AMP has changed the eligibility criteria on income protection insurance in its Flexible Lifetime Protection, to allow more customers to access it.

The cover was previously available only to people with clean bills of health.

“Recognising that we live in a world where not everyone enjoys perfect health, we’re now able to offer this benefit to a broader range of customers,” Head of Product On-sale for Retail Wealth Protection John Ashton said.

“Medical procedures and diagnostic tests are rapidly changing, so we’ve enhanced the trauma definitions of certain conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, lung disease and hypertension, to reflect current medical practices.

“We are using the most up-to-date medical intelligence when making a claim assessment.”

AMP has also changed its trauma payment definition to cover early forms of melanoma, to provide financial assistance at an earlier stage of diagnosis.

Mr Ashton says changing work patterns, family structures and business practices mean life insurance must be frequently updated.

“We know the importance advisers place on making sure their clients’ insurance cover stays relevant and up to date, which is why we continually work on developing enhancements,” he said.

“In a world where not every client will be getting married in the traditional sense, we have adjusted our guaranteed future insurability feature to allow de facto couples to increase their cover more easily.”

The changes apply to all versions of Flexible Lifetime Protection for new and existing clients.