Declined Life Cover

Redfred237

Hi, new to this site so apologies if this is a repeat post or is posted in the wrong place.

I'm 43 yr old male who has been declined life cover assurance for medical history reasons. I still have 18 years left to run on my mortgage. I have a wife and two sons that I do not wish to leave saddled with my debts should the worst happen.

I am still trying to get some cover through various specialist brokers so all is not lost just yet but getting close as last quote was for £900 per month premium.

My questions are where do I stand with not having any life assurance and a mortgage? Do I have to have life cover would it be stipulated as part of the mortgage? Do I have to declare my position to my mortgage provider?

It has been suggested that I go for certain specialist tests to rule out certain conditions that appear in my family health history. CT scans and or High resolution scans, no idea how much that lot might cost me and doubt the NHS does them on request.

Any information would be helpful. If needed I can give more medical info.

Thanks.

Quentin

Redfred237 wrote: »

My questions are where do I stand with not having any life assurance and a mortgage? Do I have to have life cover would it be stipulated as part of the mortgage? Do I have to declare my position to my mortgage provider?

You don't "have" to take out life insurance to get a mortgage.

You don't have to declare your health to get a mortgage.

The mortgage is secured by way of the property!

dunstonh

I am still trying to get some cover through various specialist brokers so all is not lost just yet but getting close as last quote was for £900 per month premium.

Any local IFA can be used as an intermediary. It doesnt require anything specialist from that point of view. However, a specialist insurer is certainly a likely a requirement (given the premium).

My questions are where do I stand with not having any life assurance and a mortgage?

Not an issue as far as the mortgage is concerned. Just an issue if you die and your spouse has insufficient savings or means to repay the mortgage. Lender is not concerned about your life cover status.

Does your employer offer a pension scheme? Many come with death in service cover which is not dependent on your health.

Redfred237

Hi thanks for the replies so far,

25,000 for death in service as part of pension.

Redfred237

Going to look at accidental death cover as an alternative to life cover, if I'm unsuccessful at gaining any life cover.

ACG

Why have you been declined cover?
Who applied for the cover? - was it you or a broker?

Its probably worth speaking to a broker, if there are medical conditions then its a case of finding someone who will offer cover and then at the best rates possible.

Redfred237

Hi,
I applied for Life cover through Lifesearch, I was led to believe that they would assemble the information and pair me up with a suitable insurer for my circumstances. After going through an application process with L&G I was declined.

Not too chuffed with Life search as I've since been informed that L&G have some of the most stringent guidelines. They then sent out my details to various providers, without my name, asking for an upfront yes/no based on my medical history. This is where the premiums of £800 - £900 per month come from.

Since then I have gone through a couple of specialist brokers who deal more specifically in people in my circumstances. Gone through a more thorough questioning of medical history with them. They never send out directly to providers and only ever ask for a general yes / no upfront before looking at going through application process.

More details of my history. I'm a 43 year old Asthmatic male who suffered a heart attack at age 39, Now stented and medicated. No history of raised Cholesterol or BP pre attack. The age I was when I had the attack alone makes getting life cover difficult. Combine this with family history of Polycystic Kidney disease leading to Kidney failure + heart disease on both Maternal and Paternal sides and things start to get tricky.

It's possible I may have to wait a few more years before even trying for life cover as many insurance providers will not even look at my case due to suffering a heart attack before the age of 40. I was only 3 months off 40.

Post attack went through rehabilitation programme, heart function 30% improvement over start of rehab. Used to cycle to work before attack and also at weekends and still do so to an even greater extent now.

Thanks to all who have replied so far.

weighty1_2

LifeSearch are pretty good at arranging cover, I know, I used to work for them! That said, the advisers don't always have the resources or time to be dealing with the very complex cases. L&G don't have particularly stringent guidelines, they are good with some things, not good with other risk factors, the same as all insurers really.

There is at least one provider who will accept application from clients who have had heart attacks as low as age 35, however, you are right in that many will not even look at offering term due to your age when suffering the h.a.

I think a big issue is the fact that presumably you have not been tested for polycystic kidney disease? Based on this being a potentially hereditary condition (hence it being specifically asked about in the family history section) and the fact that both your mother and father have been diagnosed with it would really have those alarm bells ringing with the insurer. The family history of heart disease would be discounted as you have already suffered a h.a. yourself.

In regards to the tests you have been recommended to have, I would expect that if you told your GP what has happened then they may well be happy to refer you on anyway. Obviously, if you'd rather not have the tests because you'd rather not know one way or another then this is another matter.

Just one question:

Did LifeSearch just forward on written details of your situation to the other providers or did you forward on copies of the medical report first requested by L&G, presuming one was requested?

dunstonh

I applied for Life cover through Lifesearch, I was led to believe that they would assemble the information and pair me up with a suitable insurer for my circumstances. After going through an application process with L&G I was declined.

lifesearch are perfectly fine for mainstream cases. However, you probably need to be looking at the specialist insurers and not the mainstream. Internet providers in general like the quick and easy stuff.

Your scenario is one that needs information to be taken on a non-application basis and discussed directly with the underwriters to see if they will accept it and on what basis. if it shows that none of the mainstream are interested then the use of a specialist insurer that focuses on the high risk market would then become the next option. That is the sort of process you would expect to occur.

weighty1_2

dunstonh wrote: »

lifesearch are perfectly fine for mainstream cases. However, you probably need to be looking at the specialist insurers and not the mainstream. Internet providers in general like the quick and easy stuff.

Completely agree.

Your scenario is one that needs information to be taken on a non-application basis and discussed directly with the underwriters to see if they will accept it and on what basis. if it shows that none of the mainstream are interested then the use of a specialist insurer that focuses on the high risk market would then become the next option. That is the sort of process you would expect to occur.

I would expect the LifeSearch adviser to have spoken to at least 3-4 providers with regards to the applicants details. It's fairly standard for the advisers to do that within the company, however, often advisers will have their "favourite" providers so may simply miss the company who would offer terms due to not speaking to the pre-sales line.

Personally, in a situation like this, especially were the OP has had a heart attack I think it is extremely beneficial to obtain a copy of the GPR (or Subject Access Request info) and forward this on to alternative providers as there are heart attacks and then there are HEART ATTACKS, so to speak.

Redfred237

weighty1 wrote: »

Just one question:

Did LifeSearch just forward on written details of your situation to the other providers or did you forward on copies of the medical report first requested by L&G, presuming one was requested?

Hi,
I never got as far as medical reports being requested by any providers. The Polycystic Kidney Disease is only on my Fathers history. I Will be making an appointment with GP to see about tests to rule out PKD.

Do not intend this post to be a slur on LifeSearch staff or Company as they were able to provide a good service in sorting out my wifes life cover.

I have been told by two specialist brokers that L&G are quite strict on accepting heart attack sufferers and that they wouldn't have even considered them. Maybe I'm just being gullible believing what they are telling me over the phone. Just an average Joe, hence my posts on here to gain a better understanding.

Thanks for taking the time to respond, all help is greatly appreciated.