Denied life insurance because of PND

[Cheeseandcrackers40]

I've just found out I've been denied life insurance because I had PND 8+ years ago and self harmed as a teenager (both on my medical record so need to be discolsed). Feeling a mixture of angry, upset and flabbergasted. AIBU?

Has this happened to anyone else? Would you escalate? Any recommended suppliers I might try instead (this was vitality cover)?

Surely you could get it with exclusions?

I had PND with my first 8 yeats ago, and we have critical illness cover and life insurance through standard life. I think its about £40 a month for me and my husband. We also both have pre existing health conditions (auto immune conditions)

They haven't offered, just a flat out refusal. Seems crazy. I will give them a call tomorrow and see what's what...

When you say 'self harmed' are they logged on your records as suicide attempts?

Aviva only ask about the past 5 years, I got mine with them after having issues with some other companies.

I can't seem to find one that doesn't want my whole disposable income because I have adhd

No, i cut my upper arms a few times as a teen, not suicide attempts. I went to the GP and was referred for counselling for it.

Another vote for Aviva, not quite the same, but my car insurance with them is much lower than anyone else as they 'right off' anything which happened more than 5 years ago, I had a minor accident 6 years ago. So am guessing they also apply this to their other insurances?

I can't get life insurance either because of a history of mental health issues. I think there are specialist providers out there.

Try another provider. I have a lifelong mental health issue, history of attempted suicide and multiple bouts of PND and I got term insurance no problem . It has just cost double that offered to my DH. Insurance companies will accept pretty much anyone if you pay the right price.

Just keep shopping around. You will get some cover.

Guardian should be able to provide cover but I'm not sure if you can go to them direct or if you need to go through a broker. Someone will provide you with cover with exclusions. Most likely some will need a Gp report before offering terms.

I thought it was fairly normal
I've just gone without.

I'm in the same situation, watching for some recommendations.

I was flat out refused for mental health issues too.
I did get insurance through a broker in the end.

I’m surprised anyone says they’ve got it - I got refused by aviva even with a doctor’s letter stating my mental health had been stable for years. I was trying for critical illness/income protection rather than life insurance but even a specialist broker couldn’t find any provider who’d have me. I’ve just accepted it’s impossible

I had pnd whilst I got life insurance about 6 years ago. I used a broker (I want to say caspian) who were great. I redid it after I had my second through then again and they got it for slightly cheaper than I had been paying initially. I have 3 policies with Scottish widows for about £27 per month and was with aviva before them. They won't pay out for suicide but I think that's fairly common whoever you're with.

My policy is with L & G. As I said previously it is considerably more expensive than the average.

I think it's not widely recognised how hard it can be to get life insurance and how easily excluded people can be. We really struggled for my partner as he had depression, although it was well controlled and he had never attempted suicide. There must be millions who fall into that category.

Exactly
Must be so many

We tried to organise life insurance via an ifa earlier this year and was also declined on the basis of mental health (suicide attempt when I was 15). I'm 41 now. Not sure about "shopping around". The issue with life insurance, I found, was the process takes an absolute age. The insurer was recommended after pre screening by an ifa, I spent an hour on the phone going through their questions for it to be declined. I can't do that for every insurer out there on the off chance one might accept me.

I've taken out a small lump sum, guaranteed acceptance thing via my trade union. It's much smaller than the life insurance I was looking for but better than nothing.

I was refused life insurance as well (at 38 - I’d had skin cancer in my 20s).

I was very angry and upset at the time. Waste of angst and emotion, looking back.

I then did two things (a) got life insurance through an employers blanket scheme which I still keep - I’m now 55 and (b) I make sure I have a good pension saved so that my mortgage etc is paid if I die before it’s paid off.

Bear in mind; I cannot get private health cover in the U.K. either. If I get cancer of any type, and the nhs is slow or hopeless, well, I have two choices - wait and risk dying or pay to be treated out of my own pocket.

Ultimately, you CANNOT fight the insurance system. Don’t bother.

Yes it’s shit and unfair. Save your efforts for finding a good solution.

also …

Count your blessings. Do you have family history of say, huntingdons? Or Parkinson’s? Or BRCA1 or 2?

If not, thank your lucky stars every single day.

Best of luck.

I have cover but with multiple exclusions due to short term use of anti-anxiety medication after my dad died, so could be tied to one specific trigger event. The exclusions are really strange considering the reason for them. I spoke with the GP and they couldn't understand why they had made the decision they did. I also queried with our broker who said that I'd unlikely get cover elsewhere if one rejected me/imposed exclusions. I tried another insurer and sure enough, similar exclusion. Ended up just going with them because I honestly couldn't face the effort of looking elsewhere and challenging it. Feels very "computer says no".

We have life and critical illness cover with Aviva, no issues with my MH history. I think I cost an extra £2 per month or something in the price breakdown but that’s it.

I can’t get it either because of mental health reasons although far more recent than yours.

I was rejected by Scottish widows but told to reapply in 18 months which suggests that they maybe have would take you on given yours was 8 years ago?

I ended up with Dead Happy who unfortunately have just gone bust (my policy still stands but with another company).

It is surprisingly hard to find life insurance for existing mental health conditions. Dead Happy just had a simple clause saying not pre existing conditions covered which is what I wanted.

I actually work in the industry and joined a working party who are doing more for insurance and mental health. It’s early days still but I feel very passionate about this.