Income protection - won't protect for spinal injury

Leolinders

Hi,

I have life insurance and income protection to cover my mortgage repayments if I couldn't work due to illness or injury.

I had spinal surgery in 1995 to correct a curvature of the spine (scoliosis) and was since discharged with no further problems to date. But the provider of the insurance which I took out in 2013 put in a clause stating they would not pay income protection for any disease or injury to my spine, intervertebral discs, surrounding musculature, nerves or neurological complications etc. This annoys me, as if I had a car accident, it would be nothing to do with the previous surgery and I would not be covered if injured.

Is this usual? Would another provider cover me for my spine if I paid higher premiums? Would someone who once broke a limb in the past be penalised in the same way and not be covered if they later lost said limb?

Can anyone offer advice? I just need to know if I have to accept this or whether I have other options (before I hit 40 and everything goes south while premiums go up - haha!)

Thank you

Weighty1

Back exclusions are probably the most common exclusion placed on income protection plans, along with mental health exclusions. The crux of an exclusion is normally when you last experienced symptoms. If you suffer with the odd bit of intermittent back pain then an exclusion is to be expected. If you've not had any symptoms in the last 10-years then an exclusion seems somewhat harsh.

Did you use a broker to arrange this cover and if so did they speak to the underwriters before applying?

You make a good point re: the car accident and actually in this instance you can generally ask for a claim to be consider and provided an independent medical specialist supports the fact that the injury is not caused or compounded by the previous issue then a claim may be accepted. For fairly obvious reasons most insurers do not advertise this fact though,especially since this is at their discretion.