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How do insurers protect the income of health professionals?

News article

Publication date:

25 March 2020

Last updated:

18 December 2023

Author(s):

Adam Higgs

Protection Guru explore how providers match up against the other providers and which proposition offers the best perks of income protection for medical professionals.

 

 

Advising the medical profession on their income protection requirements can be difficult as often their needs due to their occupation are quite different, particularly in matching the deferred period to their sick pay scheme. Royal London have today joined the growing list of providers who are now offering doctors, surgeons and other medical professionals’ special benefits within their Income Protection Plans. This week, we explore how they match up against the other providers and which proposition offers the best perks.

Length of Service

Full Pay

Half Pay

During the 1st year of service

1 month

2 months

During the 2nd year of service

2 months

2 months

During the 3rd year of service

4 months

4 months

During the 4th & 5th year of service

5 months

5 months

After 5 years of service

6 months

6 months

One such perk that some insurers offer is matching the deferred periods within their income protection plan to the NHS sick pay scheme. NHS employee sick pay varies depending on length of service. The table below shows how long employees will be offered full and half pay depending on their length of service:

(Source: https://www.nhsemployers.org/tchandbook/part-3-terms-and-conditions-of-service/section-14-sickness-absence-england)

This sick pay structure complicates income protection advice as advisers do not know if or when a client may claim on their policy. If, for example, a claim was made in the client’s first year of service with the NHS their immediate requirement is a split deferred period of 1 and 3 months. If the client needs to claim in their 4th year of service however, the split deferred periods should be 5 and 10 months.

As such NHS staff, and those with sick pay schemes that mirror the NHS, require an income protection plan where the deferred period changes in line with their length of service. Fortunately, there are a number of insurers that offer this.

The Protection Guru are updating their information regularly. Therefore, to read the full, up to date article please click here:

https://protectionguru.co.uk/2020/03/19/royal-london-improves-ip-cover-for-health-professionals/

 

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This document is believed to be accurate but is not intended as a basis of knowledge upon which advice can be given. Neither the author (personal or corporate), the CII group, local institute or Society, or any of the officers or employees of those organisations accept any responsibility for any loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of the data or opinions included in this material. Opinions expressed are those of the author or authors and not necessarily those of the CII group, local institutes, or Societies.