Lost ‘only’ one limb? Sorry, that’s not enough

LOSS OF LIMB

IF YOU lose a limb, typically in an accident, nearly all policies sold today will pay out – provided the loss is above the ankle or wrist.

But old policies only pay out if two limbs are lost – and some only if the limbs are severed above the knee or elbow.

Last year, The Mail on Sunday highlighted the case of Hein Pretorius, from Kent, who was refused payouts from cover held with both Legal & General and Royal London as he did not lose both his legs in a road accident – just one. Statistically, you are 40 times more likely to lose one limb than two.

Forester Life is alone in selling cover where two limbs must be lost for a loss-of-limb claim to be met.

PARALYSIS

UNTIL 2008, most insurers insisted two or more limbs had to be immobile before a paralysis claim could be met. Today, apart from Forester Life, every insurer sells cover that sanctions a claim on paralysis of one limb only.

BENIGN BRAIN TUMOUR

MANY old policies meet a benign brain tumour claim only if it results in a permanent deficit of the neurological system. But cover bought today will also pay out if the tumour has to be removed in full – or in some cases partially.

HEART ATTACK

UNTIL 2007, a heart attack claim would be met if a portion of the heart had died as a result of inadequate blood supply. This would be evidenced by chest pain, changes in the results of an electrocardiogram test and an increase in cardiac enzymes.

Insurers then added another hurdle – that the level of the protein troponin should be above a certain amount, confirming heart damage. This removed between 15 and 20 per cent of previously accepted claims.

Today most policies sold no longer require a certain troponin level, relying instead on raised enzyme levels. Forester Life (surprise, surprise) is the exception.

CANCER

POLICIES sold today meet claims for stage one cancer – this is where it is contained within the organ it started in. But the Association of British Insurers is looking at moves to limit payouts on such cancers to a quarter of the sum assured in new policies.