Terminal illness

Ashaque

Hi,

My dad had life insurance but his policy ended several months before he died. My dad had terminal cancer. I believe you can claim if you have a terminal illness before you die but my dad didn't as things with my dad were slightly complicated as he didn't accept the diagnosis or that he was dying. If I was to provide proof from the consultant who was responsible for my dad's treatment and the palliative care team, that my dad didn't accept his diagnosis, could we possibly claim? I know it is a long shot, but is the psychology of insurance holders taken in to consideration?

Thanks for your help

Nearlyold

Sorry for your loss.
"Terminal Illness Benefit" is not a universal feature of life insurance policies, did your late father's policy include this benefit, and if it did, would your father's prognosis if he had claimed at the time have met the criteria for such a claim as set out in the policy documents?

dunstonh

Sorry for your loss.

 I believe you can claim if you have a terminal illness before you die but my dad didn't as things with my dad were slightly complicated as he didn't accept the diagnosis or that he was dying.

It can vary with plans but typically you have to have the terminal diagnosis (i.e. that death will likely occur within 12 months) with a least 18 months of the policy term remaining.    Some providers will vary that timescale.

If I was to provide proof from the consultant who was responsible for my dad's treatment and the palliative care team, that my dad didn't accept his diagnosis, could we possibly claim? 

It is certainly a possibility but it would depend on the dates and the terms of the policy.

 I know it is a long shot, but is the psychology of insurance holders taken in to consideration?

Yes.  Financial services does have a vulnerable persons philosophy which firms are expected to implement.

Weighty1

Sorry to hear about your fathers passing.  Never a nice situation and even worse in the current climate.
The insurer involved would be relevant here, as would the point at which the terminal diagnosis was made (and by terminal I mean the point at which the consultants advised your father had less than 12-months to live).

Some insurers stipulate that a terminal illness claim will not be paid in the last 18-months of the plan term, some say the last 12-months of the plan and some cover a terminal illness claim right up to the last day of the plan.  In fact, Guardian even pay out on TI claims not only when the diagnosis is <12-months due for certain specific things like stage 4 cancer and motor neurone disease, even if the diagnosis is the insured person having >12-months left to live.

On that basis, which company was involved and how long before the end of the plan was the terminal diagnosis made?

Ashaque

Thank you everyone for your kind replies.  They are very helpful and I appreciate the time you have to apply.
My dad's insurance was worth Legal and General, but I don't have the policy details.  I will contact Legal and General to discuss it with them.  I first heard that my dad's cancer was terminal in June 2019, but I have a feeling that my dad may have known earlier.  I may see if I contact my dad's GP for more information.  I think the cancer is covered by Legal and General.

Ashaque

My dad's cancer became terminal in June 2019 and the policy expired in April 2020.  L&G said they would only honour a claim if the terminal diagnosis was made 18 months before the policy expiry. They also said they wouldn't take into account any psychological factors, or whether my dad was in denial.  They said the policy holder would have to make the claim or authorise access to their medical records.  Thanks for your help

Weighty1

Unfortunately, it appears that L&G are honouring their side of the contract if the terminal diagnosis was made within that last 18-months.  Their stance would be based on when the medical specialists advised it as being terminal, not when your your dad accepted that it was so this would have been favourable had the initial diagnosis been made prior.

Obviously, I'm sure this is not the decision by L&G that you were hoping for but they appear to have been doing things by the book.

Once again, sorry for your loss.