Help with claiming on terminal illness cover

Twoblackcats

Unfortunately my husband has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He is now having palliative chemotherapy, which won't cure him but "may relieve symptoms and might prolong life".
We have terminal illness cover on our term assurance policy with Aviva. The hospital have written to Aviva saying life expectancy is possibly between 6 to 12 months, which is what the policy conditions say.
Aviva have said that they don't agree and that at this time there is no proof that life expectancy is less than 12 months????
I just wondered what else we can do, my husband's medical team have given Aviva the information which shows that the terms of the policy will probably be met and they are choosing to refuse to pay.
It's really upsetting as it means we can't have financial freedom at this really tough time - as if there wasn't enough to worry about!
Just wondered if anyone had any advice about what we can do now.
Thanks for any replies

spacey2012

What horrible nasty bast*rds !

System

Aviva have said that they don't agree

Wow they can diagnose without seeing the patient AND totally disregard the experts who have treated him.

Their psychic abilities are phenomenal!!

Twoblackcats

Thank you for replying, it feels better just to know that other people are sympathetic .
I agree that it is so frustrating that AVIVA can totally ignore the expert medical opinion. Its outrageous that they can predict how long they think someone will live for, oh and what a surprise it means the don't have to pay out.

whitewing

I do feel so sorry for all you are going through.

Surely it just means they won't pay out yet, rather than won't pay out? (I don't know much about this type of cover). I know it's horrible and stressful for you on top of all the hospital treatment, but maybe it will work out better in the end to have it at a little bit of a later stage? Not meaning to upset anyone here with my ignorance.

Maybe MacMillan can help with advice?

Mr_K

It's hard to see how they can argue with the Doctors looking after your husband unless they've had their own Doctors examine him. Even if they have the Insurers Doctors might be biased towards those that are paying them. Use their complaints procedure.

It maybe worth you contacting one of the money sections of the national papers who will sometimes investigate on your behalf, links below. You don't need the hassle at the moment.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/series/yourproblems
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/jessicainvestigates/2810612/Jessica-investigates.html
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/article-1585631/This-Money-Contact-thisismoney-uk-email-phone.html

Twoblackcats

Thanks to Whitewing, I will contact MacMillan.

Thanks Mr K, the links are a good idea. They haven't examined my husband, that's partly why I'm so cross/upset. They have taken a letter from his oncologist which says 6 to 12 months and then their medical expert has said that he is likely to live more than 12 months.

I have written to Aviva and they say they will take up to 8 weeks to investigate - they said they might want to see how he responds to chemo, it will be another few cycles before his next scans, so more time elapses.

As the amount of benefit payable decreases next year, I kind of think the delaying tactic is deliberate.

I really do appreciate the time that people have taken to reply.

[Deleted User]

Twoblackcats wrote: »

Unfortunately my husband has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He is now having palliative chemotherapy, which won't cure him but "may relieve symptoms and might prolong life".
We have terminal illness cover on our term assurance policy with Aviva. The hospital have written to Aviva saying life expectancy is possibly between 6 to 12 months, which is what the policy conditions say.
Aviva have said that they don't agree and that at this time there is no proof that life expectancy is less than 12 months????
I just wondered what else we can do, my husband's medical team have given Aviva the information which shows that the terms of the policy will probably be met and they are choosing to refuse to pay.
It's really upsetting as it means we can't have financial freedom at this really tough time - as if there wasn't enough to worry about!
Just wondered if anyone had any advice about what we can do now.
Thanks for any replies

Hi Twoblackcats

I'm sorry to see your post. If you can email me at social@aviva.co.uk with these details

Policyholders Full name
Policyholders Date of birth
Policyholders Post code
Policy number
Your MSE Username (so we can link your email to this post)

I will pass your concerns on to our claims team and ask them to look into this for you.

Kind regards


Dave Hyam
Aviva Social Media Team

Twoblackcats

Thanks Aviva representative, I have responded as requested.

I hope that you can help progress this. We were expecting an update today from Claims but have not heard anything. Last week, 3 weeks after my letter the claims advisor I spoke to had not even read any of our file!!

Not exactly keeping the promises you make in your glossy complaints leaflet!

cynicalgit_2

Twoblackcats wrote: »

Thanks Aviva representative, I have responded as requested.

I hope that you can help progress this. We were expecting an update today from Claims but have not heard anything. Last week, 3 weeks after my letter the claims advisor I spoke to had not even read any of our file!!

Not exactly keeping the promises you make in your glossy complaints leaflet!

Typical insurance company, give you an umbrella when the sun shines and take it away when it rains.
Whats wrong with you guys? Just pay these poor people have you no humanity.

dunstonh

cynicalgit wrote: »

Typical insurance company, give you an umbrella when the sun shines and take it away when it rains.
Whats wrong with you guys? Just pay these poor people have you no humanity.

How do you know it is the insurance company that is wrong? We have one side of a story. Not the other. I am not saying that to play down what the OP said. Just posting with a devils advocate hat on. There are four sides to every story.