The numbers of long Covid sufferers insurers are helping with income protection (IP) support ranges from under 20 to more than 70 at one provider, Health & Protection can reveal.
Earlier this month, Office for National Statistics data revealed the number of people suffering symptoms associated with long Covid for a least a year had increased by 4,000 – from 380,000 in early July to 384,000 as of the beginning of August.
Amid this increase, insurers have revealed to Health & Protection the extent to which long Covid sufferers are reaching out for them for help.
Vanessa Sallows, claims and governance director at Legal & General, told Health & Protection the insurer does not have a specific definition for Covid or long Covid for claims being paid, but it did have support services.
“At L&G we have a dedicated long Covid support package for anyone making an IP claim as a result of being impacted by this condition and if treatment is deemed appropriate,” she said.
“Since the package launched in October 2020, we have supported 73 customers across group and retail income protection products.”
Small numbers seeking help
However, across the sector it appears insurers are supporting small numbers of long Covid claimants.
Since the start of the pandemic, British Friendly said it had received 213 Covid-related claims that were less than four weeks in length, 42 that were four to 12 weeks in length and 24 that were more than 12 weeks in length – eight of the 24 claims had been paid for more than 12 months.
LV= also noted its figures for long Covid IP claimants were still low as most customers received payments for a couple of weeks and then recovered.
“Looking at the data, we’re currently paying seven customers out of over 350 disability claims who have been absent for longer than three months. The NHS suggests most people recover within 12 weeks so anything past that would fall into long Covid,” an LV= spokesperson said.
“The customers range from people who have been in the intensive care unit (ICU) to others who appeared to have a typical case but are still struggling months later.
“We are still referring customers for help when appropriate but are starting to see people referred to NHS long Covid services.”
Difficulties diagnosing long Covid
Royal London said it was difficult to provide the number of IP claimants being supported through long Covid using its Helping Hand Service due to difficulties in formally diagnosing long Covid.
“Diagnosis of long Covid can take a long time if it is ever formally diagnosed. Helping Hand is available for Royal London customers and their families through all our protection products bought through an adviser and we’ll still provide support even if they don’t make a claim,” a spokesperson for Royal London added.
AIG Life told Health & Protection that less than 20 people have sought help when suffering from long Covid.
“We’ve paid claims and provided vocational rehabilitation support programmes, and we’ve supported customers by paying monthly IP benefits and hospitalisation benefit at £100 per night for those who’ve needed intensive care,” an AIG spokesperson said.
“Symptoms and long-term effects are varied so additional support has been bespoke, including respiratory physiotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and graded exercise programmes,” the spokesperson added.
When contacted, Aviva said it had also seen a “reasonably small” number of IP claims for long Covid since the start of the pandemic.
The Exeter revealed while it does not differentiate between Covid and long Covid, in 2020 more than 32% of its IP claims were Covid related.
“Our main focus is supporting those members with their specific, individual needs and circumstances, rather than the underlying condition itself,” an Exeter spokesperson added.
“Any member who was suffering from long Covid would also have access to our HealthWise service which provides free and confidential access to physiotherapy, mental health support, second medical opinion and remote GPs, to help manage their symptoms.”
Vitality and Wesleyan Assurance were also contacted for information about the numbers of IP claims they have handled from long Covid sufferers.
Vitality and Wesleyan had not responded by deadline.