retrospective insurance claim

Lizann_2

Hi. Was looking for some advice (or reasurrance )!!. My other half has paid into an adaptable pension plan with life insurance for many years. The pension wasn't up to much but the lnsurance was quite substantial ie death cover. He was diagnosed with COPD about 12 years ago but was able to work etc until about 4 years ago when he had to give work up. He has gone downhill rapidly this year.
He took to do with his own finances and by chance I was going through some papers and realised the pension plan was until his retirement at 60 ( he was 60 in January). The sum payable for death cover has gone down by £140000.
On checking his bank statements I see no direct debits have been taken since then.
We had been discussing making a claim on the insurance ( critical illness cover) and using it to add to the sale proceeds of our house in order to get a bungalow for his mobility.
Is it possible to still claim. I cant tell him about this as he thought I would be provided for.

Nearlyold

Hi Lizann sorry to hear of your situation, retrospective claims are sometimes possible however I'm not sure from your post whether your other half has or had a Critical Illness Policy at all, as you only mention the life cover attached to his pension which has now ceased due to him reaching his nominated retirement age. Could you clarify which policy you are referring to that you believe provides or did provide Critical Illness Cover? I'm also wondering whether he might have had Waiver of Premium cover?

Lizann_2

Hi and thanks for reply.. the insurance policy has critical illness cover and there was also a waiver of premium cover..
I am useless when it comes to these matters but feel sick to think after paying all these years that he would lose out for the sake of a few months.
What makes matters worse was the fact that years ago he wanted to cancel the pension as it wasn't performing well and I persuaded him to carry on incase the worst should happen as the life cover was pretty good:(

Nearlyold

Are you sure its critical illness cover (which pays out on diagnosis of heart attack stroke cancer etc) and not terminal illness cover which pays out when the life assured receives a prognosis of less than a certain amount of time to live typically 12 months? I have not seen Critical Illness cover included in a pension plan and am not sure if your other half's condition would be covered anyway. If the pension had waiver of premium cover did your other half not try and claim the waiver when he had to give up work?