency virus.
• Kaposi's sarcoma in the presence of any human immunodeficiency virus.
• Any skin cancer other than invasive malignant melanoma.

Ok that's the jargon in the book, what does that mean in simple English?

I had a carcinoma colon, colon polyp and then a laparoscopic igmoid colectomy.
My doctors have told me how lucky I am, I am stage 1 but all the Big C has been removed (a polyp / section of bowl) and no spread.

Once my specialist replies they will assess my case

Sorry this is so long but I wanted to give as much info as possible so anyone who knows anything about this could comment. Should I expect them to payout or not?

Regards
Me

nika-nika

For early-stage cancer old CI policies could be difficult to get even partial payout...

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-2396255/At--cover-pay-early-stage-cancer-Critical-illness-policies-offer-cash-sufferers-used-miss-out.html

ACG

First of all nice one of getting through it.

Ok that's the jargon in the book, what does that mean in simple English?

Its difficult to give an answer that you want (ie will you get a payout or not). Your cancer had to meet a score/level and meet certain criteria. If it did you should receive a payout. If it didnt then you wont.

Not the best answer i know.

There is a member on here called kingstreet. He seems to know his stuff when it comes to things like this so he may be able to give a more in depth answer.

kingstreet

I'd say colon cancer requiring such treatment should not fall within the exclusions mentioned and I would expect the claim to be paid once the required medical information is obtained.

Please do not treat this as anything other than a guarded opinion and the disclosures you made on the application form will be thoroughly checked to ensure you did not fail to disclose something relevant.

I hope this works out for you. Please return and update us as and when you can.

shadow1800

Thank you for all who have read and will read but especially to those that have commented.

Kingstreet thank you for your comment, I have to be honest myself and my family have been given the best news we can get, money is secondary and if it pays out then of course that would be excellent but I am the type that waits to see it in the bank otherwise it isn't real.

One minute I would think yes the jargon seems to say it will payout but the next I would think don't be silly.

I do hope you are correct Kingstreet and I will place an update which ever way it goes.

Thanks all

starrystarry

shadow1800 wrote: »

The definition of a critical illness is:

cancer ( leaving the other stuff out)
Any malignant tumour characterised by the uncontrolled growth and spread of malignant cells and invasion of tissue. The term cancer includes Leukaemia and Hodgkin's but the following is excluded:

• All tumours which are histologically described as pre- malignant, none invasive or as cancer in situ
• [STRIKE]All tumours of the prostate unless histologically classified as having Gleason score greater than 6 or having progressed to at least TNM classification T2N0M0.
• All forms of lymphoma in the presence of any human immunodeficiency virus.
• Kaposi's sarcoma in the presence of any human immunodeficiency virus.
• Any skin cancer other than invasive malignant melanoma.[/STRIKE]
  

Ok that's the jargon in the book, what does that mean in simple English?

I had a carcinoma colon, colon polyp and then a laparoscopic igmoid colectomy.
My doctors have told me how lucky I am, I am stage 1 but all the Big C has been removed (a polyp / section of bowl) and no spread.

Hi, glad to hear you've got the all clear now.

You can disregard the ones I've crossed out above, they refer to different types of cancer. The only one relevant for colo-rectal cancer is the first one, which would exclude carcinoma in situ. Now in your case, if your cancer was classified stage 1 then it wasn't in situ. It would have been classed as Stage 0 if it was in situ.

So it does sound like you will meet the criteria, subject to the checks kingstreet mentioned above. Best of luck with it.

shadow1800

Hi,


Well this morning the letter from the insurance company landed on the door mate.


Firstly though thank you to those who have replied and provided advise esp StarryStarry, Kingstreet etc.


As I mentioned I have been really lucky that it was caught early, anyway the insurance is paying out.


I wasn't sure it would but it has, hopefully now all the following checks will be fine and that's an end to it all.


What I would say to anyone reading this is if you noticed something wrong with your body go and see you doctor! and even if they say its something that seems unimportant and it persists then go back and see the doctor!


All the best for 2014 to all