Zurich Accelerate

What is Zurich Accelerate?

When facing a serious health concern, waiting for appointments, tests and treatment can be stressful. Zurich Accelerate is an additional support service designed to help eligible customers access specialist expertise, diagnostic tests and treatment options more quickly when dealing with certain cancer, heart and neurological conditions.

Rather than replacing the NHS or private medical insurance, Zurich Accelerate works alongside existing healthcare services, providing additional support and treatment pathways.

What's included?

Zurich Accelerate provides access to six specialist services designed to support customers at different stages of their medical journey.

1. Virtual Consultant

Fast access to a UK consultant after receiving a referral from your GP.

• Faster access to specialist advice.
• Convenient virtual appointments.
• Choice of consultant and appointment times.
• Dedicated case manager support.

2. Private Diagnostics Plus

Access to private diagnostic tests and scans that may help speed up the investigation process.

• Faster access to diagnostic testing.
• Choice of testing locations.
• Access to appropriate investigations without lengthy delays.

3. Second Medical Opinion

An independent review of your diagnosis and treatment plan from experienced international specialists.

• Greater confidence in your diagnosis.
• Access to world-leading specialists.
• Alternative treatment recommendations where appropriate.

4. Precision Cancer Medicine

Advanced tumour profiling and personalised treatment recommendations for certain cancers.

• Personalised treatment planning.
• Better understanding of how cancer may respond to treatment.
• Access to cutting-edge cancer expertise.
• Family genetic counselling and testing where appropriate.

5. Cancer Clinical Trial Support

Support identifying and applying for suitable cancer clinical trials.

• Assistance locating relevant clinical trials.
• Guidance through the application process.
• Travel and accommodation support where applicable.

6. Global Treatment Plus

Access to treatment at leading hospitals around the world for certain serious conditions.

• Access to internationally recognised hospitals and specialists.
• Travel and accommodation support.
• Daily allowances for patients and travelling companions.
• Follow-up care and medication support.

Additional policy benefit — Milestone Benefit

One of the most valuable features available with many Zurich protection policies is the Milestone Benefit. Life changes over time, and your protection needs often change too. The Milestone Benefit allows eligible customers to increase their cover following major life events without answering further health questions or undergoing additional medical underwriting.

Although premiums will increase to reflect the additional cover, your current state of health will not normally affect your ability to increase protection.

Qualifying life events

You may be able to increase your cover if you experience any of the following:

• Mortgage changes — taking out a new mortgage or increasing an existing mortgage.
• Marriage or civil partnership — getting married or entering a civil partnership.
• Separation or divorce — divorce, separation or dissolution of a civil partnership.
• Becoming a parent — having a child, adopting a child, or starting or growing your family.
• Significant pay rise — receiving a salary increase of 10% or more.
• Rent increase — a substantial increase in rental payments.
• Loss of employer life cover — losing employer-provided group life assurance when changing jobs.
• Increased inheritance tax liability — an increase in your potential inheritance tax exposure.

How much additional cover can be added?

The maximum increase available is the lower of:

• Your original sum assured, or
• £200,000.

For Family Income Benefit policies, the maximum increase is the lower of your original sum assured, or £200,000 divided by the number of months remaining on the policy term.

Why this can be valuable

Many people take out protection when they are younger and healthier. If circumstances change later, obtaining additional cover may become more difficult or expensive due to health issues. The Milestone Benefit helps keep protection aligned with growing responsibilities such as larger mortgages, increased family commitments and higher incomes.

Who can use Zurich Accelerate?

You may be eligible to use Zurich Accelerate if:

• You hold a Zurich policy that includes Accelerate.
• You are experiencing symptoms or have a diagnosis relating to eligible cancer, heart or neurological conditions.
• You meet the individual service eligibility requirements.
• Children covered under the policy are aged 22 or under.

What's covered?

Accelerate is designed to support eligible:

• Cancer conditions.
• Heart conditions.
• Neurological conditions.
• Certain major surgeries including heart surgery and neurosurgery.
• Bone marrow transplants.
• Live donor organ transplants for applicable services.

Important eligibility considerations

Pre-existing conditions

Access to some services may be limited if signs, symptoms, investigations or diagnoses existed before cover started.

Neurological conditions

Certain neurological conditions may be subject to a 12-month waiting period if symptoms, investigations or diagnoses existed before Accelerate started.

Precision Cancer Medicine

This service is intended for certain advanced or complex cancers, including stage 3 and stage 4 cancers, rare cancers, cancers of unknown origin, and cancers not responding to first-line treatment.

Children's cover

Cover may not be available where symptoms or diagnoses existed before Accelerate began, or where parents had received medical advice indicating an increased risk of the child developing the condition before cover started.

What isn't covered?

Understanding the exclusions is just as important as understanding the benefits. Zurich Accelerate does not cover:

• General medical conditions outside the eligible cancer, heart and neurological conditions.
• Costs associated with obtaining medical records from your GP, consultant or hospital.
• Travel, accommodation or time off work relating to UK diagnostic appointments.
• The cost of clinical trial treatments themselves — in most cases these are funded by the trial sponsor.
• Unlimited use of services — some benefits can only be used once per diagnosis or have annual usage limits.
• UK-based treatment through Global Treatment Plus, as this service is specifically intended for treatment abroad.

Treatment abroad support

One of the standout features of Accelerate is the support available if treatment overseas is recommended. Depending on the situation, this may include flights and travel arrangements, accommodation costs, daily allowances, access to leading international hospitals, and dedicated case manager support throughout the treatment process.

Accessing the service

Zurich Accelerate is delivered through Zurich's healthcare partner, Further Group. Services are accessed through the secure Trustedoctor platform, which allows customers to manage medical information, reports and appointments securely online.

At a glance

This guide is for informational purposes only and was accurate at the date of publication. Please seek personalised advice before making financial decisions.