Life cover and critical illness advice please

gargoyle102

Evening,

My query relates to Life Insurance and Critical Illness policy quote and wanting your views.

I have just bought a house. I am 39 years old and work within the emergency services. I am healthy and was interested in one of those policies that encourage fitness.

Problem is I had someone drive into the back of my car causing me minor whiplash in Jan this year. I declared this and clarified no work time off or illness issues as a result. I had attended minor injuries A & E and was told to have some ibuprofen and that it would easy and I was fine.


I have no lasting symptoms and I am fully recovered.

They have tried to put an exclusion on the policy for anything spinal, musculoskeletal or neurological diseases etc :eek:


I have objected to this and asked for reasons as to why and all they keep coming back with is underwriting policy......seems unreasonable in my opinion, but your views and advice please.


Kind regards
Angela

HappyHarry

I had someone drive into the back of my car causing me minor whiplash in Jan this year. I declared this and clarified no work time off or illness issues as a result. I had attended minor injuries A & E and was told to have some ibuprofen and that it would easy and I was fine.


I have no lasting symptoms and I am fully recovered.

They have tried to put an exclusion on the policy for anything spinal, musculoskeletal or neurological diseases etc

That sounds quite a harsh response for the description of your injuries and subsequent treatment.

This may sound silly, but is the exclusion to do with the Critical Illness part of the policy, or is it just referring to the Waiver of Premium cover?

Waiver of Premium is an additional chargeable option on most life & CIC policies, and means that the provider pays your premiums if you are off work ill for 26 weeks or longer. This option frequently has exclusions similar to the one you have described above.

If not, and the exclusion does apply to the Critical Illness policy, then it may be worth you finding an IFA / broker who could speak directly to underwriters at different providers, and may find you a policy that would not have the exclusions on.

kingstreet

I suspect it's as much to with total permanent disability cover as it is waiver of premium.

As it's practically impossible to know if a future musculo-skeletal condition was caused by the accident or not, an underwriter will always err on the side of caution and exclude all musculo-skeletal conditions.

If you are determined to use Vitality, you are going to have to accept what they are offering. If you will consider a more traditional CI contract, speak to an IFA or protection specialist about the options.

gggrrr

Based on your post and without seeing the whole exclusion wording, I would say that the exclusion wording is harsh.

Having been a medical underwriter, I would attempt to find out a little more information by obtaining a GP report before making such a decision.

I would ask the insurers whether your case has been reviewed by an actual human medical underwriter (rather that an automatic tick box system) and ask whether they would be willing to review decision, the wording and review again in X years time (if they insist on applying the exclusion).

For my own policies and wife's, I have had exclusions changes, ratings removed, definitions of disability changed.

You should always shop around and see if other companies decide not to apply an exclusion.

More importantly, why haven't you considered Income Protection. Will your employers provide a proportion of your salary if you become disabled from working until your retirement? Just a thought.