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)?

https://pure-protection.co.uk/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR20oZDAe7W4eas7HWOBm5Wlyhy1bFPrPxx0jGg-_K_6EsyaiIcCiHIDzpU_aem_xDlsecosA6xsTQ0-Zy-_KA

This company helped us find our life insurance

Sorry it was critical illness cover we purchased

For those who know about this, when an insurer writes to the GP what happens next?

They sent my gp a form with lots of questions and request for further info for some areas

Thank you hotapples!

I have life insurance with L&G too. Severe mh issues including history of suicide attempts and under the care of community mh team, years of psychotherapy on NHS. More expensive, for less cover than someone else who didn't have that history, but at least I was able to get it.

@BorisJohnsonsWigGlue is a broker the same as an ifa?

In terms of time, it's my time rather than behind the scenes stuff. An hour meeting with ifa to discuss the amount of protection I need, medical details etc. he went away and suggested an insurer who was likely to accept. Another hour phone call to go through medical details with the insurer, application declined on the basis of suicide attempt 26 years ago. It's not reasonable to spend that amount of time on every application until I find an insurer who will offer cover. Is there an easier way?

They all tend to be lumped together but they're different. An IFA is an independent financial advisor. Most brokers can't give advice and work on a 'non-advisory' basis, but some brokers can offer advice, and if they can offer advice they shouldn't charge you, and also should offer a free trust service too.

The only thing you should pay for is your policy, no additional fees or anything like that if you're going through an IFA / Broker.

The IFA / broker take a chunk of commission from the insurer, so customers never need to pay more. In fact going through a broker or IFA they have more scope to price match / beat going direct due to wanting your business.

Happy to help via PM if needed! But ill say it again as I don't want to be flamed, I'm not in sales or a targeted role so won't try and sell something, but can help point you in the right direction.

If you go through a broker, they normally can do a 'pre application' (we do anyway) with someone with complex medical history to gauge whether they can accept or at least underwrite the application before offering terms. Only a handful of insurers accept pre applications though, but it can save time.

If the pre app is accepted as an indication of terms, the full application will need to be completed though. But can be easier doing this with one or two insurers than doing lengthy applications for all insurers then getting turned down!

I would see an independent financial advisor. They will be able to look at a whole range of providers, and will probably know which ones are likely to accept you

I had a flat out refusal too. I

I've got a MH history which includes being admitted. I got life, critical illness and self employed income protection with British Friendly. They just flat out excluded any pay outs as a result of mental health.

I have insurance through LV despite major PND requiring hospitalisation. I don't understand why it is such an issue with MH given you can't claim for suicide anyway.

I had a fairly extensive mental health history from aged 19 to around 22 (self-harm, suicide attempts), then had a one-off relapse around 12 years later (self-harm only). I can't get critical illness cover for love nor money. I used a specialist broker (who, it turns out, somehow falsified information, got a life policy for me, then tried to get a critical illness policy, used the same false information, resulting in the original policy being voided and no doubt me going onto some blacklist or another).

I am a solicitor, working full time. I had a total of 5 days' off work as a result of depression. I paid every bill on time. I own a house, have a healthy salary, am willing to pay high premiums but I've got absolutely nowhere.

In the end I got cover through my work's blanket policy, thank god. Before this, I'd had a policy with ESMI who covered for around 12 specific diagnoses (cancer, MND etc) without needing any medical history, which was better than nothing.

This is untrue.

You can, after the policy has been active for 12 months. (Not that I'm advocating for it at all, I'm just pointing out that this is incorrect)

Which is why ratings / postpones / declines happen with MH issues.

I have life insurance with LV even with mental health problems similar to those you’ve described. No point escalating, their exclusion criteria is what it is. They don’t have to offer cover.

I got refused due to Osteoarthritis ( wear and tear ) in my BIG FUCKING TOE.

That does surprise me

Mainly as dh1 took our life insurance when we got the house

He was honest. Said he suffers from depression and anxiety. Was on antid etx

He got it for around £30 a month for £70k

This was taken out in 1999

There were exclusions - wouldn't pay out for suicide - hand gliding or think bungee jumping

Sadly dh took his own life. I was told insurance wouldn't pay - fair enough

But my Ifa went back to them and said had 4yrs left on mortgage - he didn't kill his self for the money but due to his depression

They paid out. I was in shock but they said as admitted he had depression - he was honest so they paid

Try diff companies

I’m so sorry for your loss and this experience. But I’m really, really pleased the insurer did the right thing in this instance.

Decreasing term assurance is different to fixed term or whole of life assurance, so I suspect the criteria might be different.

I think it got harder in the pandemic - may be worth finding a broker.

Another vote for a broker. I was sectioned with post partum psychosis after DS(10). I needed a specialist broker and there were exclusions for MH related claims within 1 year of policy starting. I pay approx £25 pcm for around 300,000 of decreasing term life cover.