Major head trauma An accidental cerebral injury diagnosed by an appropriate specialist approved by AIA . The life assured must have also sustained a neurological deficit resulting in total and irreversible inability to perform one of the activities of daily living .
Stroke Stroke resulting in total and irreversible inability of the life assured to perform one of the activities of daily living . If required, the assessment may need to be deferred until all rehabilitation has been completed, or until any other appropriate time necessary to determine permanency, at which point a specialist can determine the irreversibility of the condition. Stroke means a cerebrovascular event producing neurological deficit. This requires clear evidence on CT, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) or similar appropriate scan or investigation that a stroke has occurred. This requires evidence of:
Major head trauma arising from drug and alcohol abuse is specifically excluded.
Meningitis The diagnosis of meningitis by an appropriate specialist approved by AIA . The life assured must have also sustained a neurological deficit resulting in total and irreversible inability to perform one of the activities of daily living .
infarction of brain tissue; or
intracranial or subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Excluded from this definition are transient ischaemic attacks (TIA), cerebral symptoms due to migraine, cerebral injury from trauma or hypoxia and vascular disease affecting the eye, optic nerve or vestibular functions.
Motor neurone disease The unequivocal diagnosis of motor neurone disease diagnosed by an appropriate specialist approved by AIA .
Paralysis and loss of functionality
Multiple sclerosis The unequivocal diagnosis of multiple sclerosis as confirmed by an appropriate specialist and resulting in total and irreversible inability of the life assured to perform at least one of the activities of daily living .
The life assured has suffered or undergone one of the following conditions :
Diplegia Total and permanent loss of function of both arms or both legs due to injury or disease of the spinal cord.
Multiple sclerosis means a disease characterised by demyelination in the brain and/or spinal cord.
Hemiplegia Total and permanent loss of function of one side of the body due to brain injury or disease.
There must be more than one episode of well-defined neurological deficit with persisting neurological abnormalities. Neurological investigations such as lumbar puncture, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) evidence of lesions in the central nervous system, evoked visual responses, and evoked auditory responses are required to confirm diagnosis. Muscular dystrophy The unequivocal diagnosis of muscular dystrophy diagnosed by an appropriate specialist approved by AIA and resulting in total and irreversible inability of the life assured to perform at least one of the activities of daily living. Peripheral neuropathy Irreversible inflammation or degradation of a peripheral nerve, diagnosed by an appropriate specialist approved by AIA . The life assured must have also sustained a neurological deficit resulting in total and irreversible inability to perform one of the activities of daily living .
Loss of independent existence The life assured is totally and irreversibly disabled, with the effect that he or she is unable, as a result of sickness or injury, to perform at least two activities of daily living . Alternatively, the life assured is totally and irreversibly unable to perform one of the activities of daily living and his or her intellectual capacity has reduced or deteriorated to such an extent that the life assured requires full-time care .
Paraplegia Total and permanent loss of function of both legs due to injury or disease of the spinal cord.
Permanent blindness Irrecoverable loss of sight of both eyes as a result of sickness or injury. This is evidenced by: visual acuity on the Snellan Scale after correction by suitable lenses is less than 6/60 in both eyes; field of vision is reduced to 20 degrees or less of arc in the better eye; or
1119 AL- ST version 1 Effective 14 November 2025
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