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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Life insurance when family member had cancer

20 replies

Userme103 · 25/01/2021 13:35

I'm in the process of buying a house and getting A mortgage. One of the things they suggest is life insurance to cover the mortgage should the worst happen. Only the bank (and a few other places) won't quote me because I had a sibling with cancer.

They don't ask what type of cancer only whether it was breast/ovarian/testicular, they don't ask how long ago it was or what treatment or outcome it was. For clarity, it was a 3 year old child with a tumor on spine (neuroblastoma), only treatment was removal by surgery (no chemo or radiotherapy needed), this was 17 years ago and no change since then. Also if been picky....he's a half sibling!!! I'm also one of 9 children so chances of problems arising in at least one of them will increase?!?!

Aibu to ask if anyone else has had a family member (they ask parents and siblings) that has had cancer and been able to get life insurance who you have used?

DH says I should leave them off the form as they're not "full" sibling. I don't think this is right and could end up with a claim been rejected
(he knows this really but is just pissed off lol)

OP posts:
LouiseTrees · 25/01/2021 13:50

I would try using an insurance broker or try the big companies. Have legal and general refused cover?

LibrariesGiveUsPower45321 · 25/01/2021 13:55

I had heart palpitations and investigations which were passed as all clear an I got refused.

hammeringinmyhead · 25/01/2021 13:57

Do you have a mortgage broker or have you gone via the bank? If you don't have a broker I would try an independent one. They set up life cover alongside mortgages all day every day.

Outnumbered99 · 25/01/2021 13:57

Try a broker, talk it through with them. You must be able to get cover with someone, lots of people have a close relative with a wide variety health issues!

Peanutbutterblood · 25/01/2021 14:05

My sibling had cancer as a child. That specific cancer is excluded from my insurance terms but only that one. I'm with Aviva

Kottbullar · 25/01/2021 14:09

My Mum had breast cancer and we had to pay extra for me to be insured. We went with a broker.

fizzandchips · 25/01/2021 14:36

I had breast cancer, insurance company didn’t pay up for critical illness cover because it was non-invasive. But when we moved house I was refused life insurance cover “because you have had breast cancer” when I pointed out it was non-invasive and deemed ‘not critical enough’ last time (last time I checked the NHS don’t perform bilateral mastectomies for fun!) they replied well it was still cancer!!! Rant about insurance companies over!

Original poster
Userme103 · 25/01/2021 15:19

We've gone directly with the bank for mortgage as DH had the mortgage before we met/married and is fixed rate so sort of keeping it but adding me on...so he has life insurance already.

May have to look up a broker.... The mortgage is sorted and we've been told the Life insurance has no effect on it at all so that's ok, just want the peace of mind if anything happens we can afford to pay off the mortgage.

It's just so annoying that one benign tumor 17 years ago that affected 1/9 siblings is having such an effect.

Though DH is with Aviva so may check with them if they can just exclude the cancer he had.

OP posts:
wink1970 · 25/01/2021 15:49

DH had cancer (now in 12 years remission) and we got life cover, travel and various other insurances relatively easily. Aviva were good, as were Virgin, and at the time there were some specialists... try a broker, they're worth their money.

Calmandmeasured1 · 25/01/2021 15:56

It's just so annoying that one benign tumor 17 years ago that affected 1/9 siblings is having such an effect.
I'm confused. You have stated they had cancer but you have also stated it was a benign tumour. That means it was not cancerous.

ForeverHomeSearcher · 25/01/2021 16:24

Definitely speak to a broker. It may also help to speak to an insurance broker rather than a mortgage broker. Some insurers have pre- underwriting phone lines to get advice on things like this before submitting the application.

There are different rules for different types or cancer, relations etc. Having a relation with a certain cancer type can lead to an insurer not covering you for any types of cancer. Other types may just lead to you not being covered for that type.

You definitely want to explain that specifics of your situation though. It seems strange that they have just given you a blanket no.

ForeverHomeSearcher · 25/01/2021 16:25

Aviva and L&G are big players in this area, but also worth trying smaller mutual companies like LV, The Exeter, Royal London.

TantieTowie · 25/01/2021 16:32

Look for a specialist insurer. I know there are travel insurance policies for people after cancer, surely there are for life insurance as well?

Original poster
Userme103 · 25/01/2021 16:36

Thank you for useful advice. I'm going to go with a broker.

It may be that it's not the cancer (or tumor...I'm not medical.minded but that's how doctors always referred to it so always just went with it...) but that's what the bank person giving the quote said it was. (Only other problem is me having tests for anemia....so may be that)

So I'll speak to a broker see if they can sort it for me. Thanks everyone

OP posts:
Corrag · 25/01/2021 16:41

If you're currently having tests re anaemia that's more likely to be the reason they wouldn't offer cover. They'll want to wait until all the tests are completed etc.

MrsKin90 · 25/01/2021 16:43

My mum passed away from cancer, my dad is diabetic type two, my husband has epilepsy and I have PCOS and a high BMI and I/we managed to get life insurance to cover the mortgage. It seems odd to me that this would be held against you and make you uninsurable??

Tohaveandtohold · 25/01/2021 16:43

My dad had leukaemia and he died from it when I was 12. I’ve put the information when I applied for a life insurance and I was accepted and my premium is £12 a month so not even excessive. I’m with legal and general

movingonup20 · 25/01/2021 16:49

I told them my grandparents all died of cancer and they didn't care as they were over 65, term life cover tends to be easier to get.

WeeDangerousSpike · 25/01/2021 16:50

DP has several siblings who have died of cancer and more relatives that have survived it. (more than 10 siblings total!)
We got our mortgage through a broker, he asked us to fill out forms for insurance and then found a company that would cover us. I had no idea that a siblings cancer could be an issue, the only problem we had was an existing medical condition of mine (that may need surgery in the future). I think I pay an extra 3 quid a month. You need to go to a broker that has multiple companies available to them.

Veuvestar · 25/01/2021 16:52

Have you actual applied and been rejected?
I got life insurance for my husband, they sent a doctor out and he had to have some tests, but he got it

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