LV= has improved its income protection and critical illness offerings.

The income protection improvements include a £1000 benefit guarantee and an increase in the maximum age the cover can expire to 70.

LV= has also increased the percentage of salary that can be covered to 55%, and removed the ‘suited’ occupation definition, defining more roles as ‘own occupation’. This comes as a direct result of adviser feedback calling for more simplicity on occupation definitions.

Nearly 80% of the occupations LV= covers are now on an ‘own occupation’ basis, and includes teachers, doctors, dentists, midwives, nurses and surgeons, roles which can often only be covered under ‘tasks’ or ‘any occupation’ definitions.

Critical illness enhancements include an increase in the maximum age at expiry to 70, and extending the maximum term to 40 years for guaranteed premiums. In addition, LV= has increased the number of children’s illnesses covered to equal the conditions covered on the adult critical illness cover.

Mark Jones , LV= head of protection, said: “We are constantly striving to make improvements to our protection offering and these enhancements strengthen our income protection and critical illness proposition further. In addition these changes and developments will be of significant benefit to consumers and to advisers who will be able to offer greater flexibility and support to their clients.”””