Friends Life has made further coverage enhancements to its Protect+ Critical Illness Cover (CIC) offering.

Changes include the addition of Significant Visual Loss conditions and enhancements to both stroke and Childcover definitions.

From today, new Protect+ customers will benefit from significant improvements to Childcover benefit. The cover has been updated to include cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy.

Friends Life has also improved Protect+ so that children are eligible for cover from birth, even if the condition is diagnosed during pregnancy, as long as the policy was in force prior to diagnosis.

Further enhancements include:

• Changes to the definition of stroke so that, where there is clear medical evidence, claims for stroke are paid more quickly without relying on the need to demonstrate permanent neurological deficit
• The additional condition of Significant Visual Loss offering a partial payout up to £25,000 for permanent and irreversible deterioration of sight.
• Protect+ was launched in October 2011 and delivers high-quality protection products to customers through strong relationships with independent advisers. The comprehensive offering across income protection, critical illness, life and business protection is provided alongside a range of flexible support services including Best Doctor, an expert medical information service.

Steve Payne, managing director of Protection at Friends Life, said: “We are making further significant improvements to the flexibility and the quality of Friends Life’s critical illness offering. Protect+ is designed to provide financial advisers with an innovative, comprehensive solution that reflects the real needs of their customers.

“Moreover, we cover what really matters: the conditions covered in this product are relevant conditions that we expect people to claim on. A product which covers hundreds of conditions would be of little use to customers if they are never going to claim for them.”