Declaring suicide attempts for life insurance

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Does anyone know if I absolutely must declare repeated suicide attempts when applying for life insurance?

My last attempt was around 6 months ago, before that was around 20 years ago and a few before that.

I’m much better now so hopefully things will never get to that point again. I’m currently on 2 different antidepressants and am the most stable I’ve ever been.

I’m scared I’ll be refused even though there’s no longer a risk.

I would have thought that as insurance isn’t paid out for suicides, whether you had tried in the past or not wouldn’t matter too much.

That said, if previous suicides had potentially compromised your long-term health (e.g. if you tried to OD), then you would have a duty to declare it. I would do it to be safe. If you die through suicide they won’t pay, if you die some other way and they find you didn’t declare your attempts they could invalidate the policy anyway, I expect.

Is this for a mortgage?

I’m glad you’re better - please don’t commit suicide ❤️

Yes, you have to declare or your insurance is invalid even though they don’t pay out for suicide. However, with some companies it won’t affect your premiums (Legal and General for instance, but there are others).

I think some insurers do pay out, but not for the first X amount of time after taking out the policy usually 12-18 months from what I’ve seen. But they do normally ask quite a few questions about your health so yes you probably would have to declare it as pp said if you died from something else and hadn’t declared the attempts then they probably have a loophole to absolve themselves of paying out.

No I would not declare it, they do not need to know and will never find out because of confidentiality.

You do need to declare it. I believe most insurers won't insure if you've had suicidal thoughts in the last two years. Suicide often is covered under life insurance policies but not for an initial period eg 12 months.

Perhaps speak with a broker:

www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/cheap-life-insurance/

Scroll down to the section on advisory brokers.

Don’t declare it OP, but you also need to be aware that if you do commit suicide in future they will not pay out unfortunately

If the attempts are on your medical records, then the insurer will need to know and you have a duty of disclosure when applying for insurance. Often an insurer will request your medical records and take a view. Non-disclosure will void the policy and you can find that no pay out will be given, even if you died of something wholly unrelated.

Try and find a broker who can often advise on the best insurers to approach, in the circumstances.

Yes you need to declare it - there will most likely be some questions explicitly asking this - if you make a misrepresentation when answering these questions then your policy may be void in the event of a claim. Be aware you may well be rejected because the last attempt was recent.

Also most policies only explicitly excise taking your own life in the first 12 months of the policy. After this period, taking ones own life would not be an excluded event but the insurer may have grounds to investigate medical history to determine whether the application form was answered correctly

PS. Glad you are doing better now

Do see an IFA with whole of market access as they can speak to underwriters prior to making an application and may have access to specialist providers. However, I would expect most of the mainstream providers would decline the application - L&G for example will decline for any attempt in the last 5 years

I would have thought that as insurance isn’t paid out for suicides

My brother committed suicide and his life insurance was paid out. This was 3 years ago

No I would not declare it, they do not need to know and will never find out because of confidentiality.

That's not true. You have to give permission for the insurers to access your medical records... and if the suicide attempts are on there, they'd then be aware of them. It's also not a good idea to lie to them, given that they'd use that as a basis to try and not pay out should anything else happen.

I'm not sure if they always outright ask that question; or if going with an insurer that doesn't cover suicide would mean that you could avoid it, but lying if you're asked won't be wise.

I'm glad that you're in a better place, OP

Wow, just reading this thread out of curiosity. Is it really the case where insurers won't pay out if you've had suicidal thoughts in the past two years 😳 Way to discourage people from getting mental help! Should be fucking illegal if that is the case

It's absolutely incorrect to think that anything about you is confidential from the insurance company. They have a right to all your medical records. I wouldn't lie. It could invalidate your policy even if you died of other causes.

You definitely need to declare it. Your GP will write it on their report any way.

As someone in that situation (and someone who works in insurance) you need to declare it if asked otherwise you risk voiding the policy.

@virginpinkmartini It is because it presents too high a risk. An insurer has to determine the likelihood of the insured event (death) happening and offer the applicant a price to insure against that event happening. Someone attempting to take their own life recently is deemed too high a risk because of the increased likelihood of death occurring within the policy term.

Insurers set underwriting policies and pricing terms based on claims experience and population data. It is unfortunate for applicants but insurers will see that giving cover to people who may be more likely to take their own life (as they have recently tried to) does not make financial sense.

Much like a previously flooded house being an unacceptable risk to some insurers for home insurance.

You do need to answer all questions asked on the application form correctly op.

If you do declare anything the insurers will access your medical records to assess the risk (suicide attempt 6 months ago is a much bigger risk than 20 years ago for example). If you fail to declare anything and your insurers discover you have lied on your application, they may withhold any payout even if its for something completely different.

Some insurers will insure you anyway. Some may charge a premium, some will exclude certain conditions, some will turn you down. Be honest and find a policy that suits you and your mental health.

KOKO

Thank you for the replies. It’s all on my medical file unfortunately, I was 10 the first time.

I will look in to speaking to a broker.

EugenesAxe it’s not for a mortgage, no. Just piece of mind for my son.

Thank you again.

I hope you can find appropriate products. There is little point paying for any insurance that might not pay out in the event it was actually needed, so it is important to get this right.

I also hope that your current stability continues, best wishes.

If you sought medical treatment then yes I would be honest. My insurance (Legal & General) pays out for suicide but only after 12 months of holding the policy.

Can I recommend Polly to you? They’re a broker and were really helpful. Half an hour on the phone and done.

Can’t believe the advice on here sometimes, all these posters saying not to declare it? I have direct experience of this. Failure to declare can invalidate your policy. Agree with PP who suggested legal and general, one of the only insurers who would touch me a few years after a particularly rough patch, when I needed insurance in order to buy a house. My premiums were a good bit higher than my other half but then I was a much greater risk. I hope your stability continues.