Removing something from medical records?

CreditCardJunkie

Around 4 years ago I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue after a few bloods tests ruled out any other causes of my extreme fatigue and flu like symptoms.

Chronic fatigue is listed on my medical records (I know this as it was listed on my referral letter for a private investigation I had done). After some time and changing jobs my symptoms totally disappeared and I strongly believe that this was caused by stress and doing too much rather than actually having chronic fatigue. A few months ago I had the same pattern and symptoms which I definitely know was due to working too much. I do not believe I have chronic fatigue, I believe I sometimes over work myself and for the most part have learned what my limits are.

I recently took a life insurance policy and today received a summary of declarations and noticed that chronic fatigue is one of the things you have to notify them about if you were diagnosed within the last 5 years. 

I'm wondering where I stand with this, if I declare it is it likely to put the premium up? Can I get the diagnosis removed from my medical records or could this also affect the policy paying out if something were to happen to me? Any help/advice much appreciated.

TELLIT01

If you don't declare it the insurer will almost certainly refuse to pay out if you do have to make a claim.  Even if you could get it removed from your record, which is highly unlikely, it would remain a fraudulent claim because relevant information hasn't been supplied.  The only safe route is to declare the diagnosis and pay any additional premium if required.

Penelopa.Pitstop

GP put chronic cough in my husband records. When my husband complained about it, GP said he will remove at next visit. But there was no next visit and this record is there now since 2019. Not sure how to remove it now. He definitely doesn't suffer from it.

dunstonh

Chronic fatigue is listed on my medical records (I know this as it was listed on my referral letter for a private investigation I had done). After some time and changing jobs my symptoms totally disappeared and I strongly believe that this was caused by stress and doing too much rather than actually having chronic fatigue. 

Whatever the diagnosis, the symptoms were present and have repeated and both are linked to fatigue.   Your issue seems to be the definition.   You are not going to get the symptoms removed from your record.   You could get the diagnosis changed if the GP agrees with you.   However, that will take time and you would not be able to get insurance whilst a decision on the diagnosis remains undecided or challenged.

I'm wondering where I stand with this, if I declare it is it likely to put the premium up?

Yes.  If you don't declare it, then it would be insurance fraud and make the policy worthless.

csgohan4

but you don't dispute you suffered from Chronic fatigue do you? whether it gets better or you have infrequent flare ups, you were investigated for it and remains coded on the GP systems. 

It was severe enough to need going to the GP and investigating. 

Generally best to declare everything insurers ask of you and ask to the best of your knowledge, if you don't agree with something get in touch with your GP and give a rationale. It may be downgraded or the problem marked as resolved

theoretica

Is the exact wording 'chronic fatigue' - a symptom, or 'chronic fatigue syndrome' - a diagnosis?

csgohan4

theoretica said:

Is the exact wording 'chronic fatigue' - a symptom, or 'chronic fatigue syndrome' - a diagnosis?

best case you could get it recoded as Tired all the time, which is different and common, but will depend on the consultation at the time

CreditCardJunkie

Thank you all for your help. I will ring and add this to the declaration. We're young and took a really long policy so I wouldn't want to jeopardize it!

[Deleted User]

Couldn't you just wait a year? It says diagnosed in the last 5 years and yours was 4 years ago, so if you just wait a while you won't have to declare it.

Aretnap

[DELETED USER] said:

Couldn't you just wait a year? It says diagnosed in the last 5 years and yours was 4 years ago, so if you just wait a while you won't have to declare it.

Delaying comes with its own risks - not just the risk of dying suddenly in the next year, but the risk of developing a more serious condition, which really would make getting life insurance difficult and/or expensive in future.

An alternative would be to take out life insurance now, with the condition declared. Then in a years time, assuming you haven't developed cancer or diabetes, get some more quotes and see if you can get cheaper cover without the condition declared. If you can there is nothing to stop you cancelling the policy to take out a new one, subject to any cancellation fees that may apply in the early stages of the policy. 

dunstonh

Couldn't you just wait a year? It says diagnosed in the last 5 years and yours was 4 years ago, so if you just wait a while you won't have to declare it.

5 years if for minor ailments.  On top of the 5 year question there are also ones that ask about specific conditions and those have no timescale.