Is It Too Late To Get Life Insurance

-MRS_T-

Looking for some advice please.

My dad has not been keeping very well for the last 6months and has been undergoing tests at the hospital.

Anyway they have still not come up with a diagnosis and do not know yet what is wrong with him. They have found shading in his liver.

He does not have any life insurance and was wondering if anyone would have any experience in obtaining life insurance whilst you are undergoing tests?

I would appreciate any help/advice you could give.

ACG

Yes is the short answer.

At best they would put an exclusion on any claim resulting from the liver, however they would usually not offer cover until whatever it is has been diagnosed as it could be pretty much anything.

-MRS_T-

Hi ACG

Thank you for your response. He should be close to a diagnosis hopefully. He is getting worse every day so doctors are trying to rush things.

If an insurance company puts an exclusion on a claim resulting from the liver then there isnt much point in getting insurance is there?

I hate to sound negative but life has thrown so many things at us lately its hard to stay positive. My dad is beating himself up over not having any.

ACG

To be honest, its unlikely he will get cover until a diagnosis is made especially if hes getting worse. Even once there is a diagnosis there is no guarantee he will be able to get cover.

Life Insurance is like a gamble for the life office. If they win life insured will not die during the term, if they lose then obviously that person does pass away and they have to pay out.... (i dont mean this in the way it will most likely come across) but would you take that bet on in the current situation?

I know that is a really crude way of explaining it and i do apologise but its the most straight forward way i could think of wording it.

McKneff

With all due respect, I'm sure you wouldnt want to gain from your dads demise, he probably is thinking in the way that you need some help when he is gone and he wants to leave you some , but I am 62, have never had life insurance, I really dont believe in lining someone elses pockets on the off chance. And insurance really is a gamble

To be blunt, (and I really mean this in the nicest possible way) as long as there are some savings for a funeral or some estate to pay for one, then tell him not to fret about it. Thats all there needs to be really.
I wish him a speedy diagnosis and recovery.

-MRS_T-

ACG wrote: »

To be honest, its unlikely he will get cover until a diagnosis is made especially if hes getting worse. Even once there is a diagnosis there is no guarantee he will be able to get cover.

Life Insurance is like a gamble for the life office. If they win life insured will not die during the term, if they lose then obviously that person does pass away and they have to pay out.... (i dont mean this in the way it will most likely come across) but would you take that bet on in the current situation?

I know that is a really crude way of explaining it and i do apologise but its the most straight forward way i could think of wording it.

Yes I know what you mean I think it is unlikely he will get it, we will just have to wait and see what the doctors say first and hopefully get him diagnosed asap. All sorts are running through my dads and my familys minds at the moment and the stress of everything else is making it worse.

-MRS_T-

McKneff wrote: »

With all due respect, I'm sure you wouldnt want to gain from your dads demise, he probably is thinking in the way that you need some help when he is gone and he wants to leave you some , but I am 62, have never had life insurance, I really dont believe in lining someone elses pockets on the off chance. And insurance really is a gamble

To be blunt, (and I really mean this in the nicest possible way) as long as there are some savings for a funeral or some estate to pay for one, then tell him not to fret about it. Thats all there needs to be really.
I wish him a speedy diagnosis and recovery.

If only it were that simple. Me or any of my family have no interest in gaining from my dads demise however if he is not there (god forbid that should happen) then there is no one brining in an income, so then we cant pay the mortgage, car etc. He is self employed also and is getting to the stage he cannot work anymore. The trouble is my dad knows this and its making him worry.

So its easy to say dont fret about it as long as you have money for funeral but its just not that simple im afraid.

I can tell from your message you are not trying to be judgemental but I feel your outlook is very black and white when I do not see it like that.

McKneff

-MRS_T- wrote: »

If only it were that simple. Me or any of my family have no interest in gaining from my dads demise however if he is not there (god forbid that should happen) then there is no one brining in an income, so then we cant pay the mortgage, car etc. He is self employed also and is getting to the stage he cannot work anymore. The trouble is my dad knows this and its making him worry.

So its easy to say dont fret about it as long as you have money for funeral but its just not that simple im afraid.

I can tell from your message you are not trying to be judgemental but I feel your outlook is very black and white when I do not see it like that.

Not judgemental at all and Im sorry if you felt that way, I can only go by my own experience and my own circumstances. I have no mortgage, We have state pension so if push came to shove, and one of us died the other would manage. You gave no indication that your dad had a mortgage to pay or that he was self employed.
Also no indication of his age and I (wrongly) presumed that he was not young That will teach me for presuming eh.
For me it is black and white you see. I though I was helping but there you go. My apologies if I have offended you.

But would you please read the first line of my post again. I think you may have misunderstood it.

ACG

I know its not a great subject, but this might be of some sort of help:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Bereaved/index.htm
and/or;
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Illorinjured/index.htm

-MRS_T-

McKneff wrote: »

Not judgemental at all and Im sorry if you felt that way, I can only go by my own experience and my own circumstances. I have no mortgage, We have state pension so if push came to shove, and one of us died the other would manage. You gave no indication that your dad had a mortgage to pay or that he was self employed. For me it is black and white you see. I though I was helping but there you go. My apologies if I have offended you.

McKneff you have not offended me at all so please dont think that. Im rubbish at expressing myself and especially putting it into words and writing it down.

I am thankfull to you that you took the time to read my message and respond to it really I am.

I just couldnt see how you have such a black and white outlook but I can see why now.

Our life is somewhat alot more complicated unfortunately and there would be loads of implications should anything happen to him.

Just thought I would ask on here as my dad was talking about it.

I just want to try and concentrate on him getting better but its hard as all sorts go running through my mind, I think its human nature to think the worse plus I can see him deteriorating every day.

OshayAway

My guess is that at this time, in advance of any formal diagnosis & prognosis, if cover was available it would only be via a specialist 'high risks' insurer. These will allow loadings / ratings upto 800% - but that's 9 times original premium.

Depending on affordability, that may not represent a viable option.