Critical illness

Hi I am so stressed, we started a claim after my diagnosis. 
They rang me yesterday and asked if had anything like this before and I said yes, which isn’t really true as it was to do with breastfeeding and a milk duct was blocked. But now I don’t think they will pay out. 

they never said they wouldn’t but my husband heard and I think this could be straw that broke the camels back for us. If I have lost us this money when we need it I think we will end up divorced. He is so angry with me. I don’t blame him to be fair. 

  • To be fair, we all say things in error, that sound idiotic after the event. You obviously have a lot on your plate, and got mixed up. If you ever say anything that is incorrect when talking to an insurance company, you have to call them back asap and tell them you gave out incorrect information, otherwise a simple mistake can snowball into something else.

    My advice, call them back and amend what you said. They're not mind readers, and the onus is on us, the claimant, to make sure the information we give them is correct to the best of our knowledge. Seriously, you have to call them back because once they refuse, things will get a lot more difficult and it can also means your policy can be voided because the information you told them across the phone may or may not differ from the information you gave them when talking out the policy.

  • I am not sure it as it might look like I am panicking which I am! 

    I might wait till our handler is back in the new year and speak with her and say I was a slip of the tongue. I am so stressed. Honestly my husband has spent the whole day on the sofa feeling ill, hasn’t eaten and when he does talk to me , except to tell me off, he’s just so angry. 

    I have never done something so stupid in all my life. I really don’t know how we move on from this. My first instinct was to ring back and he said not to.

  • Hi. I’m gathering you are claiming for breast cancer? I have recently been through this process. The good thing is that your doctor will have to fill in a report and give over access the medical records to the insurance company.  Therefore it will be clear on the report that the issue was with a milk duct not invasive cancer, and there shouldn’t really be a link between the two. Two seperate issues. The insurance company have to have a pretty good reason not to pay out for cancer.
    Please try not to worry x 

  • I really hope you are right. I feel so sick and we have argued all day and I don’t see an end to this arguments till we know the outcome of the claim. So the doctor just gives access to the medical records anyway? I thought so. Well hubby thinks because I didn’t mention it it’s classed as being dishonest so they won’t pay out on that basis. He has been researching and researching constantly since it happened. I just don’t think we can get through this. He’s just so mad. 

  • Hi Rooftile,

    It seems like you’re both stressed out and concentrating on this relatively insignificant insurance issue rather than the elephant in the room which is that you have a scary cancer diagnosis! Subconsciously, it is probably far easier to argue over an insurance claim than it is to talk seriously together about what’s really worrying you both.Take a breath, step back and look at the facts. Emotionally you may be in different places. One half of a couple is often in denial for longer than the other half, takes time to resolve. We can say all the right things but our hearts and minds aren’t always on the same page.

    It is highly unlikely that the insurance company will actively block your claim because you misspoke on the phone. If challenged, all you need do is point out that you were stressed and had misunderstood the question. Any reasonable person would accept that there is no relationship between a blocked milk duct and breast cancer - except for the general location of the medical problem. 

    The next stage of their process will be for them to request access to your medical records and to write to your GP. That will provide clear evidence that your cancer history doesn’t predate you taking out critical illness cover - which is the only thing that might legitimately prevent them paying out on your claim.

    It is pretty normal for couples to bicker over relatively minor issues when something far bigger is hanging over them. He’d probably be horrified to know you’d even think he’d divorce you over this. 

    Try not to stress over this issue and do your best to enjoy Christmas and New Year together. 



    Best wishes
    Dave 

  • I agree - call them back to set the record straight. 
    People get confused when stressed. 
    If you didn’t have a cancer diagnosis when the policy was taken out there shouldn’t be a problem. 
    The last thing they will want is you complaining to these people … www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/.../critical-illness-cover

  • Yes as far as I know the insurance company have access to medical records , and I know my GP had to fill in a report . It’s this that can take a while for a claim to come through . I think my claim took about 8 weeks to be agreed and paid out.  I hope you are ok and he calms down xx 

  • Having a calmer time here how juts to update. I may try and speak with the handler when she returns. Need time to mull it over. Going to try and enjoy Christmas. Thanks for all the support and comments. 

  • Thanks for the reply Dave, I think we are better here. 
    I may just hold on tight till new year. I really hope they pay out, it’s so hard having two of us with appointments and treatments. Juts so unbelievably hard. Thanks again.

  • I really hope you are right, thanks for the reply.