Life Insurance and Mental Health Disgrace

Toria_A

I have been a fan of Martin Lewis and Money Saving Expert for a long time and often use the site to research services and get valuable advice.

However today I took the advice of using Cavandish Online for Life Insurance and feel very upset about the type of questions you are asked when you are genuine and honest regarding Depression.

There is a stigma attached within society that if you have experienced any mental health problems you should be made to pay higher premuims or you are refused insurance.

Also you are asked about suicide and it is aborrant that it is presumed that because you have had depression you should be sectioned or that you are going to jump off the nearest bridge.

I did not actually get to this stage as felt upset that I was asked about suicide, dates of GP Visits and a variety of personal information.

I am a professional person who has two children and works full time supporting vulnerable individuals and merely wanted a decent insurance policy to support my children should something happen to me.

There is a total disregard for the Disibility Discrimination Act and still Stigma attached to mental health. I am now at a total loss as to whether I should attempt to get anymore quotes as feel embarrassed about the need to disclose personal information related to past depression.

All I have achieved is negative assumptions and interrogation throughout my attempt to get insurance...................................................

dunstonh

However today I took the advice of using Cavandish Online for Life Insurance

Cavendish online is not advice. Its execution only. Cavendish do have an advice arm though but the online service is not that.

and feel very upset about the type of questions you are asked when you are genuine and honest regarding Depression.

If you are depressed you have an illness. Information about the illness needs to be known. In the case of depression it could be clinical depression or it could be limited and brought on by an event. They insurer needs to know.

Also you are asked about suicide and it is aborrant that it is presumed that because you have had depression you should be sectioned or that you are going to jump off the nearest bridge.

Nothing is presumed. You are asked if you have attempted suicide in the past. Life assurance will pay out on suicide so the insurer needs to know what sort of risk you are to them.

I did not actually get to this stage as felt upset that I was asked about suicide, dates of GP Visits and a variety of personal information.

The information is factual. You shouldnt expect anyone to take on a risk without knowing what the risks are.

There is a total disregard for the Disibility Discrimination Act and still Stigma attached to mental health.

Thats just being silly. There is no discrimination in the questions at all. They are questions that require a factual answer.

I am now at a total loss as to whether I should attempt to get anymore quotes as feel embarrassed about the need to disclose personal information related to past depression.

Every life assurance application is going to need those questions answered.

All I have achieved is negative assumptions and interrogation throughout my attempt to get insurance

All you have achieved is getting worked up about something that isnt the case and have jumped to illogical assumptions.

Can I ask, are you still suffering from depression? (wondering now if I should change the wording of my response).

OshayAway

Toria_A wrote: »

I have been a fan of Martin Lewis and Money Saving Expert for a long time and often use the site to research services and get valuable advice.

However today I took the advice of using Cavandish Online for Life Insurance and feel very upset about the type of questions you are asked when you are genuine and honest regarding Depression.

There is a stigma attached within society that if you have experienced any mental health problems you should be made to pay higher premuims or you are refused insurance.

Also you are asked about suicide and it is aborrant that it is presumed that because you have had depression you should be sectioned or that you are going to jump off the nearest bridge.

I did not actually get to this stage as felt upset that I was asked about suicide, dates of GP Visits and a variety of personal information.

I am a professional person who has two children and works full time supporting vulnerable individuals and merely wanted a decent insurance policy to support my children should something happen to me.

There is a total disregard for the Disibility Discrimination Act and still Stigma attached to mental health. I am now at a total loss as to whether I should attempt to get anymore quotes as feel embarrassed about the need to disclose personal information related to past depression.

All I have achieved is negative assumptions and interrogation throughout my attempt to get insurance...................................................

Is it ageism to ask your date of birth and increase your premium for that? Or sexist to ask your gender and charge men more money for life cover (because they don't live as long) or women more for critical illness and income protection (because they are more likely to claim)? Is it fattism to ask your weight and put up the standard premium due to high bmi?

Any premium and terms offered by an insurance company is a reflection of the risk an individual poses. The facts are that individuals who have a history of anxiety, stress or depression are possibly more likely to have an occurrence of that in future (depending on the specific circumstances, which is why they ask specific questions) and a potential propensity toward related physical health problems. It is a very common disclosure and standard on all term assurance application forms.

You would however, definitely benefit from advice on this as a good ifa / protection broker would research which provider is most likely to get you the best terms once an application had been submitted. Providers do vary considerably on this though and depending on your past situation and who you apply to, same details can be as poles-apart as standard rates & terms vs straight decline.