Mortgage Life insurance question

clairet707

Im in the process of changing provider so I can reduce my monthly payments, my medical conditions and family history havent changed in the 18 months since I took the policy out, yet.....

This morning I get a phone call from a nurse who does medicals for Norwich Union (who I am moving to) wanting me to make an appointment for a medical

They need weight, height, blood pressure, urine (which apparently is routine)

But also a fasting blood test to check for cholesterol and Ive just found out from the letter they also sent me a cotinine test (?) to confirm non smoking status... (I have never smoked)


I didnt have any kind of medical when I started the policy with Liverpool victoria

Are NU really that much stricter, cant they just get the info from my doctor like they said they would?

dunstonh

NU arent that strict. I can only think of one time they have asked for further details and that was based on how the questions were answered. That is the case with most insurers. They look at the answers to the questions and decide if there is anything in there which needs further investigation. Height and weight is a common cause of the insurer wanting more info.

There are also random checks sometimes as well as sum assured limits where if you exceed a certain amount, they will go fo further information.

Was the application clean or did you need to disclose something?

MortgageMamma

I agree with dunstonH. I am a bit on the heavy side and have had to go through all this nonsense with an insurer, despite being in almost pefectly good health!

clairet707

dunstonh wrote: »

NU arent that strict. I can only think of one time they have asked for further details and that was based on how the questions were answered. That is the case with most insurers. They look at the answers to the questions and decide if there is anything in there which needs further investigation. Height and weight is a common cause of the insurer wanting more info.

There are also random checks sometimes as well as sum assured limits where if you exceed a certain amount, they will go fo further information.

Was the application clean or did you need to disclose something?

I did need to disclose stuff but that same stuff was disclosed on my current policy and I didnt need a medical then, thats the bit Im getting at,

I dont mind having a medical but when I didnt need one previously and now I do, thats whats annoying, especially as having the medical is going to cost me at least 2 hours wages (Im a contractor and dont get paid for when I dont work)

And why cant they get the info from my doctor, he has my height and weight and BP and other details, why do I need to make an appointment with a nurse to get them

dunstonh

And why cant they get the info from my doctor, he has my height and weight and BP and other details, why do I need to make an appointment with a nurse to get them

The general order of things is:
1 - accept application information as it is
2 - check details with the doctor
3 - part medical

So, NU have decided that the info you have given is enough for them to require more than contacting the doctor.

LV are relatively new to the whole of market life assurance market but NU are very experienced on this front. There is something in your application that has put NU on guard that LV havent had an issue with (or missed). Or it could be that because you have applied for life assurance not long ago with LV and are now asking for more with NU, that they are concerned that you are asking for a reason. Especially if CI cover is included.

clairet707

dunstonh wrote: »

The general order of things is:
1 - accept application information as it is
2 - check details with the doctor
3 - part medical

So, NU have decided that the info you have given is enough for them to require more than contacting the doctor.

LV are relatively new to the whole of market life assurance market but NU are very experienced on this front. There is something in your application that has put NU on guard that LV havent had an issue with (or missed). Or it could be that because you have applied for life assurance not long ago with LV and are now asking for more with NU, that they are concerned that you are asking for a reason. Especially if CI cover is included.

:T Thanks for that, Im new to all of this life insurance malarky and never really understood it all

Original policy was sept 06 for £167500, this time its for £157000 as we have paid some of the mortgage off, CI was included with both,

Will just have to grin and bear it and force my veins into the open (they have a habit of disappearing when needles come close), as for the smoking (cotinine) test - does anyone know what that involves? Having never smoked, Ive never had a test like this before

Annibelle

I found this on the net I hope it helps.....

What is Cotinine?
Cotinine is a metabolite (byproduct) of nicotine as it is "processed" by the human body. It is an indicator that nicotine has been inhaled or otherwise introduced into the body.

Urine Test Kit for Tobacco Use

When the subject of drug testing is discussed, most people think of marijuana, cocaine, heroin or ecstasy - but did you know that there is also a drug test for tobacco usage? That's right, the same immunoassay technology that is used to detect illicit drugs can also be used to detect cotinine - a metabolite created when the body processes nicotine.
Testing for the presence of cotinine is a standard test to determine if a person is a tobacco user. Cotinine is found in urine from 2 to 4 days after tobacco use. By testing a urine sample, much like a pregnancy test, the tester can detect cotinine.