Legal & General has launched its new Second Medical Opinion service.

It provides customers with the opportunity of a face to face meeting with a Consultant Specialist to get an independent second opinion on their condition, should they need to make a claim.

All elements of the Second Medical Opinion service will be confidentially managed by Healix Health Services, which is independent from Legal & General.

The service will be included as standard on all new policies taken out from 29 June 2015. These include: Term Assurance (Terminal Illness Cover), Critical Illness Cover (including Children’s Critical Illness Cover), Family and Personal Income Plans, Income Protection Benefit and Business Protection. Legal & General will pay a contribution of up to £300 towards the cost of a face to face consultation (average consultation cost is £250).

Steve Bryan, intermediary, insurance, Legal & General Insurance, said: “Our Second Medical Opinion service aims to provide our customers with added peace of mind at a very distressing time in their lives. It will help them to seek expert advice should they choose to discuss their condition further with a Consultation Specialist.

“This is a part of our on-going commitment to frequently review and adapt our claims process to ensure that it is as stress-free and efficient as possible. We pride ourselves on our performance when it comes to claims and measures such as this, along with the implementation of our dedicated, Samaritan trained claims team, can help limit the financial and emotional impact that illness can have on people’s lives.”