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Home / Critical illness cover / - Blindness
Background information
In total, over 1 million people are visually impaired (ie registerable).
Of these, 194,000 are registered as blind and 160,000 as partially sighted.
(Office of National Statistics, 2002 - figures as at 31 March 1997)
Definition
Total permanent and irreversible loss of all sight in both eyes.
What does this mean?
Sight can be lost because of an accident or illness. In order for a claim to be paid, the loss of sight must be total, permanent and irreversible. Therefore, a claim would not be paid if the loss was only partial or was a temporary condition.
NEWS
Diabetes care 'improving' but many people still lacking
26 October 2007 13:33:55
Diabetes sufferers looking at life insurance or critical illness cover options may be interested in a new report showing that care is improving.
The Information Centre (IC) for health and social care revealed that more people in the UK are having the key tests and measurements needed to help keep their condition under control.
Carried out by the IC on behalf of the Healthcare Commission, the National Diabetes Audit (NDA) monitors care and aims to ensure consistent quality across the UK.
Levels of achievement overall have apparently been increasing every year, although the audit for 2005 to 2006 showed that there is still room for improvement.
"It is good to see the number of people with diabetes receiving key measurement tests such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure increasing," said Dr Jonathan Boyce, head of external output for the Healthcare Commission.
"However, health services must not become complacent - the number of people receiving key tests still needs to rise," Dr Boyce pointed out.
The report also showed that the rates of heart attack and stroke in people with diabetes has reduced across the three years of the audit, with better control helping cut the risk of developing such complications of the condition.
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online
New heart disease genes discovered
20 July 2007 14:34:50
Six new genetic variants that increase the likelihood of suffering a heart attack have been discovered, underlining the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
In response to the research published in the New England Journal of Medicine- which revealed the increased genetic risk of heart disease - the British Heart Foundation have stressed the need for people across the UK to do their utmost to prevent heart disease.
Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director of the UK's leading heart charity, said: "We already know that we can control many things in everyday life to reduce our risk of getting heart disease, for example, not smoking, eating a healthy diet and taking regular physical activity.
"This new research is helping us work out the other side of the story - the role our genes play in contributing to heart disease. They tell us that some people carry a higher risk because of genes they’ve inherited."
He continued: "We're not yet at the stage where screening can tell us who has these genes, so it makes sense for everyone to take control of their health and minimise their risk."
The British Heart Foundation estimates that 91,000 men under 75 in the UK suffer a heart attack every year, while 31,000 women are affected.
Life insurance a must as obesity risk grows
03 September 2007 14:06:53
A new survey has revealed the importance of acquiring life insurance and critical illness cover to protect yourself and your family against a future of ill health.
A study at University College London (UCL) recently showed that an increase in the intake of alcohol and carbohydrates is leading to an increased incidence of obesity and a resultant raised likelihood of suffering a heart attack or stroke.
Ed Balls, secretary of state for children, schools and families, has responded to the report by impressing the importance of curbing the chance of an obese future Britain.
He revealed that, should the number of high-risk children continue to rise at its current rate, nearly half of UK children could be classed as obese by 2050.
"It is clearly important that we act and that is what we are doing," he commented.
The UCL research showed that the weight of a typical British female has risen to 66 kilogrammes, while the average British male weighs 70 kilogrammes.
However, these figures are around eight to 13 pounds lighter than those for American men and women.
It is thought that this weight difference plays a "key role" in the increased incidence of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke and cancer among US citizens.
26 October 2007 13:33:55
Diabetes sufferers looking at life insurance or critical illness cover options may be interested in a new report showing that care is improving.
The Information Centre (IC) for health and social care revealed that more people in the UK are having the key tests and measurements needed to help keep their condition under control.
Carried out by the IC on behalf of the Healthcare Commission, the National Diabetes Audit (NDA) monitors care and aims to ensure consistent quality across the UK.
Levels of achievement overall have apparently been increasing every year, although the audit for 2005 to 2006 showed that there is still room for improvement.
"It is good to see the number of people with diabetes receiving key measurement tests such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure increasing," said Dr Jonathan Boyce, head of external output for the Healthcare Commission.
"However, health services must not become complacent - the number of people receiving key tests still needs to rise," Dr Boyce pointed out.
The report also showed that the rates of heart attack and stroke in people with diabetes has reduced across the three years of the audit, with better control helping cut the risk of developing such complications of the condition.
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online
20 July 2007 14:34:50
Six new genetic variants that increase the likelihood of suffering a heart attack have been discovered, underlining the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
In response to the research published in the New England Journal of Medicine- which revealed the increased genetic risk of heart disease - the British Heart Foundation have stressed the need for people across the UK to do their utmost to prevent heart disease.
Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director of the UK's leading heart charity, said: "We already know that we can control many things in everyday life to reduce our risk of getting heart disease, for example, not smoking, eating a healthy diet and taking regular physical activity.
"This new research is helping us work out the other side of the story - the role our genes play in contributing to heart disease. They tell us that some people carry a higher risk because of genes they’ve inherited."
He continued: "We're not yet at the stage where screening can tell us who has these genes, so it makes sense for everyone to take control of their health and minimise their risk."
The British Heart Foundation estimates that 91,000 men under 75 in the UK suffer a heart attack every year, while 31,000 women are affected.
03 September 2007 14:06:53
A new survey has revealed the importance of acquiring life insurance and critical illness cover to protect yourself and your family against a future of ill health.
A study at University College London (UCL) recently showed that an increase in the intake of alcohol and carbohydrates is leading to an increased incidence of obesity and a resultant raised likelihood of suffering a heart attack or stroke.
Ed Balls, secretary of state for children, schools and families, has responded to the report by impressing the importance of curbing the chance of an obese future Britain.
He revealed that, should the number of high-risk children continue to rise at its current rate, nearly half of UK children could be classed as obese by 2050.
"It is clearly important that we act and that is what we are doing," he commented.
The UCL research showed that the weight of a typical British female has risen to 66 kilogrammes, while the average British male weighs 70 kilogrammes.
However, these figures are around eight to 13 pounds lighter than those for American men and women.
It is thought that this weight difference plays a "key role" in the increased incidence of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke and cancer among US citizens.