Do you have a question about life insurance? Ask Tony Longden, Head of Insurance at Santander - £200 voucher to be won

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This Q&A is now complete - there will be no further answers posted.

Planning for what lies ahead isn’t always straight-forward. Share your questions on all things life insurance for Tony to answer.

• Everyone who shares a question on the thread below will be entered into a prize draw
• One lucky Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list)
• Tony will be back over the next couple of weeks to answer a selection of your questions

About Tony
“Tony has more than 30 years experience in Financial Services and has been at Santander since 2010, firstly supporting customers through leadership roles in Santander’s branch network across the UK and for the past 6 years in Insurance which means he has an invaluable insight in customer needs and the importance of Life Insurance and Protection.”

Here’s what Santander have to say
“There’s never been a better time to take stock and get around to those often forgotten, but vitally important jobs, like ensuring we have adequate financial protection in place for our loved ones should the worst happen. Taking advantage of our latest £100 cashback offer on our range of life protection policies is easy. Once you've set up your plan you can sit back, relax and enjoy life.”

Are you someone who doesn’t have life insurance, and you’d like to hear more about the benefits? Or perhaps you have a question on the different policies available? Whatever your question is, post it on the thread for Tony to answer.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

Mumsnet Insight T&Cs apply

Can we (my husband and I) link our life insurance to our will e.g if we both died, we would leave it all to the same person we would leave our children with (my brother) or depending on the ages of the children leave it directly to them?
So if we died when they are all under 18 it all goes to my brother so he has money to care for them.
If we died when they are all over 18 it goes to them directly.
If we died when one of them is under 18 and one is over 18 it gets split.
If we don’t have a will would it be different?

@SouthOfFrance

Hi Tony,

With the rising impact of an aging population & costs associated with care/nursing homes later in life, is the insurance industry looking to develop products that could be bought by people to mitigate against the uncertainty of this risk as they grow older?

Do these type of products already exist & if not, why not?

Thanks

These did exist but were cancelled by the industry as an unknown cost

What are the different policies available? Where is the best place to start researching into what is available, what the pros and cons are of each, etc.?

Hi Tony,
What age do you recommend taking a policy out until? I'm a single parent of an only child and don't want to leave them with funeral costs to cover at any age.

Thank you

What are the things that prevent a payout being made?

What age is it no longer worth taking out life insurance

Yes, my husband had 10 year policy with Scottish Widows which ended last April, and he didnt need/use cash in for anything, as think was on payable at end of life, he did add on cancer/ms type health issues that may have paid out as with some you can add this type of thing on. He was told now as he is now 72 years of age they would start a new 10 year policy but price would be more expensive, plus as in the first lockdown he had to have a pacemaker fitted then 2nd operation for oblaiton so yes, we would be honest in telling any firm when "thinking" on whether or not to start a new "policy" when my husband said its just not worth it and said he would save £x each month in way to compensate me if he did indeed die. Myself 14 years ago I had a rare illness called TTP (you would need to look that one up for the correct words on it) and I ended up in Intensive Care and so Scottish Widows wouldnt take me on, also due to some mental health 20 years ago when I had to give up my part time job in housing due to stress had complete breakdown and on medication so price given was so very high, so over the years it has been on my mind as I am now 64 and is does bother me having no insurance, only household and car insurance, as even with holiday insurance my husband has a yearly policy that runs year in, year out with his banking, we have had to update them on his heart health.

MY TYPING MISTAKE - SORRY MY HUSBAND "DIDNT" ADD ON HEALTH ISSUES THAT WOULD HAVE PAID OUT ON HIS LIFE POLICY.

@Rummikub

Will the cost be prohibitive as I’ve had cancer ?

Hi @Rummikub,

There are many different types of cancer and it is a complicated condition meaning that any underwriting decision will depend on the type of cancer, how long ago it was treated and whether it has spread.

Your circumstances might not prevent you from being able to access insurance as each customer is given individual consideration - there may or may not be any impact to monthly cost. I would suggest you arrange a free advice appointment with one of our Financial Planning Managers - click here to book. In this appointment we can find out a bit more about your history and discuss your circumstances in advance so you can understand what impact, if any, your condition would have on any life insurance application and its costs.

Tony

How much life insurance do I need as a percentage of salaries? I was looking at our policies and think we have too much as we have paid a decent chunk of our mortgage off now. Assuing death in service and some pension payout if I died (am highest earner). Don't want to underestimate but polices are expensive.

@frogface69

Do the medical history questions go into close family and any illnesses they have had ?

Hi @frogface69,

So that the right underwriting decision may be taken and to ensure there are no issues if a claim is made, it is important to obtain as much information as possible about your health when applying for cover. This may include a few questions about close family but this doesn't always affect the final underwriting decision.

Tony

@Cotswoldmama

Our life insurance covers paying off the mortgage but nothing else, should we raise it to more? In theory either if us would be completely fine without a mortgage to page. What would you advise?

Hi @Cotswoldmama,

Why not use our calculator to help you understand what your protection needs are. If you still need help why not call us on 0800 028 3744.

Tony

@Syeknom

What is the best point in life to take out Ife insurance? Before children?

Hi @Syeknom,

Generally speaking, Life Insurance costs less the younger you are. Life cover becomes even more important when you have children to help protect them should the worst happen.

Tony

@SmileyClare

Please explain the main life insurance policies you offer in simple terms.

Hi @SmileyClare,

We offer Life Insurance & Critical Illness with different cover options and a Guaranteed Over 50s plan.

You can visit our Life Insurance webpage that provides more information www.santander.co.uk/personal/insurance/life-protection.

Tony

@Really18

If you have pre existing medical conditions and die of one of those conditions will you still be covered.

Hello @Really18,

As with a number of other answers in this thread, having previously suffered an existing medical condition doesn’t always prevent customers from being able to access insurance, each customer will be given individual consideration.

You can get free advice on life insurance by speaking to one of our Financial Planning Managers - click here to book an appointment. In this appointment we can find out a bit more about your history and discuss your circumstances in advance so you can understand what impact, if any, your condition would have on any life insurance application.

Tony

@RecklessRemote

We’re in the process of looking at life insurance - both my partner and I. We have a 2 year old and 90k on mortgage. Both early 30’s. What would be the most beneficial cover for both of us?

Hi @RecklessRemote,

You can use our calculator to help you understand what your protection needs are - www.santander.co.uk/personal/insurance/life-cover-calculator.

Tony

@N0va

Why do I keep being refused for life insurance due to self harm/suicide attempts when I was a teenager? As an adult, is this not considered that I have been well for many years?

Hello @N0va,

Thanks for your question. Historical mental health issues don't always prevent customers from being able to access insurance, as each customer will be given individual consideration. As part of any life insurance application we can find out a bit more about your history and discuss your circumstances in advance so you can understand what impact, if any, your condition would have on any life insurance application.

You can get free advice on life insurance by speaking to one of our Financial Planning Manager - click here to book an appointment

Tony

@Charliebong

Why does depression/mental health exclude someone from taking out life insurance?

@Charliebong - in short it doesn't always. Mental health conditions are more variable than most other medical conditions we assess. The course of the symptoms, and recovery, varies widely from person to person and doesn't always prevent cover being offered. Indeed, we often provide immediate underwriting decisions to customers with mental health experiences.

Tony

I have a history of cancer and an autoimmune condition that is latent and not treated but is a watch and wait although without any active medical intervention and I don't see a specialist for it. Although I accept I can't really have any affordable life insurance I would like to find accidental death cover. In this way my family will be provided for in the evening of a road traffic accident or other horrid demise. I can't find anything but would like to know why this is and if there is a product available.

@DappledOliveGroves

I have a history of major depression, although the last episode was more than 5 years ago. Throughout this I've still worked full time, paid the mortgage and developed a successful career, yet am denied any cover at all each time I seek any life insurance or critical illness cover, given I've been an in patient at a psychiatric hospital around 20 years ago. Can you explain why this blanket denial of cover is still the approach taken by insurers, particularly where they could simply have a policy exclusion for anything relating to depression etc? It is extremely frustrating to apply, have an insurer trawl through my medical records and then refuse cover on the basis of depression.

Hi @DappledOliveGroves,

Firstly, your strength is to be admired. Secondly, to answer your question, mental health conditions are more variable than most other medical conditions that are assessed. The course of the symptoms, and recovery, varies widely from person to person and doesn’t always prevent cover being offered.

While decisions can sometimes be based on the information given, it is often necessary to seek additional information from the customers or their GP. Many insurers have specialist underwriters trained to deal with the sensitive nature of these calls - with one in four adults (source: NHS England) experiencing a mental health condition, it’s important that insurers recognise and build this into the way business is done. In 2021, Aviva implemented a number of changes, aligned to the ABI Mental Health Standards, that further improve the experience of purchasing insurance for those with a mental health condition.

Tony

@emphasisofmatter

Hi Tony

Do I need a life insurance policy if I already have death in service benefits as part of a public sector pension?

Thanks!

Hi @emphasisofmatter,

It is always worth reviewing your life insurance and critical illness needs, its great that you have life insurance through your pension. If you have a partner do they have life insurance? Also what would happen to the life insurance if you changed jobs?

Tony

@Roundles

Is there coverage which slso cover loss of earnings in the event of serious illness? And when could that take effect from if so?

Hi @Roundles,

Yes there are policies that cover loss of earnings in the event of a serious illness. Critical illness pays out a lump sum, there are also income protection policies that pay a monthly benefit for a period of time.

Tony

@NaerDoWell

My partner and I both have death is service benefit from our jobs which pay out 3.5x annual salary - more than enough to cover everything should the worst happen.

Is there therefore any benefit to getting life insurance too?

Hi @NaerDoWell,

It is always worth reviewing your life insurance and critical illness needs. Its great that you have life insurance through your pension. One thing to consider is what would happen to the life insurance if you or your partner changed jobs?

Tony
Tony

@JetBlackSteed

Our life insurance was taken out with the mortgage. Now we have paid the mortgage off and are in our 50's, the over 50's life insurance doesn't seem suited to us, as seems limited to funeral expenses. We need two wages coming in. What else is there available than those sun life policies? I have death in service benefit from job, but DH does not. Thank you.

Hi @JetBlackSteed,

You are correct that an Over 50s life insurance can be used towards covering funeral costs. With Santander you can take out a life insurance policy up until the age of 77. You can get free advice on life insurance by speaking to one of our Financial Planning Manager - click here to book an appointment.

Tony

@SlipperyLizard

Is there a rough guide for how much life & critical Illness cover a couple should have?

Hi SlipperyLizard,

Everybody's individual circumstances are different. You can take a look at our life cover calculator, or you can get free advice on life insurance by speaking to one of our Financial Planning Manager - click here to book an appointment.

Tony