Aviva is to introduce a new clause to its income protection (IP) policies specifically to help NHS doctors and surgeons.
Aviva's ‘Sick Pay Solutions for doctors and surgeons' has been created to complement the NHS structure of sick pay which changes annually in the first five years of their employment.
Doctors' and surgeons' sick pay operates on an escalating scale in relation to years worked. Therefore it can be difficult to decide what deferment period best meets the needs of such medical professionals, risking a gap in cover.
With the Aviva cover, doctors and surgeons can choose a single deferment period of either 26 weeks or 52 weeks when full benefit would be payable.
Alternatively, they can choose a dual deferment period of 26 and 52 weeks which means a lower amount of benefit would be paid after 26 weeks and an additional amount after 52 weeks. Aviva has said payments from the IP policy compliment the NHS sick pay structure.
Aviva offers IP cover for all doctors on an own occupation class one basis and surgeons on an own occupation class two basis.
Paul Dalgliesh, head of protection propositions for Aviva says: "We're always looking for ways to adapt our products to meet the specific needs of our customers and this is particularly true where income protection is concerned.
"Doctors and surgeons are not immune to ill health and in fact understand only too well how the unexpected can happen. Sick Pay Solutions is designed with the NHS structure in mind, meaning the client can continue to receive a steady income while they're unable to work."
