Aviva Refuses Payout to Terminally Ill Cancer Patient: Policy Expiry Date Hinders Claim

Aviva Refuses Payout to Terminally Ill Cancer Patient

In a heartbreaking turn of events, another terminally ill cancer patient has been denied a pay-out from his Life insurance policy by Aviva. Mark Brookes, 63, was diagnosed with terminal bile duct cancer just four weeks ago and was shocked to discover that he would not be able to claim on his policy, which he had been paying into since 2009.

Mark’s story mirrors that of Shaun Pinkney, a Salford resident who was also diagnosed with terminal cancer and was recently told by Aviva that he could not cash out on his 15-year policy due to not meeting the 18-month deadline before its expiry date. Both men have been caught out by the fine print in their policies, which stipulates that terminally ill individuals can only make a claim for early payment if they have 18 months or more left on their policy.

Despite paying almost £9,000 into his policy over the years, Mark is unable to renew or get a new Life insurance policy due to his terminal status. He expressed frustration at Aviva’s lack of communication regarding the changes to their policies, questioning why they did not offer to switch him to an updated plan at an extra cost when they stopped selling the problematic policies in 2013.

Mark’s rare form of cancer has left him with a grim prognosis, with doctors confirming that the cancer is treatable but not curable. He is set to undergo six months of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, but his main concern lies with his wife, Sandra, who has had to give up her job to care for him.

Aviva has defended their decision, stating that the terminal illness benefit is designed to provide an advance payment of the death benefit if a medical specialist confirms that the individual is expected to live for less than 12 months. They maintain that the terms and conditions of the policy were clearly communicated to Mark at the time of purchase and that they are unable to make exceptions for claims that fall within the exclusion period.

Despite the company’s stance, Mark continues to advocate for a reconsideration of their decision, emphasizing the financial strain and emotional burden that the denial of his claim has placed on him and his family. He hopes that by sharing his story, others will think twice before choosing Aviva as their insurer.

As Mark faces the challenges ahead, he remains determined to fight for what he believes is fair and just. The support of his loved ones and the solidarity of those who have heard his story give him strength as he navigates this difficult chapter in his life.