Fybromyalgia & Life Insurance

dave623

Hi all,
Could someone advise me if it's possible to get life insurance for my wife and I. My wife got payed out on a Total Permanant Disability (TPD) on a life insurance a couple of years ago and now i'm having trouble getting life insurance for my wife (they'll insure me no problem). They say it's not her Fibro (she was diagnosed a few years ago), it's the fact that she's already had a payout which terminated our policy. I didn't expect them to insure her for critical illness, but didn't think life insurance would be a problem. I voluntarily told them she had a previous payout, perhaps I wasn't obliged to disclose this?
Any thoughts?
Kind regards,
Dave.

kingstreet

All you can do is honestly answer the questions asked on the application.

What question prompted you to disclose a successful TPD claim?

dave623

Hi Kingstreet,

It was a phone application for life insurance. They didn't ask if I had ever claimed, I just disclosed it voluntarily, perhaps I needn't have disclosed it at all. Perhaps i'll ring another insurer and just answer what they ask me.
Regards,
Dave.

kingstreet

Why not seek advice from a professional?

You may find you get the right insurer and advice on writing the plan in trust, so the need for probate is avoided, benefits can be paid quickly to your desired recipient and no inheritance tax issues are created, or worsened.

Avoid banks and building societies, as they tend to be the most expensive option and also avoid salesmen tied to one insurer. An independent financial adviser would be the best bet.

dave623

Thanks for your reply Kingstreet,
It was a comparison site I contacted for advice who then disclosed the successful claim to the insurers. They then said that they wouldn't cover my wife for life or critical illness cover.
Regards,
Dave.

kingstreet

I mean the concept of "advice and recommendation" as it is understood by the FSA.

You approach an adviser who goes through your individual circumstances, analysing them to establish what protection needs you should address now and which you should address later.

He draws up a plan which you can use for the next few years as resources become available.

He will find you the best/cheapest cover to meet the agreed needs with the most suitable provider, within your budget and put in writing the reasons why this cover suited you best. He will also advise you on the correct trust to use, where appropriate.

Comparison sites provide only information, not advice.

busicat

"They say it's not her Fibro (she was diagnosed a few years ago), it's the fact that she's already had a payout which terminated our policy. " That's not a usual reason for preventing life cover acceptance. So it might be worth checking further if you can get through to the underwriters for the insurer. (Not the easiest admittedly.)

But it might be for cost -cutting (so making the cover cheaper) the on-line/over the phone route to this cover is taking short cuts for speed and convenience, so a lot of people get accepted no hassle, the rest just get refused.

So, the best then is to go through a proper independent financial adviser. They'll be able to get your wife covered going through a full underwriting process and will know which companies are best for going down that route for balancing cost and chances of acceptance. (Plus yes - making sure your policies are set up to avoid hassle at the pay out end. Yours needs sorting too!)

Fluffpuff

Off topic but it amazes me how GP's etc are still allowed to hand out Fibro as a diagnosis when they admit that Fibro is only a category they put people in when they can't find out whats wrong and tests have come back inconclusive time and time again.

Please don't take Fibro as a diagnosis and push your GP for further investigations.

dave623

Hi Fluffpuff,

Don't think I agree with you there, I beleive Fybromyalgia is now a recognised illness. I agree there is no definitive test for it, but painful specific trigger points around body are the most prominent symptoms which is a pretty conclusive indicator.
Cheers,
Dave.

Fluffpuff

dave623 wrote: »

Hi Fluffpuff,

Don't think I agree with you there, I beleive Fybromyalgia is now a recognised illness. I agree there is no definitive test for it, but painful specific trigger points around body are the most prominent symptoms which is a pretty conclusive indicator.
Cheers,
Dave.

Having been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia myself and researched into Fibro for the past 6 years, I have found that the trigger point test could apply to anyone, including healthy people with no symptoms. It just depends on how sensitive these trigger points are. In some people its more sensitive, like myself too. Doesn't prove a thing though.

I have since found out the exact cause of my symptoms after being fobbed off for years with the Fibro diagnosis. I hope that in time it gets investigated and that the people suffering with their symptoms get a proper diagnosis.

ladylea13

Sorry if I've put this in the wrong place (i'm new here), but i'm desperate for some help/advice
Me and my husband currently have a mortgage with Halifax and on that mortgage we took out Life Insurance & Critical Illness (which is costing us £90 per month and have been paying this since we took the mortgage out 5 years ago)
In January my husband was diagnosed with skin cancer (Malignant Melanoma) and has so far had to have 2 different moles removed as well as having to have them re-excision. The specialist nurse we see made us aware that if we have a mortgage and have critical illness on it we will be covered (we wouldn’t of even though about looking into this had she not mentioned anything). So we went home and dug out the paperwork and started the process of the claim. They obtained the Consultant & GP Records.
My husband called them for an update as we had not heard anything for a while, the lady he was speaking advised that they had sent some correspondence to us as they require further information, at which my husband asked her what was the information they required, to which she replied by asking him when was the last time he had a cigarette?? I am now starting to feel that they are trying to “wiggle” their way out of paying out the policy.
I have dug out all the paperwork and when we was first quoted for this cover they had us down as non-smokers, at which we had it promptly amended and received correspondence showing the revised policy with the correct details. However, there is some correspondence dated 11 months later showing us as being back as non-smokers (I did not notice this at the time otherwise I would have had it amended....again) we could do with just knowing really what position this will leave us in??
Any help or advice would be much appreciated….Thank you