Medical Condition Disclosure Life insurance policy

uday81

Hi all,

I’d appreciate some advice about life insurance and medical disclosure.

I went to my GP with heartburn, and my blood pressure was a bit high above normal during the check. Because of that, the GP sent me to A&E the same day to be safe. At A&E, my blood pressure was normal, my heart and other checks were all fine, and they concluded it was just heartburn — no diagnosis was made.

The very next day, I took out a life insurance policy and answered “no” to existing conditions, since I hadn’t been diagnosed with anything and wasn’t on medication.

This week after monitoring for a week at home, my GP confirmed high blood pressure and started me on medication.

Would this affect the validity of my policy?

At the time I applied, there was no diagnosis and A&E had cleared me, so I believe I answered honestly — but I’m unsure if the initial high reading should have been mentioned.  

A&E notes, repeat HbA1C and lipid profile.

Apart from the above there was no other diagnosis made.

I found out when i was sent to a and e that in 2023 my tests showed I was pre-diabetic, but I was never told at the time and I didn’t disclose it on my insurance. Do I need to update my policy now, since I wasn’t aware back then?

Has anyone been through something similar, or know how insurers generally handle this?

Thanks a lot.

flaneurs_lobster

Sort of thing you really have to confirm with the Life company, you don't want to make assumptions or take advice from here that leads to denial of payout when it's needed.

FWIW, unless it's VERY high, hypertension is unlikely to make much difference to policy costs - it's a condition that is easily treatable with medication.

Re: pre-diabetic - Is 'Pre-' anything an actual condition or diagnosis?

TELLIT01

Have you had more blood tests since 2023 and if so have they mentioned being pre-diabetic?  My wife had her bloods taken 3 times because one or another of the results were outside the norm.  On the 2nd test that result was back in range but another was out.  The 3rd test showed everything as fine.  That was within the space of about 2 weeks!

For a GP to send a patient straight to A&E suggests the reading was very high when first tested.

uday81

flaneurs_lobster said:

Sort of thing you really have to confirm with the Life company, you don't want to make assumptions or take advice from here that leads to denial of payout when it's needed.

FWIW, unless it's VERY high, hypertension is unlikely to make much difference to policy costs - it's a condition that is easily treatable with medication.

Re: pre-diabetic - Is 'Pre-' anything an actual condition or diagnosis?

I will inform the insurance company to see if that makes any difference once the GP says it is going to be a longstanding condition and needs medication.

It is when you tests are showing slightly above normal sugar levels, but not to be considered as having diabetes, which need medication.  Pre-diabetes can lead to diabetes if my sugar levels are consistently showing high in the successive blood tests.

uday81

TELLIT01 said:

Have you had more blood tests since 2023 and if so have they mentioned being pre-diabetic?  My wife had her bloods taken 3 times because one or another of the results were outside the norm.  On the 2nd test that result was back in range but another was out.  The 3rd test showed everything as fine.  That was within the space of about 2 weeks!

For a GP to send a patient straight to A&E suggests the reading was very high when first tested.

No, I never went to GP after that and there was no follow up requested for bloods ever. 

I went this time for heart burn and chest pain, which was diagnosed as GERD and was sent home the same day.

Lorian

Can't give medical advice here but make sure the GP re-does the two tests in the A&E discharge notes - it's the sort of thing that gets overlooked.

kingstreet

No to "existing conditions" may be accurate but it depends on what other questions were asked.

There is usually a catch-all question about awaiting tests/results of any tests and if you have taken cover without mentioning the tests undertaken just before the application I suspect any claim will be questioned due to non-disclosure.

Please check the accuracy of the answers you gave and let us know the outcome of your discussions with the insurer. Presumably you did this direct and didn't seek professional advice?

MyRealNameToo

kingstreet said:

No to "existing conditions" may be accurate but it depends on what other questions were asked.

There is usually a catch-all question about awaiting tests/results of any tests and if you have taken cover without mentioning the tests undertaken just before the application I suspect any claim will be questioned due to non-disclosure.

Please check the accuracy of the answers you gave and let us know the outcome of your discussions with the insurer. Presumably you did this direct and didn't seek professional advice?

Almost all ask if you have seen a medical professional, taken medication or suffered the symptoms of a condition in the last 2-3 years. The OP stated no despite daughter having had appointments with GP and having taken medication. 

flaneurs_lobster

MyRealNameToo said:

kingstreet said:

No to "existing conditions" may be accurate but it depends on what other questions were asked.

There is usually a catch-all question about awaiting tests/results of any tests and if you have taken cover without mentioning the tests undertaken just before the application I suspect any claim will be questioned due to non-disclosure.

Please check the accuracy of the answers you gave and let us know the outcome of your discussions with the insurer. Presumably you did this direct and didn't seek professional advice?

Almost all ask if you have seen a medical professional, taken medication or suffered the symptoms of a condition in the last 2-3 years. The OP stated no despite daughter having had appointments with GP and having taken medication. 

Think this might be a reply to another thread....

dunstonh

The very next day, I took out a life insurance policy and answered “no” to existing conditions, since I hadn’t been diagnosed with anything and wasn’t on medication.

There is normally a question asking if you have any tests, investigations etc in the previous 3 to5 years. (actual period varies with providers)

What did you answer to that question?

At the time I applied, there was no diagnosis and A&E had cleared me, so I believe I answered honestly — but I’m unsure if the initial high reading should have been mentioned.  

If you failed to make any reference to it in the application, then almost certainly you have committed non-disclosure of a material fact that would likely lead to death as a result of a heart condition, resulting in a rejection.

You should check your application to see how you answered the questions as based on what you have said, it appears you have a non-disclosure issue.

It is also unlikely that it would be treated as inadvertent non-disclosure, as you applied for the insurance the day after the incident.

uday81

kingstreet said:

No to "existing conditions" may be accurate but it depends on what other questions were asked.

There is usually a catch-all question about awaiting tests/results of any tests and if you have taken cover without mentioning the tests undertaken just before the application I suspect any claim will be questioned due to non-disclosure.

Please check the accuracy of the answers you gave and let us know the outcome of your discussions with the insurer. Presumably you did this direct and didn't seek professional advice?

When I disclosed the condition diagnosed was GERD, there was a question did it require endoscopy. I answered no and then it went to the declaration statement. So no question related to any further tests or investigations.

Yes, I did not seek any professional advice considering I was all okay while in A&E and discharge summary did not highlight any other abnormalities.

The discharge summary mentioned no abnormalities found upon investigation related to chest pain including hypertension.