Critical Illness cover - Help

Hi JulW, I'm Tony one of the Community Champions, perhaps if you explained your probkem better in that was the policy in place prior to you trying to claim or you are looking for a policy cover, some of us may then may be able to get a better angle on your problem(s)

Take care

Tony

JulW said:

Does anyone have knowledge of Critical Illness insurance? I'm trying to find out if anyone has had any success in making a claim with Stage 2 non small cell lung cancer. Any info or thoughts most welcome - thank you!! I phoned MacMillan to discuss as they advertise that they can help with critical illness claims but was told on phone they don't help with this. 

Hi JulW,

I'm sorry if there has been any confusion regarding support with insurance claims. While the Macmillan website has some basic information on different kinds of protection insurance cover (which includes critical illness cover), the Money Advisers mentioned in the advert are trained in helping people to access benefits. You can read more about the things our Money Advisers can help with on their information page.

As our lovely Community Champion Kasvin mentions, if there are other members of the Community who have filled in claims like this, they might be able to give you some tips here. If you can explain any specific things you're stuck on, making sure to avoid sharing any of your personal details, I'm sure they'll do their best to help.

It may also be worth contacting the helpline of your insurer. They may be able to support you with any specific difficulties you have encountered with filling out your claim.

Thank you Matthew. Would it be possible for MacMillan to review what Aviva are saying currently on their website that MacMillan do to support critical illness guidance as it’s not the case. Aviva even have MacMillan phone number there to call which I called, thanks. I have only just had my diagnosis and so far each organisation I’ve reached out to that advertises something they support dont actually support it.

Thanks Tony. I’m starting a claim but was trying to find out if stage 2 cancer is typically covered or not as the policy definitions are mind boggling. I guess I will just start one and hope for the best. 

JulW said:

Would it be possible for MacMillan to review what Aviva are saying currently on their website that MacMillan do to support critical illness guidance as it’s not the case.

Hi JulW,

Thank you so much for providing that extra information, it is very helpful. I will pass that information onto our Feedback Team for further investigation. If there's any out-of-date or potentially confusing wording being used, we absolutely would want to get that cleared up.

If you'd like to be contacted by the Feedback Team about this issue, you can submit a short summary of your issue and opt-in to being contacted via our dedicated Feedback Team contact form.

Rest assured I will still be passing the issue onto the Feedback Team, even if you don't wish to hear back from them.

Thanks again for your help, and again I'm sorry if there's been any confusion.

Hi, I see Mathew has contacted you and explained the situation, the only other thing I can suggest is please contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau as they may get you a face to face appointment to see an adviser they normally have some form of legal or financial advisers but only advise they wouldn't act as your representative or anything legal but may be able to explain any wording, I'm only advising this as I used to work for CA as a supervisor but all Offices have different set ups

Hope you get things sorted

Tony

Hi JulW

Hubby was diagnosed with NSCLC initially as stage 2 in 2023. We had critical illness cover as part of our life insurance. It was a very old policy dating back to 2021 with Scottish Provident. 

We phoned them and requested a claim form. They asked a few questions and emailed the forms. They weren't too complicated to fill in, just basic details, diagnosis, dates. They wanted details of our GP, consultant, NHS and Hospital numbers. We included a copy of a letter from his consultant to our GP confirming his diagnosis. We emailed our GP, hospital consultant and lung nurses explaining we had made a claim and to expect contact from the insurnace company. Our lung nurse was very kind and reassured us that they are used to dealing with claims and assured us that they would deal with it promptly.

The claim went smoothly and we received payment within a month. Policies will be different with different companies but this is what critical illness cover is for. 

I must admit like most people I was sceptical about insurance companies and was sure they would try to wriggle out of a claim. But they paid out quickly and without any question when we needed it. the staff on the phone were pleasant, kind and helpful.

Try not to sweat too much about the policy wording just go ahead and make your claim.

Thank you so much. Really appreciate all this information it’s incredibly helpful thank you!