From today, Guardian has increased the amount it will pay when a policyholder is diagnosed with a condition that meets one of its additional payout definitions from 25% to 50% of the cover amount up to a maximum of £50,000. The exception to this is for low-risk non-melanoma cancer, which remains at 10% of the cover amount up to the same maximum.
Additional payouts are designed to give customers the financial ability to make lifestyle changes or help fund additional treatments that they may need if they’re diagnosed with a critical illness that meets one of the additional payout definitions. Full details of these additional payout definitions are in Guardian’s policy terms and conditions and on its adviser website.
Additional payouts don’t impact the policyholder’s ability to make a claim for a full payout in the future and can be payable more than once, but not for the same condition twice. The exception to this is carcinoma in situ which can be claimed multiple times so long as the site of each carcinoma in situ is different.
This product change applies to all new quotes and applications for Guardian’s Critical Illness Protection and Combined Life and Critical Illness Protection from today. As this is not a definition change, as required to fall within the scope of Guardian’s cover upgrade promise, this product change doesn’t apply to Guardian’s existing policyholders.
Jacqui Gillies, Marketing and Proposition Director, Guardian, said: “Additional payouts offer much needed financial breathing space and the ability to make lifestyle modifications or help fund additional treatment to those people who’re diagnosed with something critical, but not critical enough to meet a full payout definition. We know advisers like our crystal-clear definitions and our approach to claims, however some partners were telling us that their clients would value a higher additional payout amount. We’ve listened to that feedback and it’s why we’ve announced this change today.”
Alan Lakey, Co-Founder and Director, CIExpert, said: “We know from our Critical Thinking Report 2024 that customers value the ability to make multiple claims on a policy. This increase strengthens Guardian’s position in terms of the cover offered for customers diagnosed with a condition that meets an additional payout definition. While these conditions are not deemed to be critical enough by the medical profession, and hence by insurers, to trigger a full payout, they do still have a serious impact on lives. The beauty of additional payouts is that they don’t impact the ability to make a full claim in the future.”
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Notes to editors:
Press enquiries to Natalie Robinson, 07789 501146, Natalie.robinson@guardianfs.co.uk
Guardian Financial Services is an appointed representative of Scottish Friendly Assurance Society Limited which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
All products are provided by Scottish Friendly Assurance Society Limited and we have an agreement with them to underwrite and issue the protection policies we distribute through the UK intermediary channel.
As an appointed representative of Scottish Friendly Assurance Society Limited, Guardian Financial Services Limited is the market-facing brand under which we promote our proposition and engage with advisers.
Background to Guardian Financial Services, owned by Gryphon Group Holdings
Guardian, the life and protection insurance business, launched in 2018 and pledged to grow the protection market. The brand promise of ‘Life. Made Better.’ reflects the company’s commitment to rethink and reinvent protection for the better; making sure customers get cover that’s easier to understand, simple to buy and designed to never let them down.
Guardian’s business partners
Gryphon Group Holdings is majority owned by Punter Southall Group as the largest equity capital investor. Guardian partners with UnderwriteMe for its Underwriting Engine, Liss Systems, the UK arm of Nasdaq-listed EXL, for its policy administration technology, and Space, for its front-end technology, branding and marketing. Guardian’s reinsurance partners are Hannover Re, Gen Re and Swiss Re.