Hi
Just wondering if anyone can advise me on a critical illness claim and any successful
Claims. I was diagnosed with grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma and I am with Aviva. I was wondering if anyone had a successful full payout with a similar diagnosis? Does it depend on size etc?
Struggling working full time at the moment but don’t have a choice financially, so anything would help.
Thanks in advance xx
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Hi @k8t
I was with Aviva on a policy that matured in the month I found out I had a lump. My diagnosis was 2 weeks after maturity. After paying for 25 years it seemed unfair the diagnosis was after maturity, although I phoned to advise them the day of my mammogram (2 weeks before maturity)that there was something that needed further investigation.
I had to complain and say there were mitigating factors as to why my diagnosis was after maturity. Normally your first appointment within 2 weeks should be a triple check (examination, mammogram and biopsy) but my health board has changed the system after Covid delays to mammogram and then triage patients according to need. I waited 3 weeks after mammogram to see surgeon and have biopsy.
Suffice to say after a letter and documentation to show I had a lump before maturity which was confirmed on the mammogram they paid out. It did take several months.
My diagnosis was bilateral invasive grade 2 2 cm tumour ER+ HER2+ and a grade 1 0.7cm tumour ER+ (both boobs!, 2nd tumour found with MRI to size the first to decide if chemo before or after surgery).
I wish you the best of luck in your claim. 
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Having a cancer diagnosis means you are now classified as disabled under The Equality Act 2010 and can apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) which is not a means tested benefit.
If you are unfit for work you can claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) ( 2 types-contribution based and income related)as well as Universal Credit (UC) which is means tested.
Help from MacMillan and Citizens Advice Bureau can advise on all benefits.
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Thanks so much for this. I am just waiting for my cancer nurse to confirm the paperwork I have given Aviva is mine etc and hopefully I will get an answer. I am just not sure if it would be classed as early stage so the partial payout or full. On doing my research and reading my policy it seems that DCIS is what they class as early stage so as crazy as it sounds I hope my diagnosis is on track for a full payout. I mean to be honest anything would help right now. Xx
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Hi - I have a life insurance policy with vitality. I don’t have critical illness, but my policy covers serious illness. So I could claim for 10% of my policy value. My diagnosis was grade 2 30mm IDC ER+ HER2- with spread to lymph nodes, but no other evidence of spread. The payout took the pressure off financially - and meant I could take my time before returning to work. Definitely worth applying for, my payout was within a couple of weeks of having the paperwork completed by my surgeon . Hope you get your payout without any delays xx
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Hello there,
Sorry to hear you’re going this this.
Early stage is typically diagnosed as DSIS and many insurance providers don’t offer the full payout as this type can lay dormant for years if not forever. IDC is a different matter as it’s already travelled from the duct and I would hope your policy pays out. Mine did for a stage one IDC.
It doesn’t take away the worry or the pain or the ongoing anxiety but the financial help does offer that freedom from having to rush back to work and stress too early.
Good luck and all the best to you xx
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I worked for a Life Insurance company for 30 years and what they want to avoid is someone making a formal complaint to the Financial Ombudsman. Too many complaints & the Financial Ombudsman will fine them and they don’t want the bad publicity. So if you’re not happy with Aviva’s response, first you must raise a formal complaint with them. They should give you a ref number, tell you how long their process will take and who to complain to if you do not agree with the outcome. Then you can go to the Financial Ombudsman. Each company’s terms & conditions vary, in fact they vary within each company depending upon when & what was sold. I hope it doesn’t come to this, but if it does don’t waste any time as there is usually a time limit in taking it to the Financial Ombudsman.
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I was stage 1 Grade 1 and I was able to make a claim with Legal and General . Mine was critical illness insurance with decreasing cover and I was diagnosed less than a year before it was due to finish completely and for that reason I was only able to claim the minimal amount which was £5,000 but it made a big difference . The worst thing was sending all the documents and waiting for the consultants to complete the forms that were sent out plus I had to prove that I had paid off my mortgage ( and had thrown away the letter so had to contact the company to get another ) . It seemed to take a while but it came through . Xx
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Thank you so much for replying everyone. I will keep you all posted how it goes. Xx
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Yes I had grade 2 invasive ductal with clear lymph nodes and I made a successful claim on my critical illness policy, bittersweet circumstances but a massive relief financially.
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So sorry to hear that. It’s pretty tough to get head round that something so negative could possibly give a positive turn to my future. Can I ask which company you were insured with? X
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I’m waiting for AIG to decide if they’re paying me. The consultant has had paperwork for 9 weeks now and its been passed from department to department. It is stressful waiting.
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Hey I don’t have the same diagnosis mine is early stage triple negative breast cancer but I had a full payout from Aviva critical illness cover which I was not expecting at all. Good luck I hope it works out for you
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Thanks for your reply. And that fills me with hope. It’s the waiting that’s hard…… think it’s waiting for cancer nurse to reply to email at mo. I have called today and left a message. X
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I was with Aegon and they were amazing, they paid out within a couple of weeks.
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Hi, I had an invasive ductal carcinoma in one boob, 1.9cm was ER+ and HER2+ I made a claim and they paid out. It took a few months. Also Aviva. I also said that I didn’t want to see the medical report…was a bit of a head in sand time for me I think. I too have had to struggle on with full time work (following 6months off with chemo and radio after surgery), I’m already a widow due to cancer… I was so fatigued. Wishing you all the best with your claim x
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Gosh, I’m so pleased that you got your pay out…that would have felt and been so unjust x it’s just another thing to think and fight for, that really you don’t need at the time x
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I had grade 2 IDC too and was able to claim through my critical illness insurance that I had through my workplace. Actually was somewhat kicking myself for not having selected a higher level of cover but then I really hadn’t anticipated a cancer diagnosis at 39 
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Hi,
You should be able to claim critical illness. I had an ISA with this clause and got yhe full value back from it. You just need to contact the insurance company for forms to fill in. If that is what you are thinking.
X
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You may need to email the Consultant’s secretary and ask her to remind them / if they can do it on their next admin session - I did. Be polite but explain about your broken boiler etc and that you are in need of the money . Mine was a single rate because of having BC , having said that they also send forms to my Oncologist and I had to send my radiotherapy appointment schedule - so I should check with the company as to whether they need Oncology input in order to pay out or if you get additional payments for further treatments ( this didn’t apply to me) . Xx
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