Shielding group and life insurance

rillo1472

I am currently in the shielding group with asthma and have been at home with two other family members who are also shielding TL June 30th at present following government guidelines. I would like to return to work and come off the shielding list but thought I would check the status of my life insurance as it's a significant sum to support my daughter who is autistic. Is it true that if you are identified as being at high risk and chose to come off and then get Covid-19 and die your policy would be void as it's the same as choosing to put yourself at risk by travelling to a war zone etc. I need to work but cannot afford to lose my life insurance cover for my daughter who is disabled so feel stuck if the shielding group is extended indefinitely.

poppy12345

Did you receive the NHS letter that advised you to shield?

calcotti

rillo1472 said:

I would like to return to work and come off the shielding list ....

There is no mechanism to remove yourself from the shielding category. Shielding is in any case advisory, there is no obligation on you to follow to follow the guidance. However you raise interesting questions about how choosing not to might affect your life insurance - the only people who can answer that question are your insurers.

sharpe106

I would doubt it would be the case as how they can prove you got it from going to work. But as above it is probably something you need to speak to your insures about.  

rillo1472

poppy12345 said:

Did you receive the NHS letter that advised you to shield?

Yes I did get the letter as well as well as the initial text message in march alerting me to shield. And have also received the reminder to remain shielding till June 30th and await further advice. I spoke to an advisor from the insurance company who was not sure as they are working from home and the advise they have regarding shielding clients is based on setting up a new policy as there is medical risk identified they are going on a case by case basis as to whether they will accept a new policy but as to existing policies it he felt it would be no different than extreme sports or war zones if you know you have been medically identified as at serious risk and extremely vulnerable if you chose to go against the advice and go  out of your home then contract covid-19 and die you will have been deemed to have deliberately put yourself at risk and the policy would be void but he is only going on his opinion there was no written policy for this scenario.

poppy12345

rillo1472 said:

poppy12345 said:

Did you receive the NHS letter that advised you to shield?

f you chose to go against the advice and go  out of your home then contract covid-19 and die you will have been deemed to have deliberately put yourself at risk and the policy would be void but he is only going on his opinion there was no written policy for this scenario.

That sounds perfectly logical to me. He would know better than anyone on a forum could tell you.

rillo1472

sharpe106 said:

I would doubt it would be the case as how they can prove you got it from going to work. But as above it is probably something you need to speak to your insures about.  

I think for me the confusion stems from the shielding advice itself it says you are not to leave your house at all and we have been unable to as we get a weekly food parcel to help as priority delivery slots are not always available and many things are often out of stock. We also have medication delivered as we can't go out for any reason at all unless it's for essential medical appointments so these are  pretty clear instructions as far as the insurance company is concerned even if they are your choice to follow. But nobody can give any concrete answers. I just don't want to return to work and fall ill and end up with a suspected covid-19 diagnosis as many have and my daughter end up destitute because the government wasn't clear if they made it mandatory my situation ongoing would be clearer and I would have to stay home until a vaccine was found despite the loss of income as I couldn't afford to void my insurance policy by taking risks.

sharpe106

If you are wanting to return to work and are happy to, you need to get a definite answer from somebody in writing and leave it somewhere that the executor of your estate can find it in case the worst does happen. 

poppy12345

I think you've already answered your own question here. Although it's just advice that you've been given from the NHS if you do decide to return to work then you do risk your insurance being void, if the worst happens. Are you prapared to take that risk?