M.E/CFS and Serious Illness/Disability Cover

Mojisola

The World Health Organisation defines ME/CFS as a neurological disease but that doesn't seem to have made much impact on attitudes.

OnAndUp

Unfortunately it does sound as though there would be no way around that, it's scandalous that its not classified as a serious illness.

Have you heard of or been in touch with the support group / charities for their advice:

http://www.actionforme.org.uk/
http://www.meassociation.org.uk/

I have seen Royds Solicitors? advertised in one of their magazines I think they have expertise in this area.

Ladybird17_2

OnAndUp wrote: »

Unfortunately it does sound as though there would be no way around that, it's scandalous that its not classified as a serious illness.

Have you heard of or been in touch with the support group / charities for their advice:


I have seen Royds Solicitors? advertised in one of their magazines they have expertise in this area.

Thanks On and Up! Nice to have some positive input . I'm on the Action for ME website a lot, will see what they say. Thanks for the other links as well

InsideInsurance

Ladybird17 wrote: »

ME is definitely not a mental health issue, it's a physical issue and a lot of sufferers would be really offended to read that people think it's "mental health".

Including my cousin, as I said. She did actually recover from the condition, havent spoken to her since so dont know if she is still as vocal about it as she used to be

The reality is however insurers arent medical experts and whilst medical experts opinions are divided and there is no definitive diagnosis test then we arent going to find it on cover for these types of policies

stephenni1971

Ladybird17 wrote: »

Thanks On and Up! Nice to have some positive input . I'm on the Action for ME website a lot, will see what they say. Thanks for the other links as well

When you took out your policy you were given information on what conditions were covered.

You have been diagnosed with a condition that is not covered.

It's not discrimination, it's not scandlous, it's exactly the policy YOU decided to buy.

It doesn't matter who agrees or disagrees with you that's just the way it is.

IMHO your time would be better spent dealing with your condition that trying to win support for an unwinnable fight with the insurer about definitions and exclusions.

ACG

Ladybird17 wrote: »

It's listed as an "exclusion" on my policy documents actually!

Presumably there must have been some sort of history of this prior to the policy being taken out if it is specifically mentioned as an exclusion. Did they request a GP report at the application?

Im sorry but i dont see how you can say you dont see the point in a policy. Think of all the people who claim for cancer, heart attacks etc. They generally pay out on about 90% of claims.

If it specifically excluded ME i would bet my house on you having something in your GP report atleast prior to the policy going in force....in which case you cant expect an insurance company to cover a condition you know you have. Insurance is there to pay out for something which MAY happen, not something that is or will happen.

weighty1_2

I'm afraid I'm with the majority of the advisers on this one. You have taken out a policy that specifically excludes M.E. CFS, presumably because you were already suffering from some issues relating to this at the point of application therefore to state that you feel cheated is unfair on PruProtect as they have been explicit in what they are and are not covering.

Also, as ACG said, there are numerous other conditions which could affect you, the most common being heart attacks/cancers/stroke/MS, to give up on your plan and leave yourself without cover could be the worst decision you could make, especially being diagnosed with CFS/ME as you may struggle to get cover again in the near future due to the recent diagnosis.

Unfortunately, had you taken out an income protection plan then you may well have been able to claim if unable to work (although this to may have had an ME/CFS exclusion on it to).

starrystarry

InsideInsurance wrote: »

I dont know if medical opinion has changed in the last 10 years (and to be honest underwriters knowledge tends to be even older than that anyway) ...

Have to disagree with you on that, an underwriter couldn't function if they weren't up to date with developments. We're expected to keep our knowledge up to date. Underwriters are not a bunch of crusty old men sat in a office rifling through moth-eaten old books/manuals etc. (Well there might be one or two of those left somewhere )

Torry_Quine

Sadly this doesn't surprise me, not least the idea from some quarters that it's a mental health rather than neurological condition.

I am surprised though that it was specifically mentioned a an exclusion as others ahve said this suggests there was something in your medical history. I hope you have got an early diagnosis and supportive GP.

rs65

ACG wrote: »

Presumably there must have been some sort of history of this prior to the policy being taken out if it is specifically mentioned as an exclusion. Did they request a GP report at the application?

Im sorry but i dont see how you can say you dont see the point in a policy. Think of all the people who claim for cancer, heart attacks etc. They generally pay out on about 90% of claims.

If it specifically excluded ME i would bet my house on you having something in your GP report atleast prior to the policy going in force....in which case you cant expect an insurance company to cover a condition you know you have. Insurance is there to pay out for something which MAY happen, not something that is or will happen.

Have a look at pages 95 and 113 under the heading of Specific Exclusions. It's 128 pages long so I haven't read the context of these exclusions.