Suicide Attempt Life Insurance

Ettubrute

Hi,

I'm wondering if you could help me. Around ten years ago I stupidly took an overdose of paracetamol while I was very drunk to upset my previous girlfriend (really pathetic I know) . I was given charcoal and was discharged with no follow up etc as I explained to the Dr my stupidity. I have no history of mental health issues or treatment etc before or after this. I'm 30 now, with a mortgage so I need life insurance to protect us.

The same question pops up on the insurance providers about mental heath and suicide attempts. Do you think I should be answering yes to this (this ends up with the supplier denying me insurance.. Beagle Street in this instance) or do I put no and then run the risk of invalidating a claim should something happen to me (my medical records would show my account but I guess an overdose would still raise flags the insurance company side)

Any help would be really appreciated.

Cheers

soolin

Ettubrute wrote: »

Hi,

I'm wondering if you could help me. Around ten years ago I stupidly took an overdose of paracetamol while I was very drunk to upset my previous girlfriend (really pathetic I know) . I was given charcoal and was discharged with no follow up etc as I explained to the Dr my stupidity. I have no history of mental health issues or treatment etc before or after this. I'm 30 now, with a mortgage so I need life insurance to protect us.

The same question pops up on the insurance providers about mental heath and suicide attempts. Do you think I should be answering yes to this (this ends up with the supplier denying me insurance.. Beagle Street in this instance) or do I put no and then run the risk of invalidating a claim should something happen to me (my medical records would show my account but I guess an overdose would still raise flags the insurance company side)

Any help would be really appreciated.

Cheers

Committing fraud does not seem to be a good idea. If you are asked specifically about suicide attempts with no caveat about 'in the last x years' or whatever, then I can't see how you could possibly justify saying no.

Ettubrute

Thanks, I wouldn't want to do that obviously. Does anyone have any experience of getting life insurance in similar circumstances? Hate that this stupidity is costing me later in life.. But hey that's life.

uk1

Moral judgements asside you need to try and second-guess what might be asked of your doctors should a claim arise in the future. If you feel that the risks of a claim being made due to suicide is low (and may not for that matter even be covered ......) then you need to ask yourself if you were unfortunately killed in a road accident whether the question of suicide might pop up and if so whether an insurer would ask the question of your doctor that may be asked and then cover turned down.

Your decision is basically a calculated risk where the odds are unknown. You might find using a broker beneficial and state up front that you are happy for suicide to be excluded. Good luck.

Cornucopia

Certainly approach a Broker to obtain advice on specialist insurers for this.

For many people, it's not the end of the world not to have life insurance(*) and you may want to consider this, especially if you find a specialist insurer, but the premiums are unduly high.

(*) Putting an amount aside into savings each month instead would be a good idea.

lisyloo

Could your partner manage the mortgage alone?
Or could they cover it with a lodger?

Just questioning whether you actually need the insurance? Or whether you just think you do because someone said so (often someone selling it).

Think about what would happen if you died.
It’s possible it’s not required.

kidmugsy

How much death-in-service cover does your employer, or employer's pension scheme, offer? Enough to cover the mortgage?

Weighty1

Beagle Street only really want "vanilla" type cases so few significant medical disclosures.

If it was just 1 "suicide" attempt (and yes, I do think you should disclose it as this) then I'd expect the vast majority of insurers would accept you and many would accept you with the standard premiums.

I've arranged cover for loads of clients who've had past histories of suicide attempts/thoughts so I'm confident that this should be easy for you to arrange with most insurers.