Serious illness Policy

Mrsroberts84

Hi I have life insurance and serious illness cover with vitality. I took this policy out in 2019 have paid since then. Recently developed a life long serious illness. Checked their online checker which showed how much I would be entitled to however when ive called them they have said my condition (which is quite rare) wasnt included in the policy when I took it out. I've never been made aware of changes to the policy is this the norm seems so unfair?.

Ayr_Rage

Mrsroberts84 said:

Hi I have life insurance and serious illness cover with vitality. I took this policy out in 2019 have paid since then. Recently developed a life long serious illness. Checked their online checker which showed how much I would be entitled to however when ive called them they have said my condition (which is quite rare) wasnt included in the policy when I took it out. I've never been made aware of changes to the policy is this the norm seems so unfair?.

From what you say a newer policy now covers what was previously excluded, so it has been improved, not changed to your detriment.

You'll have to find the original policy and then argue the toss.

Weighty1

With most insurers (including Vitality) the terms offered when a plan which is taken out are the ones which prevail over the full term of the policy so this is standard. 

It's one of the reasons why it can be worthwhile reviewing the cover periodically to ensure it remains comprehensive enough.

Depending on the condition it may be that you can claim under a different 'condition' later down the line if the condition progresses but serious illess and critical illness policies are quite black and white in that they either include the condition you have been diagnosed with or don't, I'm afraid.

DullGreyGuy

Mrsroberts84 said:

Hi I have life insurance and serious illness cover with vitality. I took this policy out in 2019 have paid since then. Recently developed a life long serious illness. Checked their online checker which showed how much I would be entitled to however when ive called them they have said my condition (which is quite rare) wasnt included in the policy when I took it out. I've never been made aware of changes to the policy is this the norm seems so unfair?.

There is no change.

Life and other "protection policies" are long term insurance, you buy a single policy that lasts 20+ years potentially. The terms dont change during the period of policy, it's not like Home or Motor where you buy a new policy every year. 

Products change over time so what they sell today won't necessarily have the same terms as what you bought into and they equally may not be priced the same. You are always free to get a new business quote if you like the new terms better than the old terms but in the absence of that your policy just continues on the same terms until such time as you cancel, claim or it naturally expires. 

Note that changes to new products can go in either direction, adding new conditions, removing covered conditions etc. 

dunstonh

 I've never been made aware of changes to the policy is this the norm seems so unfair?.

Largely echoing the above responses....

Your policy conditions are set in stone at the point of purchase.   You will have version "x" of the plan.    Over time, providers will add conditions and remove conditions and create a new version.    The version you have remains unchanged.    So, you haven't been notified of any changes to your policy as there hasn't been any changes.

Medical advances often mean that things that were once critical illnesses are no longer so, and things that you would have once died from are now survivable and can be added as critical illnesses.   So, insurers add and remove conditions on that basis. 

Additionally, a provider may decide to move their current offering to being comprehensive coverage rather than budget or standard (not official terms but general market placement).   The more they add, the more expensive it becomes.    Other times, they move in the other direction.    Again, changes only apply to the new version and are not retrospectively applied.

Financial products are no different to other retail products.   They change. They have versions.  The version you buy is the version you have.   If you want the coverage of a new version then you are free to reapply for that new version.