The insurer has now added spina bifida to its cover, which has also been extended to children up to the age of 21 who are not working full time. The exclusion for terminal illness has been removed.
“Nothing can compensate a parent for the trauma of a seriously ill child, but being able to help families when this occurs is one of the most rewarding things we do as an insurer,” said Chris Pollard, head of underwriting, claims and operations for Friends Life Individual Protection.
Two thirds of its claims last year were cancer-related with benign brain tumour, open heart surgery and multiple sclerosis the next three most claimed for conditions.
A total of £1.4m was paid out last year in children’s claims with the average paid out for a child claim reaching £19,625.
Pollard said: “I am really proud that we can offer child cover benefits and cover for child specific illnesses to customers as part of our critical illness policy. Paying out almost £1.5 million last year will have really helped a lot of families when they needed it most.”
