ChildMax Glossary (alphabetical)

Accident:

A sudden, unexpected, unusual, specific event which occurs at an identifiable time and place.

Aplastic Anaemia: (policy wording)

Means a complete bone marrow failure which results in anaemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia.

Aplastic anaemia: (explanation)

The permanent failure of the bone marrow to make new blood cells, leading to anaemia. This is an increase in infections that the body cannot fight, and haemorrhaging. Treatment is usually by repeated blood transfusions or a bone marrow transplant.

Bacterial Meningitis: (policy wording)

The unequivocal diagnosis of bacterial meningitis resulting in Permanent Neurological Deficit with Persisting Clinical Symptoms or physical deficit.

Bacterial meningitis: (explanation)

Not the same a viral meningitis and other forms of meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is an infection of the meninges, the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord, caused by bacterial infection. The feverish illness can be life threatening and may cause permanent physical disability or permanent damage to the nervous system.

Benign Brain Tumour: (policy wording)

A non-malignant tumour or cyst originating from the brain, cranial nerves or meninges within the skull, resulting in Permanent Neurological Deficit with Persistent Clinical Symptoms. The following is not covered in the definition: Tumours in the pituary gland; Tumours originating from bone tissue; Angioma and cholesteatoma.

Benign brain tumour: (explanation)

A non-cancerous abnormal growth of tissue. A benign brain tumour occurs in the brain, although not cancerous, is very serious because the growth may be pressing on areas of the brain. Such growths may be potentially life threatening and may need removing in surgery.

Blindness: (policy wording)

Permanent and Irreversible loss of sight in both eyes to the extent that even when tested with the use of visual aids, vision is measured at 3/60 or worse in the better eye using a Snellen eye chart.

Blindness: (explanation)

This does not mean being registered blind. You do not need to be totally blind in both eyes but your permanent and irreversible loss of sight must be to the extent that even when tested using the Snellen eye chart. The measure of 3/60 means the person can only see an object up to 3 feet away that a person with perfect vision could see if it were 60 feet away.

Cancer: (policy wording)

Any malignant tumour positively diagnosed with histological confirmation and characterised by the uncontrolled growth of malignant cells and invasion of tissue. The term malignant tumour includes leukaemia, sarcoma and lymphoma except cutaneous lymphoma (lymphoma confined to the skin). The following is not covered in the definition: All cancers which are histologically classified any of the following: pre-malignant, non-invasive, cancer in situ, having a borderline malignancy or having low malignant potential. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia unless histologically classified as having progressed to at least Binet Stage A. Any skin cancer (including cutaneous lymphoma) other than malignant melanoma that has been histologically classified as having caused invasion beyond the epidermis (outer layer of skin). All thyroid tumours unless histologically classified as having progressed to at least TNM classification T2N0M0.

Cancer: (explanation)

Cancer is life threatening as it covers all malignant tumours which are tumours made up of cancerous cells which invade the surrounding tissues and spread via the bloodstream or lymphatic system to form more growths. Leukaemia is the cancer of white blood cells. The cancer of lymphoma which is a vital part of the immune system. Non-life threatening cancers are pre-malignant tumours, non-evasive and cancers in situ, as they are early stage cancer and show no signs of invading surrounding tissues.

Child or Children:

Your natural, step or legally adopted child, who resides with you at your address as stated in the Policy Certificate and is named in the Policy Certificate.

Coma: (policy wording)

A state of unconsciousness with no reaction to external stimuli or internal needs which requires the use of life support systems for a continuous period of at least 96 hours and which results in Permanent Neurological Deficit with Persisting Clinical Symptoms. The following is not covered in the definition: medically induced coma and coma secondary to alcohol or drug use.

Coma: (explanation)

There are various depths to a coma, measured by the response to repeated external stimuli. A coma is a state of unarousable unconsciousness, where someone in a coma is unlikely to respond to any form of physical stimulation. Also the person is unlikely to have any control of their bodily functions. A coma may be due to damage or disturbance to certain area of the brain, which control and maintain conscious activity.

Deafness: (policy wording)

Permanent and Irreversible loss of hearing to the extent that the loss is greater than 95 decibels across all frequencies in the better ear using a pure tone audiogram.

Deafness: (explanation)

This is permanent and irreversible loss of hearing to the extent that the loss is greater than 96 decibels across all frequencies in the better ear using a pure tone audiogram.

Diagnosis or Diagnosed:

The unequivocal medical diagnosis by a Medical Specialist.

Dividends:

Your distributions from your business as shown in your annual tax return to the HMRC, in the form a company dividend after the tax is paid.

Employment:

The occupation for which you are being paid under a formal service arrangement.

Irreversible:

Cannot be reasonably improved upon by medical treatment and/or surgical procedures used by the National Health Service in the UK at the time of the claim.

Kidney Failure: (policy wording)

Chronic and end stage failure of both kidneys to function, as a result of which regular dialysis is permanently required.

Kidney Failure: (explanation)

When the kidneys fail, they stop acting as filters to remove waste materials from the blood. This leads to a build-up of waste products in the blood can lead to life threatening problems. Although the body can function with one kidney, if both kidneys fail completely, renal dialysis (kidney machine treatment) or a kidney transplant operation will be needed.

Leave of Absence:

A maximum twelve month (12) uninterrupted period of absence taken from your Employment in order to provide care for your Child that results in a loss of Take Home Salary.

Loss of a Hand or Foot: (policy wording)

Permanent physical severance of either a hand or foot at or above the wrist or ankle joint.

Loss of Hand or Foot: (explanation)

Permanent physical severance of either hand or foot at or above the wrist or ankle joint.

The limb might have been lost through physical injury or perhaps as a result of medical necessity to remove it using surgery.

Major Organ Transplant: (policy wording)

The undergoing as a recipient from anther donor of bone marrow or of a complete heart, kidney liver, lung, pancreas or inclusion on an official UK waiting list for such a procedure. The following is not covered in the definition: transplant of any other organs, parts of organs, tissues or cells.

Major Organ Transplant: (explanation)

This a life threatening condition, needing major surgery, as you become a recipient of a transplant from another donor, of bone marrow or of a complete heart, kidney, liver, lung or pancreas.

Manifests or Manifestation:

The date when a Specified Illness or Specific Medical Condition is reasonably capable of Diagnosis by a Medical Specialist.

Medical Specialist:

A qualified medical consultant on the List of Registered Medical Practitioners within the UK General Medical Council and accepted by Us as a specialist in an area of medicine appropriate to the Specific Medical Condition or Specified Illness.

Multiple Sclerosis with Persisting Symptoms: (policy wording)

A definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis by a Consultant Neurologist. There must be current clinical impairment of motor or sensory function, which must have persisted for a continuous period of at least 6 months.

Multiple Sclerosis: (explanation)

The cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown, but it is a progressive disease of the central nervous system (myelin) of the nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord is destroyed. The severity of the disease can vary considerably and the symptoms, can differ depending upon which areas of the brain or spinal cord have been affected. Although there is no single diagnosis test for multiple sclerosis a neurologist can perform various tests such as ‘CT scanning; a ‘lumbar puncture’ (a procedure to remove and test spinal fluid); or ‘evoked responses’ (which trace the electrical activity in the brain).

Paid Absence from Work:

A period of paid absence from your Employment including but not limited to maternity leave, paternity leave, adoption leave and shared parental leave.

Paralysis of Limb(s): (policy wording)

Total and irreversible loss of muscle function to the whole of any limb.

Paralysis of a limb: (explanation)

The loss of muscle function to the whole of any two limbs (paraplegia) and any four limbs (quadriplegia). Paralysis and paraplegia are total and irreversibly loses the ability to move, or use, a limb. Paralysis of the right or left half of the body is called hemiplegia.

Permanent:

Expected to last throughout life with no prospect of improvement.

Permanent Neurological Deficit with Persistent Clinical Symptoms: (policy wording)

Dysfunction in the nervous system that is present on clinical examination and expected to last throughout the child’s life. To include numbness, hyperaesthesia (increased sensitivity), paralysis, localised weakness, dysarthria, (difficulty with speech), aphasia (inability to speak), dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing), visual impairment, difficulty in walking, lack of coordination, tremor, seizures, delirium and coma. The following is not covered in the definition: an abnormality seen on the brain or other scans without definite related clinical symptoms. Neurological signs occurring without symptomatic abnormality, e.g. brisk reflexes without other symptoms. Symptoms of psychological or psychiatric origin.

Policy:

The ChildMax insurance policy together with the Policy Certificate.

Policy Certificate:

The certificate forming part of this Policy.

Policy Period:

The period stated in the Policy Certificate.

Pre-Existing Date:

The period specified in the Policy Certificate.

Self-Employed Earnings:

Your after-tax income from your business as shown in your annual tax return to the HMRC.

Serious Third-Degree Burns: (policy wording)

means a burn or burns that involve damage or destruction of the skin to its full depth through to the underlying tissue and covering at least five per cent (5%) of the body’s surface area.

Serious Third-Degree burns: (explanation)

Third-Degree burns are the most serious, as they destroy the full thickness of the skin. Burns involve damage or destruction of the skin to its full depth through to the underlying tissue. The other 2 levels of burns are First-degree: damage the top layer of the skin (a common example of this sunburn) and Second-degree burns go deeper into the layers of skin, but some may heal without scarring.

Stroke: (policy wording)

The death of brain tissue due to inadequate blood supply or haemorrhage within the skull resulting in Permanent Neurological Deficit with Persisting Clinical Symptoms. The following is not covered in the definition: Transient ischaemic attack. Traumatic injury to the brain tissue or blood vessels. Death of tissue of the optic nerve or retina / eye stroke.

Stroke: (explanation)

A stroke takes place when there is severe damage in the brain due to internal bleeding (haemorrhage) or when the flow of blood to an artery has been blocked by a piece of tissue or a blood clot ( an embolus). This leads to death of brain tissue due to inadequate blood supply or haemorrhage within the skull resulting in permanent neurological deficit with persisting clinical symptoms.

Take Home Salary:

The amount specified in the Policy Certificate representing your annual: earnings actually received under your contract of Employment net of tax, National Insurance contributions and other payments; or Self-Employed Earnings or Dividends as applicable. Take Home Salary does not include overtime or one-off or discretionary bonuses.

Traumatic Brain Injury: (policy wording)

Death of brain tissue due to traumatic injury resulting in Permanent Neurological Deficit with Persistent Clinical Symptoms.

Traumatic Brain Injury: (explanation)

Death of brain tissue due to traumatic injury resulting in permanent neurological deficit with persisting clinical symptoms. This is symptoms of dysfunction in the nervous system that are present on clinical examination and expected to last throughout the person’s life.

We/Our/Us:

Great American International Insurance (UK) Limited is the insurer of this Policy.

You/Your:

The person named in the Policy Certificate.