critical illness claim

si001

Hi Guys,

First post so hopefully it will make sense and is posted in the right place

My wife and I have had a critical illness policy for approx 8 years. We kept it when we moved as my wife was diagnosed with M/S a couple of years later. She is healthy and able to work so we didn't claim. (I was of the understanding that we couldn't claim unless she was unable to work)

We have been told by a nurse today that we might be able to make a claim anyway as it is an insurance against critical illness not against being able to work (?)

We have now read through the small print on the policy and it states that we can only claim within 12 months of diagnosis!! Seen as it is a subtantial amount of money. I'm wondering if anybody has been in the same situation or can offer any advise.

Thanks in advance.

sophievenusdoom

si001 wrote: »

Hi Guys,

First post so hopefully it will make sense and is posted in the right place

My wife and I have had a critical illness policy for approx 8 years. We kept it when we moved as my wife was diagnosed with M/S a couple of years later. She is healthy and able to work so we didn't claim. (I was of the understanding that we couldn't claim unless she was unable to work)

We have been told by a nurse today that we might be able to make a claim anyway as it is an insurance against critical illness not against being able to work (?)

We have now read through the small print on the policy and it states that we can only claim within 12 months of diagnosis!! Seen as it is a subtantial amount of money. I'm wondering if anybody has been in the same situation or can offer any advise.

Thanks in advance.

A lot of insurers will have their own guidelines as to how long after diagnosis you can claim, 12 months would be about standard.

However, it might be worth calling the insurance company to see if tyou can make a retrospective claim from when your wife was diagnosed. They might still decline, but it is worth asking!

dunstonh

You are meant to make a claim as soon as you can. Whilst many will say you have to claim within x months, they will listen to claims afterwards if you have a good reason.

hollie.weimeraner

dunstonh wrote: »

You are meant to make a claim as soon as you can. Whilst many will say you have to claim within x months, they will listen to claims afterwards if you have a good reason.

"We have now read through the small print on the policy and it states that we can only claim within 12 months of diagnosis!! Seen as it is a subtantial amount of money. I'm wondering if anybody has been in the same situation or can offer any advise."

Unfortunately I don't think not reading the small print will be construed as a good reason.

Insurers will always try and worm their way out of paying out - if they refuse then your normal recourse will be via appeal and subsequently the Insurance Ombudsman.

Good Luck

si001

Thanks for all the advise. We filled out the forms as normal with all the correct dates had a phone call a couple of weeks ago to say the money would be in our accounts by the end of the day! There was never any question about the claim being out of date.

Now the only problem we have is how to spend the money!

Thanks again.

Hoof_Hearted

I think you should name the company as they seem to be an exception to the normal lot of conniving gits when a claim is made.

dunstonh

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

I think you should name the company as they seem to be an exception to the normal lot of conniving gits when a claim is made.

Over 90% of CI claims are paid out. So, someone getting paid out is hardly an exception.

Cautious_Investor_3

si001 wrote: »

Thanks for all the advise. We filled out the forms as normal with all the correct dates had a phone call a couple of weeks ago to say the money would be in our accounts by the end of the day! There was never any question about the claim being out of date.

Now the only problem we have is how to spend the money!

Thanks again.

Hi

That's wonderful news, a real silver lining to the cloud of illness.

It also goes to show that good quality insurance companies will always try and honour these types of claims. In my experience they are sympathetic and will do their very best to pay out.

The Cautious Investor