An MP has railed against an insurance company’s refusal to pay out to a dying cancer patient, saying Aviva knows the terminally ill man’s policy is ‘not practical or fit for purpose’.
The M.E.N. understands Aviva has reviewed Shaun's case, but has not changed its decision as he does not have a specific prognosis of having 12 months to live. But Aviva has said it cannot offer him another policy because of his general terminal diagnosis. Shaun was diagnosed with multiple myeloma - a type of bone marrow cancer - in April 2023. A year later, he was reminded of his life insurance policy in a letter from Aviva, reminding him to renew the plan he'd been paying into for 15 years which was due to end this month.
Fears for other people falling through the gap Despite multiple requests, Aviva has not answered whether customers on older policies have been told about the decision to stop the 18 month deadline for the terminal illness benefit, or if customers are contacted individually to be warned ahead of the 18 month cut off on their policy to advise them they may want to change or renew their package as a major element of it times out.
"I will be writing to Aviva about Shaun's case and to ask them to reconsider their decision, as well as for others who happen to find themselves in a similar situation on older policies such as this."Aviva has said that ‘the 18 month clause was included so that the acceleration of death benefit does not in effect extend the term of the policy beyond what was selected and priced for’.