Rare Leukemia diagnosis & Life insurance 8 May 2022 at 5:48PM in Insurance & life assurance 6 replies 201 views

celticfc

I was diagnosed with a rare aggressive Leukemia, Richter's Syndrome in January & am currently undergoing chemotherapy.

What little info is available the prognosis is 12-18 months. Speaking with my consultant I've asked if I'm terminal given all thats known about this cancer but she replied she doesn't like the term. I'm not sure how to begin to get my affairs in order if my consultant doesn't like to use certain words & am feeling so frustrated & the not knowing what to do next is a massive worry on top of everything.

I need to begin to get things in order, life insurance & my pensions so that I'm assured my family will manage once I'm gone. Making sure my mortgage is paid up & what little debt I have are settled & then Knowing things will be in order for my wife & family will give me a huge peice of mind but I have no idea what to do.

 I'm fine with & have fully accepted my condition but I am consumed with worry about my families well being once I'm gone. I'll be able to focus on things better knowing that things are in order & finances will be sorted for my family but I really don't know where to turn.

I'd appreciate any advice or a nudge in the right direction to get things started.

Thanks for looking.

dunstonh

I need to begin to get things in order, life insurance & my pensions so that I'm assured my family will manage once I'm gone.

Pension is straightforward.   If its defined contribution, then make sure your expression of wish is up-to-date

Life assurance is relatively straightforward as well.  Although some will pay out if it is clear that there is less than 12 months of life expectancy.   However, if it is still unknown, they usually will not.

I'd appreciate any advice or a nudge in the right direction to get things started.

You find yourself in a horrible situation but you have the opportunity to make sure that things are in order.    That often results in a better outcome than a sudden death which can leave things messy.

Beyond the pension and life assurance, if you have a spouse, make sure bank accounts are joint and all utility bills, council tax and home insurance.   Any subscriptions you pay (such as sky, netflix etc) make them joint if possible or get them moved over.

Explain any little jobs in life that you do, but your spouse/partner doesn't.  Often little things like who to contact to do the septic tank and when in the year to do it.  Or how much oil for the boiler and when. Or who and how often to arrange the boiler service.  Or car serving & MOT dates, tax disc dates and how to do it.

Sometimes tasks that one person in the household has always done will be totally unknown about to the other.  Often is the little things that can cause distress to those that are left behind and not the things you may consider more important.  The partner/spouse is going to be distraught with the loss but they will spend the rest of their life remembering how you made sure they were looked after and how you made it right for them.

Enjoy the time you have, wherever it is possible for you to do so.   Give your family something to remember   Best wishes...

Sterlingtimes

Leukaemia Care UK has advice lines and may very well be able to provide specialist assistance.

TELLIT01

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/  I suggest they should be your first point of contact.  Then speak to your GP and voice your concerns about a consultant not being willing to provide information which is of great importance to you.

uss_tish

@celticfc I am so sorry to hear your prognosis and hope the chemo gives you quality time with your family?

My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and we were advised to complete a DS1500 form to apply for PIP. Life insurance was paid out before his death enabling us to settle things financially. With a terminal prognosis he automatically qualified for higher PIP and this in turn fast tracked the life insurance claim, it was very straightforward with insurers. The GP or your patient support service at the hospital were you are being treated are able to send the form. It doesn't have to be the consultant. https://www.gov.uk/terminal-illness-benefits.

As others have said, pension is straightforward but ensure you have named your beneficiary. Accounts make joint; make sure passwords are known; utilities in both names or, to make it more seamless, transfer now to your wife's name. 

Take care.

TELLIT01

DS1500 used only to be issued when life expectancy is less than 6 months. I've been retired from DWP for a few years so that may have changed.  If the consultant it refusing to discuss life expectancy that creates a problem.  Another reason the OP really needs to speak to their GP.

celticfc

TELLIT01 said:

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/  I suggest they should be your first point of contact.  Then speak to your GP and voice your concerns about a consultant not being willing to provide information which is of great importance to you.

I've spoken to Macmillan staff & they been great but don't have any info on my condition. Was especially surprised by the no information on the Macmillan website, most other conditions covered except mine. Learning more & more just how rare this is.

Thanks for the advice it's so appreciated. Wouldn't cross my mind to detail the tasks that I do at home, thanks.