Vitality - Serious Illness Cover

[Shanders]

Hello, I have read previous posts re Critical Illness Cover policies and noted the specific reference to the ABI's minimum cover guidelines that were updated (in 2006?) to include MPNs as covered conditions and wondered if anyone had any experience with Vitality and their Serious Illness Cover policy in this regard?

I have recently been diagnosed with ET (Feb 2023) and have had a claim accepted on my work provided critical illness policy, provided by Canada Life, with little to no fuss; however, Vitality, who I have a personal policy with, are proving to be a bit more difficult i.e. flat out refusing any claim, refusing to contact the hospital for confirmation of the condition and basically being entirely unhelpful. Not a good experience with them so far.

I have escalated my claim with them; however, I still need to go off and get a letter from my consultant confirming my diagnosis and medication etc.

In the meantime, it would be great to know if anyone has had any similar experiences with Vitality and/or any success from a claim with them?

[LittleLuna]

hi Shanders

I will be watching to see your outcome with Vitality and interested to hear others experiences.

I too have a policy with Vitality but was not aware MPN were covered but mine is termiinal illness cover and not critical.

I do hope you get a positive resolution.

[Shanders in reply to LittleLuna]

Thanks LittleLuna. When did you take out your policy with Vitality? They changed their policy terminology from 'Critical' to 'Serious' illness to be more all encompassing so I would have thought that you would have had that type of policy? When I first took out the policy around 6 years ago it was a joint Life and Serious Illness. A terminal illness cover policy wasnt one of the products they appeared to offer?

[LittleLuna in reply to Shanders]

Hi

Putting it down to PV brain, LOL. My life policy is with Legal & General not Vitality. My pension is with Vitality but due to change soon.

I need to do some research into all of this now.

thank you

[Trocken]

I was diagnosed 4 years ago and had a battle but wish I’d taken it further to be honest or to the ombudsmen! They’re very difficult to deal with, they outsource they’re phones to other countries so their was often a communication issue, they take weeks to respond via email or letter etc but you’re only given days to respond. It’s frustrating.

MPN’s are covered under their policy, however they would only pay out 30% and the policy continues to run. I find this crazy as most other providers will pay out 100%. Im 42 and would like to reduce my working hours especially in light of the new research that’s come about. I am going to seek further advice about it. I didn’t, but having spoken to our financial advisor since who we arranged the policy through he had said that we should have contacted him and he would have assisted me, so this could be an option.

I have a letter from them where they’ve stated the cover they provide for MPN’s let me know if you need it! Good luck and keep us posted

[Shanders in reply to Trocken]

Hi Trocken, many thanks for the response. Certainly sounds like a similar experience on the phones and making me do all the leg work around getting information to them.

If you don't mind providing a copy of the letter saying they provide for MPNs that would be greatly appreciated as I feel like it is going to be a bit of a battle with them....which I could do without as still coming to terms with the diagnosis and what it all means.

Thanks for the advice re the FA as well as I had my policy arranged via one also so I will loop them in too. Hadn't thought about that at all!

[Wyebird]

would you be able to go on the NHS app and take a screen shot of your notes. Surely they wouldn’t challenge the NHS.

Good luck

[Mirabellegage]

thanks for raising this. Just diagnosed and I’d completely forgotten about serious illness cover that we have with Vitality - will reach out to FA who organised it.

[Mel0301]

Hi, I'm newly diagnosed with ET and also with vitality, was wondering how you's all got on with your claims? Is it worth sending on through?

[Shanders in reply to Mel0301]

I got a partial payment from Vitality but was a pretty long process to get there (over 12 months). I am still arguing with them over their definition of how severe a condition it is as they have only paid out the minimum amount possible to date. I would certainly encourage you to make a claim though and don’t accept it if they initially reject you…they don’t really understand the condition or that it is covered.

[Mel0301]

Thank you for the reply, disappointing they didn't pay out the full claim, I wanted to move from them right before I was sent for tests but felt it was best to wait til all testing was completed. Raging now aww well 🤷 have an appointment with hematologist mid April so I will wait til I get all my ducks in a row then chance a claim 🤞🙏