Critical Illness Query (Aviva)

geighty8

Hi,

My wife was diagnosed with cancer last summer and, as is often the case, the last thought in both of our minds was chasing around and digging into insurance policies etc. Thankfully, she made a full recovery after surgery and has continued to be cancer free which is of course the absolute most important thing.

It wasn't until a few months ago that I realised we were sat on an Aviva Life Insurance policy with CI cover included; We have looked at the various terms and definitions of the type of cancer and that all seems to be within the guidelines in our policy but one thing that is certainly alarming is the following section "We will not pay the Critical Illness Cover" and a clause "unless we are told within 26 weeks of the diagnosis".

As you would expect, the last year or so has been incredibly stressful and there are a number of other issues and problems that have taken priority that I have not yet passed on to Aviva. 26 weeks does not seem like a very long time when you consider what a family goes through.

For background, we have had the policy for a number of years and every single payment has been made on time. The policy continues to be valid today and lasts for another decade or two which hopefully only helps our case.

We've had the claim raised for about a month and a half via our broker but they have suggested Aviva may be wriggling slightly with legal reviews etc.

So, my question is has anyone else had similar; with Aviva or anyone else and had good/bad news?

Thanks in advance.

dunstonh

The insurers say 26 weeks but will usually go way past that as long as the information is still available (which it should be in your timescale). Its a prompt to get you to speed up rather than one that is usually enforced.

We've had the claim raised for about a month and a half via our broker but they have suggested Aviva may be wriggling slightly with legal reviews etc.

It is unlikely that is the case. They have to write to GP and then often the consultant that your wife is under. Things that dont happen that fast.

geighty8

Thanks; that is what we are hoping too but the broker mentioned the basic claim was rejected because of the 6 months from diagnosis rule. I think the worst part of the waiting is not having direct visibility or contact of the claim since we filled in the paperwork.

He seems quite confident that it'll go through still, worst case that it may need to go via the ombudsman.

The information is certainly still available as my wife is still attending regular consultant appointments for checkups and possible next steps.

Julie5703

Hi,

Firstly Sorry to hear about your wife,
I am in the same position... I have had IDC Breast Cancer & as you say you dont think about CI policy & I am also with Aviva... I have only just remembered I had it as I took it out in 2004
But I haven!!!8217;t t try to make a claim as yet as I!!!8217;m worried as I was diagnosed B/cancer March 16, had a Lumpectomy also my lymph node taken out & Radiotherapy, now on medication for 10 years & regular check ups .. last thing I thought about was my insurance as I thought it was just Life Insurance & didnt realise it was also Critical illness.... I have all my paper work & Surgeons name etc
My question Is it too late to claim .?
As it;s been just over 2yrs ...
thank you for reading & I hope someone can shed some light on it before I ring them
:-)

Novice_investor101

Just call them & ask to talk to the claims team. I know a person who recently lost their father from a long illness with cancer. He had a life & critical illness policy with them that expired about 6 months before he died. But they are still looking into a claim as when he was diagnosed with the cancer that eventually took his life the policy was still running. So never say never.
Best to just call & find out one way or the other.

Julie5703

I appreciate your reply thank you !!!55357;!!!56842;