From Mrs S. Cooke MRPharmS
SIR,-In his plug for the Pharmaceutical & General Provident Society (PJ, June 3, p845) Mr Malcolm Jack rightly points out that his organisation provides cover from day one of illness, unlike some other providers.
He omitted to mention, however, that some fairly common illnesses are totally excluded from the company's scheme. Thus a policy holder with HIV/AIDS would indeed be covered from day one (see the company's newsletter of October, 1999), but if he had a nervous breakdown or was suffering from stress, anxiety, depression or other mental problems - not uncommon in these times - he would not be covered at all.
As in all insurance matters, members should identify what risks they want covered before committing themselves to a premium.
C. Cooke
Ilkley, West Yorkshire