Bank Changes Insurance Terms after Disability Bias Case

No, not here, in Northern Ireland. See this article by that title:

Abbey National is altering the terms of its insurance policies after a Belfast man took action against it under disability discrimination legislation, it was announced today.

The bank agreed to alter the terms of its policies throughout the UK and review its procedures as part of an out-of-court settlement of a case involving the provision of critical illness cover.

The Equality Commission of Northern Ireland, which supported the case, said the company had also paid the man involved £1,000 plus costs.

The case was brought under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 by Thomas Hughes, who suffers from albinism and is registered blind, after he applied for a critical illness insurance policy.

The Equality Commission said the policy offered was limited to exclude all forms of cancer and any disease, disorder or injury to the eyes.

However, the company could not give any reason, either on an actuarial or medical basis, for the limitations on the policy.