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)?

I was also refused (by a broker) for having a history of MH problems. I suppose I could have shopped around more but tbh I found having to discuss stuff like how many times I self harmed (literally thousands though not for a long time) so horrible that I just gave up. I also can't remember exactly what is on all my medical records as I was really unwell and don't have copies, so could end up invalidating it all with false info anyway.

I asked if I could get it with a suicide payout exemption and they said no.

I had exclusions for physical things that I’d had checked out and found to be fine ie a colonoscopy which was clear but for some reason my entire digestive system was excluded from cover. I did challenge this and was told it was because it was because of the risks of the procedure even though I’d had it done by the time the policy had been granted. Got it sorted in the end but it pisses me off because the process feels like it’s a deterrent to actually getting things checked out so making it more likely that there might actually be a problem.

Also been refused because of past mental health problems- from 25 years ago.

Most insurers don't offer exclusions on life insurance. They might have standard exclusions, such as suicide on the first year of the policy, but most don't apply exclusions due to medical history etc. Exclusions are often used on critical illness cover and income protection, but not on life insurance.

I'm a life & disability underwriter so I know a bit about this. I offer life insurance to people with mental health conditions on a daily basis. It's not often I have to decline someone. Maybe 1 in 10, at a guess. So keep trying, you just need to find the right company. They all have a different risk appetite.

Instead of challenging Vitality - and what would be the point, this is clearly their policy - just try other providers.

There are some specialist brokers who will know which insurance companies to place the cover with. The companies have different policies towards mental health in terms of the elapsed period since the last episode, and how the rate any mental health issues.

There's one called dead happy takes all mental health issues. No clue on price just seen it advertised. May be of use.

Do you mean 1 in 10 of all people looking for insurance are declined because of mental health problems? Or that 1 in 10 of people with mental health problems are declined?

I mean 1 in 10 of people with mental health problems.

Note this is a rough guesstimate.

Considering the high percentage of people who are on or have been on antidepressants I'm amazed they reject people on the basis of historic mental health issues

You're 55 though, so of course you've managed to get and pay off a mortgage and save a nice little pension pot...! It's practically impossible for a large majority of younger generations.

With respect to you, it really annoys me when people of your generation brag about how financially well off they are. They usually also can’t understand how all people in their 20s & 30s don't already have a mortgage on a house and pension savings etc etc and think they just don't know how to save.... If only that was the only hurdle! It just isn't the same now as it was for you.

Hey, I am with beagle Street and have m.h issues. Good luck.

I used to underwrite life insurance. It’s usually a ‘have you ever harmed yourself’ question and then a time frame for last symptoms, seeing a psychiatrist etc. this will be why you’ve declined. Also over a certain number of instances of self harm/ suicide attempts is a decline regardless of last symptoms. They don’t tend to offer exclusions on life insurance and you’ve be hard pressed to find critical illness depending on the exact disclosures you’ve made

It depends on the severity of the issues though. I was very unwell for a good 5 years, under psychiatric care and self harmed 1000s of times. I'm actually fine now (and still amazed about that!) but as a PP said a certain number of self harm/suicide attempts can stop you getting it even if you've recovered. Personally as well I don't want to tell a stranger all about my darkest times, in great detail, so I'm just going to continue on without it.

Hello, there are companies that can write off mental health conditions as pre-existing and not cover them.

I had the same issue as I self harm and have severe depression and OCD.

A few years ago I could not get insurance but more recently there are companies that will take you for a slightly lower amount, but write off mental health. Let me look them up.

www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/en/managing-money/insurance-and-mental-health-guide/specialist-insurance-providers-for-pre-existing-mental-health-conditions/

Have a look here. I got mine via Hive/compass underwriting.

Like pp have said, use a broker. It's their job to find you a suitable product

I absolutely do count my blessings - my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer at 40, but it wasn't BRCA so I feel fortunate that I don't have that hanging over me.

I'm just frustrated and trying to understand my options. I already have life and critical illness cover for our current mortgage... but we are in the process of selling ours and buying a new property so current cover won't cover new mortgage. I don't remember being asked about mental health when I took it out (9 years ago) wondering whether to just stick with that, i do also have 3x salary death in service payment from work.

Thanks so much to everyone who has posted, lots of food for thought. Also sorry for anyone else who has also struggled to get cover!

I was denied totally too - for self harm I never did !!!

My abusive DM had protected my sister and when she self harmed (we are very close in age) and presented to an and e she gave MY details so in future it didn’t affect her. I was unaware for about 15 years till I tried to get life insurance and I was shocked. Nobody would take my word for it

I had PND and had counselling and meds for a long time, got life insurance through Polly with no problems and the team I spoke to were kind and understanding!

That's bloody awful. You must have been raging.

It actually made me so stressed I was unwell. I had multiple meetings with the practice manager we went over my notes they had to contact my old surgery as there were other bits missing and then more surfaced. The GP kept telling me ‘it’s nothing to be ashamed of - the notes say your name and dob so it can’t be disputed’ I felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall. I said to them ‘ look I haven’t got one scar ! ‘ they wouldn’t take it off my notes would only add a letter I wrote saying I disputed it.

My MIL recently found out that her mother told her doctors that she was attention seeking and obsessed with sex when she was young - this was because she accused a family member of molesting her and her mum wanted to cover it up. MIL was subjected to years of SS visits when her own kids were young (single mum) and was dismissed as attention seeking when she had serious medical problems because of whatever it was listed on her record. It's just awful, as is what happened to you, beggars belief what some parents choose to do....

It worried me as I’d never considered the fact that anyone presenting at an and e can give the wrong details ! I can’t believe I didn’t know for so long as well and I’d never have known if I hadn’t wanted to get life insurance 😔

I do this for a living

Unless you've got a specific rating on your policy, or have applied for CIC (critical illness cover) they don't normally offer exclusions. Sometimes you'll get a 'per mille loading' so for every 1k of cover you'll get a rating. The per Mille loadings tend to drop off after X amount of years. This is something some insurers offer with previous MH disclosures. The only exclusion is suicide in the first 12 months which is the same on all term assurance plans. Exclusions on term life insurance without CIC don't really happen.
There is a company called the Exeter that underwrite customers with more complex medical conditions so have a look at them.

If you shop around you'll need to do the health and lifestyle application for each company. If you go through a broker it can save some time as they can send a 'pre application' to insurers to see if they'll cover you. Posters on here have complained about the amount of time it takes. That's because in most cases the insurer will write to your GP and as it's not NHS work this can take a couple of months.

Good luck, and feel free to PM me if you want a hand with any of it. (I'm not in sales so I'm not trying to 'sell' anything here by the way)