Home / Critical illness cover / - Parkinson’s Disease
Background information
There are more than 120,000 people who have Parkinson's - that's 1 in every 500 people - and this figure is rising.
Around 10,000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson's each year.
Most people are diagnosed over the age of 60, but it is estimated that 1 in 20 people with Parkinson's are under age 40 when diagnosed and 1 in 7 are under 50. (Parkinson's Disease Society, 2002)
Definition
Confirmation by a Consultant Neurologist of a definite diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease secondary to drug misuse is not covered.
What does this mean?
Parkinson’s disease causes a disturbance of voluntary movement. It causes tremors in the limbs and head and rigidity of the muscles. The condition usually takes a long time to progress and some drugs are available which can slow the process down even further. But treatment becomes less effective as time goes by. For a claim to be paid the onset of Parkinson’s disease must be idiopathic. This means it must have developed naturally rather than because of some other medical treatment or illness.
22 February 2008 17:40:19
Tradespeople are putting themselves at risk of an incurable cancer because they don’t know enough about asbestos, the British Lung Foundation has claimed.
Asbestos causes a chest cancer called mesothelioma - which kills one person every five hours in the UK.
As tradespeople, such as builders, plumbers, carpenters, electricians and gas fitters, are most at risk of developing a chest cancer, their life insurance policies may be affected.
A survey carried out by the British Lung Foundation ahead of Action Mesothelioma Day on February 27th revealed that less than a third of tradespeople were aware asbestos exposure can cause cancer and only 12 per cent knew it can kill.
Nearly a third wrongly believed most asbestos has been removed from UK buildings and three quarters had received no training in how to deal with asbestos
"It is a great worry that those most at risk of this cruel cancer know so little about a killer that could be lurking in the building they’re working on today," said Dame Helena
Shovelton, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation.
According to the government, asbestos is the single biggest cause of work related deaths in the UK.
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
04 July 2007 11:13:37
Income protection should be at the top of every family's shopping list, according to new research.
A study by Combined Insurance claims that the average British family would only be able to survive for 18 days on their savings, reports the Telegraph, illustrating the huge importance of protecting your family against loss of earnings.
Though critical illness insurance can offer a great deal of help to families who are affected by loss of income, income protection cover could prove more suitable for your family situation.
Income protection cover is structured to provide regular payments, rather than a one-off lump sum and covers conditions not protected by critical illness cover, such as depression or back pain.
However, Andy Chapman of Pioneer Friendly Society advised that policyholders should take care to fully understand the complexity of income protection.
Talking to the Telegraph, he said: "If a policyholder earns £2,000 a month and takes out an income protection plan to pay 50 per cent of his income, he might assume that he will receive £1,000 a month.
"But if his salary has dropped since the policy was first taken out the payout will only be for 50 per cent of current earnings."
21 January 2008 10:59:29
Life insurance and income protection are considered essential "lifelines" in the wake of the credit crunch, it has emerged.
New research by PruProtect also highlighted the effects of falling house prices and growing consumer debt on people's attitude to cover.
According to the provider's poll, the majority of Brits would cancel their TV subscription or mobile phone contract ahead of their life insurance policy in times of financial hardship.
Life cover also topped the list of most valued protection types with income protection and critical illness cover following it.
Sammy Rubin, chief executive of PruProtect, pointed out that many people may be feeling less secure with their budgets as a result of the UK's financial markets undergoing a period of uncertainty.
He commented: "Life insurance-related policies such as income protection can be a vital lifeline, supplying funds to cover day-to-day costs such as mortgage or debt repayments - or if someone finds themselves in unexpected financial difficulties, such as being unable to work due to illness or injury."
Launched in September last year, PruProtect rewards customers with "vitality points" if they make healthy changes to their lifestyle, presenting the opportunity of lower premiums as a result.
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
