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Home / Critical illness cover / - Major Organ Transplant
Definition
The actual undergoing as a recipient of, or inclusion on an official United Kingdom , the Channel Islands or The Isle of Man waiting list for, a transplant of a heart, liver, lung, pancreas or bone marrow.
What does this mean?
Sometimes a major organ of the body (such as the liver) becomes so diseased that it fails and becomes life threatening. It may therefore be essential to replace it with a healthy organ. For some rare illnesses, such as aplastic anaemia, a major organ transplant (in this case of the bone marrow) may be the only long term cure available. It can take a long time to find the right donor organ, and the waiting list for such operations is often long. The claim will be met therefore upon acceptance onto an official United Kingdom , Channel Islands or Isle of Man waiting list for the relevant transplant.
NEWS
'Higher quality of life for cancer survivors who follow health recommendations'
30 April 2008 17:13:20
Life insurance policies for cancer survivors may be affected by claims that those who lead a healthier lifestyle have a higher quality of life.
A new study from the American Cancer Society found that people who have survived the disease and follow recommendations such as not smoking, eating more fruit and vegetables and taking exercise have higher health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores than those who do not follow health advice.
Researchers led by Dr Kevin Stein used data from more than 9,000 survivors participating in the American Cancer Society's Study of Cancer Survivors.
The study found higher HRQoL in survivors who were eating five portions of fruit and vegetable a day, meeting exercise recommendations and who smoked little or not at all.
The more lifestyle recommendations cancer survivors met, the higher their HRQoL score, regardless of the type of cancer they had suffered from.
Physical activity was found to have the biggest link with a high HRQoL score.
According to Cancer Research UK, around half of all cancers could be prevented by changes to lifestyle.
The organisation recommends not smoking, staying in shape, sun protection and healthy eating and drinking to help reduce risks of developing the disease.
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 glaucoma test could help save sight
12 March 2008 17:17:17
The introduction of new equipment enabling the earlier detection of glaucoma could help to save many people's sight, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has said.
Steve Winyard, head of campaigns at the RNIB said that the charity is thrilled about a new test which will allow a much more accurate and earlier detection of the disease - a development which could affect the life insurance policies of potential sufferers.
The new test, which was recently revealed by Moorfields Eye Hospital, examines the field of vision of patients.
During the test a central white spot and 32 white lines are displayed on a grey screen on a laptop computer.
The patient is asked to look steadily at the central spot and to press the computer mouse each time one of the lines is seen to move.
Mr Winyard said: "We are very excited by this new equipment which should allow much earlier, wider and accurate detection of glaucoma. If it is widely introduced across the UK, this will help to save many people's sight."
According to Moorfields Eye Hospital, glaucoma is the most common cause of preventable blindness.
It is estimated there are 67 million glaucoma sufferers in the world, but over 50 per cent of these are undiagnosed.
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
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
30 April 2008 17:13:20
Life insurance policies for cancer survivors may be affected by claims that those who lead a healthier lifestyle have a higher quality of life.
A new study from the American Cancer Society found that people who have survived the disease and follow recommendations such as not smoking, eating more fruit and vegetables and taking exercise have higher health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores than those who do not follow health advice.
Researchers led by Dr Kevin Stein used data from more than 9,000 survivors participating in the American Cancer Society's Study of Cancer Survivors.
The study found higher HRQoL in survivors who were eating five portions of fruit and vegetable a day, meeting exercise recommendations and who smoked little or not at all.
The more lifestyle recommendations cancer survivors met, the higher their HRQoL score, regardless of the type of cancer they had suffered from.
Physical activity was found to have the biggest link with a high HRQoL score.
According to Cancer Research UK, around half of all cancers could be prevented by changes to lifestyle.
The organisation recommends not smoking, staying in shape, sun protection and healthy eating and drinking to help reduce risks of developing the disease.
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
12 March 2008 17:17:17
The introduction of new equipment enabling the earlier detection of glaucoma could help to save many people's sight, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has said.
Steve Winyard, head of campaigns at the RNIB said that the charity is thrilled about a new test which will allow a much more accurate and earlier detection of the disease - a development which could affect the life insurance policies of potential sufferers.
The new test, which was recently revealed by Moorfields Eye Hospital, examines the field of vision of patients.
During the test a central white spot and 32 white lines are displayed on a grey screen on a laptop computer.
The patient is asked to look steadily at the central spot and to press the computer mouse each time one of the lines is seen to move.
Mr Winyard said: "We are very excited by this new equipment which should allow much earlier, wider and accurate detection of glaucoma. If it is widely introduced across the UK, this will help to save many people's sight."
According to Moorfields Eye Hospital, glaucoma is the most common cause of preventable blindness.
It is estimated there are 67 million glaucoma sufferers in the world, but over 50 per cent of these are undiagnosed.
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
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