Struggling to find life insurance due to mental health

MsMagpie

Hello,
I've applied for life insurance a few times since my son was born 3 years ago. I keep getting turned down due to mental health. Does anyone know a way around this, or know of any specialist insurers that would be likely to offer me cover? It's mainly due to the 'Have you ever thought about harming yourself/taking your own life?' question. I lost my first born 9 years ago and sometimes felt suicidal throughout the initial grieving period. I think I probably told the GP when I was trying to get a counselling referral, I'm not sure if it was ever noted down. I wasn't offered the counselling so never discussed it further. I have thought about not mentioning it on the application in the hope that it's not on my medical records, but of course I don't want to risk voiding the claim. Is there any way to see what the life insurance company will have access to in the event of a claim? I've never suffered with depression, only anxiety and a long period of grief.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer advice on the issue.
.

davidmcn

MsMagpie said:

Is there any way to see what the life insurance company will have access to in the event of a claim?

I would expect them to have access to all your medical records, so if you're not sure what's already there, ask your doctor to see them.

MovingForwards

Are you still occasionally having those thoughts? If not, how long ago did they stop?
How's your anxiety now?

There are a few members who discuss life insurance for those with previous / current health issues and one might be @Weighty1 or s/he may know who else to tag.

Old_Lifer

I understand from your post that you have applied for a life policy on a number of  occasions  and have been turned down each time.

If you are asked on a proposal form something like  'have you ever submitted a proposal for a  policy on your life which has been declined or accepted on special terms ? ' ,   you would need to answer  'Yes'

[Deleted User]

davidmcn said:

MsMagpie said:

Is there any way to see what the life insurance company will have access to in the event of a claim?

I would expect them to have access to all your medical records, so if you're not sure what's already there, ask your doctor to see them.

What? There is no way some insurance company should have any access to your private records!

Anyway, my advice is talk to a broker.

MsMagpie

MovingForwards said:

Are you still occasionally having those thoughts? If not, how long ago did they stop?
How's your anxiety now?

There are a few members who discuss life insurance for those with previous / current health issues and one might be @Weighty1 or s/he may know who else to tag.

No, it was only during the initial 6 months or so, so about 8 years. I was distressed for a few years after, but have been relatively okay for the past 3 years. I still suffer from a bit of anxiety but nothing too limiting.

Thank you for tagging someone that may be able to help

MsMagpie

Old_Lifer said:

I understand from your post that you have applied for a life policy on a number of  occasions  and have been turned down each time.

If you are asked on a proposal form something like  'have you ever submitted a proposal for a  policy on your life which has been declined or accepted on special terms ? ' ,   you would need to answer  'Yes'

Oh dear that sounds like it may be a problem, thank you for letting me know

Weighty1

Hi MsMagpie
Sorry to hear about you losing your first born, this is probably the most understandable reason for anyone having suicidal thoughts.  
In respect of the difficulty you are having it really depends on how you are answering the questions.  Often it will depend on how recent the most recent suicidal thoughts were.  If they were within the last 3-years then the options will be limited, although not necessarily be completely out of the question.  It will also be dependent on several other factors such as whether you are still on medication, how much time off work you have had in the last 12-months and/or the last 5-years, whether you have been treated by a psychiatrist within the last 5-years.

Did the insurers you've applied to write to your GP for more information of did they simply cancel you straight from the information on the application?

Weighty1

MsMagpie said:

Old_Lifer said:

I understand from your post that you have applied for a life policy on a number of  occasions  and have been turned down each time.

If you are asked on a proposal form something like  'have you ever submitted a proposal for a  policy on your life which has been declined or accepted on special terms ? ' ,   you would need to answer  'Yes'

Oh dear that sounds like it may be a problem, thank you for letting me know

You can ignore some of my questions, I was distracted when typing my message and hadn't seen that you'd responded.
There is nothing to be concerned about over that question.  Very few insurers actually ask nowadays if you've had a previous application declined or special terms imposed.  Even those that do won't automatically penalise you for it, it will just make them consider the broader picture so if there's a minor medical disclosure yet the applicant says they've been declined the insurer will be wondering if there's more to it than meets the eye.

I do again with the comment by davidmcn in that you could ask you doctor to see your records and specifically discuss with them any mention of mental health conditions within them.  You could even ask for a print out of any notes relating to the suicidal thoughts or any other mental health condition and provide these to an insurer before an application is even submitted to see what their thoughts would be.  You'd normally need to be arranging the cover via a broker to interact with the insurer such a way but it can be done.

davidmcn

[DELETED USER] said:

davidmcn said:

MsMagpie said:

Is there any way to see what the life insurance company will have access to in the event of a claim?

I would expect them to have access to all your medical records, so if you're not sure what's already there, ask your doctor to see them.

What? There is no way some insurance company should have any access to your private records!

Not even after a claim is made and they're suspicious about existing conditions not having been disclosed? 

Old_Lifer

Where the proposal form indicated that a previous proposal had been declined or accepted on special terms we would automatically send a medical report to the GP for completion.   A single incident 8 years ago and nothing since should not cause a problem.

However,  I do wonder why a number of recent proposals  since your son was born three years ago,  so within  the last year or two,  have  been  declined.   Something more recent in your medical records may be the reason.