National Friendly has added an option to include sickness cover to its Friendly Shield product.
Launched last summer, Friendly Shield provides essential, non-underwritten cover for unforeseen eventualities.
The new sickness option includes both an income and hospital benefit, for new sickness claims at the same benefit levels as paid for accidental injuries.
No medical questions are asked to select the option – just a simple yes or no to whether sickness cover is desired.
Designed in response to adviser feedback, Friendly Shield provides guaranteed benefits should the unexpected happen, covering everyday risks.
Its pricing structure aims to be both affordable and simple and aimed at individuals who may struggle to afford traditional protection products or who don’t have a need for full income protection.
The policy is quick to open, taking less than five minutes, and quick to provide a benefit, with the income benefit payable after only 14 days from the date of the incident under both the accident and sickness variants.
Friendly Shield provides a number benefits – an income benefit covering accidents only or including sickness, a hospital cash benefit for overnight stays, fracture cover, and both natural and accidental death benefits, plus a rehabilitation benefit to help policyholders get back to work sooner.
It provides cover against everyday risks rather than extreme, low-likelihood catastrophe risks.
Available under all levels of Friendly Shield: bronze, silver, and gold, the hospital cash benefit for sickness, has a nine-month qualifying period at the start of the policy as opposed to accident-only which is available immediately.
Any spouse or child on a policy will similarly be able to claim the hospital benefit for sickness, following the nine-month waiting period, as well as accidental injury.
Sickness Benefit payouts for policyholders:
Graham Singleton, CEO at National Friendly (pictured), said: “Enhancing Friendly Shield with the option of sickness cover provides even more flexibility and value to our members.
“This addition reflects our commitment to listening to advisers and adapting our products to meet the changing needs of customers.
“By offering this optional benefit with no medical questions or disclosures required, we aim to make vital financial protection accessible to the widest possible audience—particularly those who may not have access to traditional income protection solutions.
“In today’s uncertain economic climate, people need affordable, simple, and comprehensive protection.
“Friendly Shield’s new features are designed to provide the peace of mind that comes from knowing unexpected challenges—whether due to accident or sickness—won’t derail their financial stability.
“It’s another step in our mission to ensure that more individuals and families can safeguard their futures without unnecessary barriers.”
Friendly Shield has a simple three-level structure that requires no medical or financial underwriting with a price that is standard for all ages from 18-60, across all accepted occupations. The new product includes, per policy year:
- Income Benefit: short-term income benefit up to £2,250 per month for up to three months for accidents and (if selected) sickness, payments commencing within 14 days of the triggering incident (compared to an industry norm of 30 days)
- Fracture cover: a lump sum benefit for fractures of bones up to £3,000
- Hospital cash: a cash benefit of £50 per overnight stay under the accidents and sickness options for up to 360 days (sickness after the 9-month initial qualifying period)
- Accidental death benefit: a lump sum payable upon accidental death up to £85,000
- Natural death benefit: a lump sum payable on any cause of death of £2,500 after a two-year qualifying period
- Friendly GP+: 24/7 access to a virtual GP for the whole family from the policy’s opening, plus additional health and wellbeing services including physiotherapy, counselling, legal information and money and debt help
- Rehabilitation benefit: a payment of up to £1,000 providing access to private facilities covering physical therapies such as. acupuncture, physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractic treatment, follow-up scans, and tests and consultations
The amount of cover received will depend on which one of the three tiers is selected, with premiums starting from £10 a month, or 33p a day.
So as to ensure an affordable price, any conditions a policyholder has been treated for in the past 18 months won’t be covered under the sickness income benefit.
Friendly Shield can be added as a rider to existing policies and can also be sold standalone.
Mike Dalby, MD at Howden Life & Health, added: “National Friendly’s addition of sickness cover to Friendly Shield is a great step in bridging the gap for those who can’t access traditional income protection.
“Its simplicity and affordability make it a valuable option for many of our clients, and we’re pleased to see innovative solutions like this meeting diverse needs.’’