Children's cover provides protection for any policyholder's child, in full time education, up to the age of 21. In addition, if both parents have separate protection accounts, they can make two separate claims in respect of the child.
The company has made its cover for stroke ABI+ by removing the exclusion for traumatic injury to brain tissue or blood vessels. This is in addition to existing cover for total mastectomy and low-grade prostate cancer. APA also has ABI+ cover for heart attack, meaning all three of the most claimed-for conditions have extra cover and the company's total number of ABI+ conditions is now 10.
Open heart surgery has been added as a new condition following feedback from advisers asking for clarity around this condition. This takes the total number of conditions covered to 38.
In addition, to accommodate changing lifestyle trends with an increase in the number of people living or working abroad, the amount of countries now permitted in respect of Critical Illness claims and HIV cover has been increased to 44.
The new Care Consultants service goes beyond the financial benefits of protection cover and offers all new APA customers access to the additional practical and emotional support that is often needed when facing tough decisions as a result of illness or death. The service is available to the policyholder, their spouse or civil partner and their children up to the age of 21.
The Care Consultants service is the first proposition in the UK protection market to bring three support services into one comprehensive offering.
Second Medical Opinion allows customers suffering from a serious medical condition to obtain a second medical opinion from a specialist in the USA. The specialists are selected based on their expertise and reputation to provide an independent report on the customer's condition based on the customer's medical records.
Claim Support provides customers with a dedicated counsellor, at the point of claim, who can discuss the customer's personal situation with them as well as the impact on their life and their family. The counsellor assesses what other services may be appropriate, including further counselling, physiotherapy and practical help with legal or family issues.
Medical Helpline provides access to nurses, counsellors, midwives and pharmacists so customers have someone to call if they are concerned, or need reassurance about anything health or wellbeing related.
These are the latest launches in a series of planned enhancements to the AXA Protection Account. The company recently announced the introduction of its 90 day premium guarantee. This guarantee ensures customers only pay the premium quoted to them even if they pass a key date, for example a birthday, that would ordinarily result in a premium increase.
Iain Mallon Director of Marketing at APA said:
"Changing lifestyles and differing family pressures make the Critical Illness improvements to permitted countries and children's cover essential. By focussing on the three main claimed for conditions, cancer, heart attack and stroke, we're improving our product where it matters the most rather than simply creating a long list of conditions to cover.
"We are increasingly witnessing customers recognise how much they need and value the additional support providers are able to offer. As a result we have launched the Care Consultants service, offering three essential support services in one, which covers every practical and emotional need a customer could experience for the duration of their policy."
Advisers wanting further information on the Care Consultants service or Critical Illness enhancements should contact their usual AXA Protection Account representative.
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