joint life policys

Susieq_3

Me and my partner bought a house together almost 3 years ago and each took out policys. The reason we did seperate ones was because I had been ill and was a "higher risk".
I have been free from any illness now for over 3 years. Does anyone know if I could now be looking at getting joint cover elsewhere and what the period of time is before any I become a normal risk again?
Thanks for any advice Susieq

clear_blu

It is impossible to answer your question, much depends on the nature of the illness. For example if it involved cancer then you would not even be considered clear until at least 5 years with no re-occurance. Even then most assurance companies would consider you a slightly higher risk. To go to the other extreme if it was a simple infection that could be cured by antibiotics then after a month you would be considered a normal risk.

Susieq_3

Oh sorry, maybe I should have been more specific. I had a pancreatic cyst which I was told was something that would never go away and could lead to acute pancreatitis. However when I had my last scan it had decreased in size and changes in my lifestyle and diet have had a vast improvement on my health. When I told the Doctor he suggested that high insurance was something I would have to live with. But knowing that I have enjoyed good health and hope to continue to do so, I wondered whether the questions that some insurance companies ask over others eg if it asks if I have had any problems in the last 2 years I could honestly answer no. But am I deceiving them by not admitting the experience?
Thankyou for your comments so far, I appreciate the time you have taken.

clear_blu

Firstly can I say that I am pleased that you are enjoying life to the full. Doctors can usually be relied upon to give an honest and fair opinion of your problem and its effect on the underwriting of assurance. If he has stated you are likely to be loaded then that seems to be the case. As you already have assurance cover albeit at a higher rate than a joint life I would tend to stick with that. If you try to obtain it elsewhere you MUST disclose your medical condition, God forbid but in the event of a claim they would write to your doctor and definitely refute the claim.

MarkyMarkD

I would also say that for many people, the savings of a joint life policy over two single life policies will be small. And if you have two policies, there is obviously more cover.

Given that you are also now older than when you took out the original policy, I am not at all convinced of the benefit of changing policies, unless your original premium loading was huge.

Most health questionnaires will ask you a lot more than about the last two years. And the fact that you've had a scan and discussed it with your doctor is discloseable, whether it is good news or not. It would be a good long while before you would be exempt from disclosing things.