Life insurance and medical records

Korkyb

At least you know why your LFT's are a bit off :-)


I'd have a chat with your GP and identify exactly what information is in your medical record with regards to your history. Then you'll know be able to disclose information which accurately reflects your medical records. (If you've had any hospital treatment / seen consultant you might need to check what they hold on you as well!).


The other thing worth chatting to the GP about is what effect reducing your alcohol intake further might have on your future LFT's??


Life Insurance companies are just like bookies - its all about the odds & unfortunately research shows that an excessive tippler is more likely to topple.


https://mrc.ukri.org/news/browse/more-than-100g-week-of-alcohol-linked-to-a-shorter-life-expectancy/

apollojohn

From my limited knowledge, I would sprinkle some insights on the topic of current discussion. It is always advised to disclose all health problems since later on if an incident occurs due to a problem that we failed to mention, this could result in the insurance company denying the claim money.
Honesty goes a long way. And it wins each and every time

Weighty1

daverave7 wrote: »

No, that won't be on my GP records. I would have lied to my GP and declared around 50.

If you disclosed 50 units to the GP I'd be amazed if they didn't then recommend you reduce your alcohol consumption and this is a question most insurers ask and would normally trigger a GP report being requested, at which point the abnormal LFT results would be highlighted.

You really are on a hiding to nowhere is you think you can trick an insurer into giving you cover fraudulently. They'll even find out at the point of application OR at the point of a claim, the latter being much much worse for your family.

daverave7

I still can't get life insurance :-( Been declined several times now. Have been totally honest, as recommended on this thread. I do consume 40 units/week alcohol but my liver function has been normal for at least three years (and so has a recent liver scan been normal). One question that I'm pulled up on is "have you ever been told to cut down on alcohol by your GP", which I declared Yes - even though this was around 10 to 15 years ago, when I was a heavy drinking but functioning student! I'm finding it hard to believe that there aren't life insurance options for a "moderately heavy" drinker like myself - where I probably fall into fair proportion of the population who like a glass or two of wine each night, and maybe a few more on the weekend! Not sure what my next step is... I'm thinking of getting my medical records from 10 years back to see if there is a record (or not) of being told to cut down, although I was verbally told this.

Weighty1

The fact isn't how you record your answer on the application it's more the point that you've been told to cut down yet your liver function tests still suggest you are drinking more than your body can happily cope with.

As I put back in Jan, you are going to struggle with this scenario, unless you are willing to adapt your lifestyle significantly.

And, I think you might be kidding yourself if you think a fair proportion of the population have 1-2 glass wine a night AND more at weekends.

daverave7

Weighty1 wrote: »

The fact isn't how you record your answer on the application it's more the point that you've been told to cut down yet your liver function tests still suggest you are drinking more than your body can happily cope with.

As I put back in Jan, you are going to struggle with this scenario, unless you are willing to adapt your lifestyle significantly.

And, I think you might be kidding yourself if you think a fair proportion of the population have 1-2 glass wine a night AND more at weekends.

From DrinkAware:-

"In 2017 in England, 24% of men said that their average weekly alcohol consumption was more than 14 units but no more than 50 units.5 11% of women said that their average weekly alcohol consumption was more than 14 units but no more than 35 units."

I'd say 24% is a fair proportion.

To clarify, my LFTs have been normal over the last year - I regularly monitor these through Thriva (and could supply this as evidence to a potential insurer, if this is an option). This also indicates that my body is coping with my current alcohol intake.

Quentin

Google life insurance with alcohol issues to find companies/brokers who may be able to help

SonOf

I'd say 24% is a fair proportion.

Where does it say that 24% are drinking 40 units a week? 14-50 is a wide range and assuming they are all at the top end of it is kidding yourself.

Until you accept you are an alcoholic, you are not going to be able to address the issues.

csgohan4

Insurers view you as a higher risk than someone who drinks 14 units which is the recommended allowance.

I would not recommend fudging the numbers either as you would be in effect be paying for something you will not get should you need to claim

You have had alot of advice here, get on top of your alcohol problem and more doors will open for you.

daverave7

SonOf wrote: »

Where does it say that 24% are drinking 40 units a week? 14-50 is a wide range and assuming they are all at the top end of it is kidding yourself.

Until you accept you are an alcoholic, you are not going to be able to address the issues.

Not kidding myself, just looking at evidence. 24 % is likely to be an underestimate. It's well acknowledged the under reporting of drinking alcohol in particular by surveys. See here, also from drink aware:

"A 2013 study in England found that reported alcohol consumption based on surveys that ask people how much and how often they drink typically amounts to 40-60% of total alcohol sales"

That suggests that people will also state that they consume 50 % less than what they actually do when it comes to life insurance policies. I'm being totally honest when I say 40 units per week. Hence one of my initial questions, - how honest should I be on the forms. But I have enough here to go on. My approach will be to obtain my GP records and answer accordingly to them. I've only verbally been told once by a GP to reduce my alcohol consumption - and I bet this isn't recorded. I have never been told that I need counselling or been referred, nor have I been told I'm an alcoholic.

And thanks for your medical opinion.