To hate the comment about "why dont you have life insurance"?

[partinor]

Yes if a partner dies when the family rely on their income, there will be a major impact on the finances of the household. And yes, life insurance would solve at least that impact.
BUT not everyone can get life insurance that covers everything. A LOT of people are born as children with illnesses that can have an impact on life expectancy, and so these will often not be covered by life insurance. With some conditions, it may be that you can not get any life insurance. Or the costs may be too high.
And when I was young and took out life insurance policies routinely excluded causes of death such as suicide or risky behaviour.
But easier to just blame the individuals.

Agree. Totally lacking in any empathy or compassion.

Actually I know why some people say it. Some people are just cunts.

Yes this is true, my DH developed a condition that will ultimately lead to liver failure in later life but has got life insurance quite successfully.

I’ve never come across anyone who has asked me why we didn’t have it (we didn’t used to until DC arrived..) except the solicitor when we were writing our wills.

Those who do are insensitive

Sorry for the thread derail but does anyone know a company who don’t reject life insurance applications for every little thing? I’ve tried a few and if I answer the questionnaires 100% honestly I always get rejected. I missed out a couple of, to me, minor issues and got an offer - but I haven’t proceeded as it’s obviously not a good idea to lie.

We are with legal and general, my DH had to have a medical and blood test but that was fine. A nurse came out to our home to do it

@donkey86

Donkey you need an insurance broker - they'll take your details and find out which company will insure you.

life insurance policies routinely excluded causes of death such as suicide or risky behaviour.

Utter tripe. Life insurance excludes suicide within a year of taking out the policy, but not after that. They also ask your occupation and if you're a bomb disposal bod or a mine clearer or have another risky occupation, it will be expensive. But if you don't have a risky job the policy will cover you if you happen to be doing something risky when you are killed. Like riding a motorcycle or mountaineering for pleasure.

Obviously, if you have health issues, this will make it expensive or unavailable, depending on the seriousness.

But most people who die without life insurance are just plain fucking irresponsible, and never bought it because "it won't happen to me".

Thanks ginandtonicformeplease and tiredeyes21 - I’ll look for a broker and will look into L&G too. It’s not like I even have anything complicated, it’s just that it’s three separate things - I think I tick too many boxes to get through on the quick application forms.

I find it shocking not to have life insurance unless there is absolutely no way you could afford it. No one is immortal and it helps your loved ones out , to a great extent depending on the policy.

I agree it’s a stupid and extremely unkind thing to say when it’s too late.

But it’s something so essential for anyone with kids! Or anyone with a mortgage. Of course nobody expects to die, especially while they’re young. But it does happen. And while money doesn’t make the loss easier for your family to bear, it can make things easier practically such as allowing a grieving spouse to take time off work (they’re now a single parent of grieving children) without worrying about being unable to pay the bills, the family home doesn’t need to be sold because one income can’t cover the mortgage etc

I’ve been denied life insurance because I have attempted suicide in the past (over 5 years ago) and because I occasionally self harm

With Legal & general to the poster who asked about who’s easy to join with.

As for the original post, no people aren’t “cunts” for asking why you don’t have a financial back up for your children in the event of death- get a grip!

Neither my husband nor I qualify for life insurance anymore due to health issues we have had. It sucks but we have made other provisions instead, in the event of our deaths. Unless you know someone's intimate medical history it seems rude to ask why no life insurance.

Stupid and unkind thing to say.

I have been refused life insurance twice ; once because I have been depressed and had suicidal ideation. (never attempted) Second because the NHS have lost the last three years of my medical notes. If I die before I'm accepted for life insurance, please tell me in what way I am 'fucking irresponsible' for not having it !

You are entitled to your opinion but I dont agree with you. I'm pretty bored of all the excuses people come up with for not taking even basic precautions - life insurance, home insurance, a will - to stop themselves ending totally up shit creek if something bad happens.

Very few people can get no insurance at all - try an insurance broker.

I really dont think that there are that many adults out there that are unaware that death comes to us all. Or that sudden, unexpected death is a possibility. Or that homes may catch fire?

I realise that we now live in a country where its grossly insensitive to suggest people take any personal responsibility at all but I dont agree that its a good thing.

I manage a team in an insurance broker and a few of the clients the advisers speak to don't see the need because they just don't think anything will ever happen to them.

@donkey86 If you go through a broker, they can do something called a 'pre-underwriting enquiry' where they ring round all the insurers to see who can offer you the best cover at a price affordable for you and your circumstances.

I have tried brokers, I’m denied life insurance because of previous suicide attempt - it’s not as clear cut as you seem to think

I have a question-when does life insurance stop?

Presumably if you’re 102 and die of natural causes it doesn’t pay out? Is there an age, like retirement?

It’s not something i thought of at 20 when i took my policies out. But now i am older it’s occurred to me that it must cease at some point...

I think it is my responsibility to try and ensure my child is able to live in their home, be provided for should I die before they turn 18- obviously providing a home, food, water and clothing today and tomorrow take priority and if I had limited funds then I would not be paying the premiums- but otherwise yes it’s my responsibility and as someone who lost my mum at 8 and my dad at 20 I’m acutely aware of the shit that can happen.

Dh both got life insurance when we married and were planning a family. It's the responsible thing to do if you can afford it. I get you can't insure against everything but it's worth trying. We were 35 and 46 by then - maybe younger couples wouldn't bother.

It’s not necessarily stupid not to have insurance. Some people can affird NOT to.

@donkey86- try LifeSearch. We found them thanks to the Martin Lewis MoneySavingExpert site and they were fantastic- they know which insurers are good for which occupations and health issues (DH has a fairly high BMI so they found one that didn't class him as overweight and therefore an extra risk). They also rang DH separately to check he knew how much I'd insured him for (we have a big mortgage and wanted to be able to cover that plus a payment until the children were grown up so they would be able to have a similar life to one with his earnings)!

I recommended them to a friend who had struggled to find good cover as her husband rides a motorbike and she was impressed too.

Really when you take out a policy it will have a ‘cut off point’ when it stops (and you stop paying.) one I have is 70.

Our insurance stops when we reach 65 - by which point the mortgage will be paid off and the kids adults. I think it's pretty difficult to get life insurance to cover you past 70, which is why its harder to get a mortgage later in life.