Declined total and permanent disability cover

_marnie_

Hi Guys,

My partner and I have just purchased our first house so we thought it would be best to take out mortgage life assurance with critical illness to cover our mortgage if anything was to happen to one of us.

However axa have declined me for total and permanent disability cover? I have no idea why I have been declined im only 23. I am over weight but have no medical problems and have no family history of any medical problems.

What confuses me is that i would be covered for their critical illnesses like MS and arthritis etc but if i was to get MS would that not make me disabled and therefore would mean im not covered?

Im concerned that total and permanent disability covers a wide range of other illnesses and therefore I wouldnt be covered? Would this be the case?

Any info would be really appreciated.

Thanks

MrRedundant

How far overweight are we talking? What is your occupation? Any family history.

A look suggests most of AXA's claims are for cancer; heart attack and stroke. Being overweight means your a bigger risk of these.

-Vita-

I would hazard a guess that the exclusion of TPD is due to your occupation. TPD can be viewed as an additional critical illness condition. You are covered for all specified conditions of the policy and a claim could be made upon meeting the definition of the specified condition when diagnosed.

If you became totally and permanently disabled thereafter, then it is irrelevant as you would have already claimed upon diagnosis of one of the specified conditions of your policy.

TPD is a good benefit as it allows you to make a claim if you became totally and permanently disabled due to a condition that wasn't specified - giving you more comprehensive cover (usually at an additional cost).

If the reason that you have been declined the TPD benefit is due to your occupation then the likelihood is that other insurers will take the same approach.

-Vita-

Typically, the majority (70-85%) of all critical illness claims are for cancer, heart attack or stroke; regardless of the insurance provider.

_marnie_

Thanks for the replies.

Im about 3 stone overweight which i know isnt great but I have no medical problems. Axa sent a nurse to give me a medical and my blood pressure, diabetes tests were fine which makes it even more confusing. My family have no medical problems either.

I dont think its down to my occupation as im a accounts assistant so its not like its a really manual job.

They increased the premium by £5 due to my health which i kind of expected because i suppose i am at more risk of a heart attack etc but i just dont understand why they wont cover me for total and permanent disability.

-Vita-

Who did you take the policy out with? Direct with AXA? a broker? You can speak to either of the two and they will be able to explain the exact reason why you were declined TPD. At least you have the critical illness cover in place.

ellie43

Marnie

You could make a 'subject access request' under the Data Protection Act to the insurer. The information that the insurer sends you should give you an idea as to why the insurer have made the decision they have.

See the Information Commissioners website for more info http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_the_public/personal_information/how_manage/access_info.aspx

The ICO also provides a standard letter on their site.

I made a TPD claim (which took over 5 years to resolve) and found info obtained under the DPA very useful as it gave me a good idea of how my claim was being assessed.

HTH