Aviva’s incorporation of AIG Life pregnancy support features into its critical illness cover is a “start,” but further improvements could be made.
This is according to Emma Astley, owner of Cover My Bubble (pictured), who featured among a number of advisers who told Health & Protection that they hoped Aviva would retain “unique” aspects of AIG UK’s offering following the insurer wrapping up its £453m acquisition of its rival firm this Spring.
In particular Astley said at the time she was “very concerned” at the prospect of Aviva removing AIG’s bump cover.
But yesterday Aviva revealed it was including six types of pregnancy complications and increasing the number of child-specific illnesses eligible for claim as part of changes to its individual critical illness cover.
Fantastic move
Responding to the changes, Astley told Health & Protection that while the changes did not cover everything she had wanted, they were a “start”.
“You’ve got the six pregnancy complications in there,” Astley said. “They’ve added the four other child specific conditions in which again is good.
“It’s a start to have another insurance company who is on board with regards to the bump cover. I think it is a fantastic move really and hopefully others will start doing this as well because it will make a massive difference to families if they go through that journey.
“Improving any enhancements to the proposition is fantastic for us as advisers. It’s been good to be involved with them which is good.”
Birth defect cover
While Astley lamented the fact the changes did not extend to birth defect cover for conditions such as cleft lip, cleft palates or clubbed foot, she was hopeful further changes would be made in future.
“AIG did pregnancy complications, then the birth defect cover and then the specific child conditions as well,” Astley continued.
“So Aviva have brought in four other ones which is great, but there are still improvements to make which they are looking at. But it’s good to have the six pregnancy complications in place at the minute.”