Refusal of critical illness mortgage cover due to AF

[yanbart]

Hi everyone, I have recently remortgaged my home with Nationwide as we are having an extension built. Through Legal & General I applied for new critical illness and death cover (I am 43years old by the way with AF, on flecanide, un-ablated, not on anti-coagulants, AF aside, generally fit and healthy and have been discharged by my cardiologist). I have a current policy, it was just that the new one would go on until I am in my late 60's. Anyway, I received a letter today to say that my application had been refused! L&G are prepared to give me death cover but not critical illness as I am too much of a risk! I was quite miffed to be honest! Has anyone else had a similar experience? I am thinking about going to see my GP to see if he can help in anyway, and perhaps write to L&G to explain that I am not that 'high risk'? or perhaps once we are labelled with the condition, we are all high risk? Any thoughts/comments most welcome! Thank you, yan

[BobD Volunteer]

When we re-mortgaged to build an extension as soon as I ticked "Heart"on the application "computer say no" and that was that. No life cover even! Luckily my wife was the one still working so she was covered although as we know most of that was miss sold and pretty well worthless. No mortgage now so not an issue but still no life insurance due to heart and past cancer.

[yanbart in reply to BobD]

Cheers Bob. At least I know I'm not on my own with this! Thank you. Your "computer said no" comment made me laugh. I remember that sketch well. Thanks and best regards, yan

[mandysmith34]

Had a similar problem years ago due to congenital heart disease but was able to persuade the company to take me on but at an increased premium compared to my husband's.

[yanbart in reply to mandysmith34]

I will at least try and speak with them. Thank you ☺

[CDreamer]

What about seeking advice from an independant financial advisor?

[yanbart in reply to CDreamer]

Might well be worth a shot. I will try talking to L&G first but if that fails...thank you

[dmac4646 in reply to yanbart]

CI has a questionable record of payout make sure that the terms and conditions are not too onerous if you do get cover also it could be very expensive

[Omniscient1]

A couple of thoughts. This is the problem with computer firms so it's always better to phone (don't write) and speak to someone in these cases, the 'heart' box is to wide in scope. But although you may be fit and well now the issue is whether you could end up with a chronic disability causing a work problem later (I dont think we AFers do but perhaps their info say otherwise) worth challenging.

Second, the insurance companies are clearing out their risk books at the moment. If you or your house are a bad risk then some companies are not reinsuring.

Third of my couple of things, if you truly are 'a risk' someone will pick that risk up, whether that makes sense or not in money terms is up to you.

Lastly, some of these policies only pay out for a year anyway, it may make sense (at your age) to stash the money away and build up a rescue fund yourself.

Good luck

Gary

[yanbart in reply to Omniscient1]

Thanks Gary. You make a lot of very sensible points there. I'm definitely going to try speaking with 'a person' to start with but as you say it's not 'the end' of the world and there are other options!! Thank you

[Joberton]

I'm in the process of making an application for Life and critical illness cover, Ive just been told to wait until the outcome of my one year follow up next month after ablation! I guess I've got this to look forward too.

[yanbart in reply to Joberton]

Good luck! I'll let you know how I get on! yan

[Uttled00]

interesting. When I was first diagnosed with AF I contacted my insurer, Scottish Widows, and asked if this was classed a critical illness! They said no..Might try taking a new policy out with them and see if AF comes up as not being covered.

[jimlad2 in reply to Uttled00]

It's not AF itself that's the issue. It's what the AF increases your chances of developing that's the problem unfortunately: heart attack, stroke, and even dementia type illnesses for those who developed AF early according to recent research . . . .

[yanbart in reply to jimlad2]

I sort of understand but then again I don't as it affects so many people in so many different ways and in an ideal world I think they should risk rate on a case by case basis...interesting what you say about what AF can increase the risk of. I knew stroke but didn't think it was linked to heart attacks and dementia. Thank you

[jimlad2 in reply to yanbart]

Sorry, I maybe should have given more info. AF increases the chances of a clot forming as a result of blood pooling in the atrial chambers (erratic electrical pulses during AF mean less efficient pumping of the heart). Clots increase the odds of heart attack and stroke. Hence the use of anticoagulant/antiplatelet medicine in many/most cases (cost is probably a factor where one or other isn't prescribed. This study highlights the the added risk of AF for dementia: alzheimers.net/11-04-15-atr...

[jimlad2 in reply to jimlad2]

Here's that other bracket: )

[yanbart in reply to jimlad2]

Thanks Jim. Will read the link. My Nan died of Alzheimers when she was in her early 60's. Awful, awful disease.

[yanbart in reply to Uttled00]

Yes it's not 'critical' enough for a pay out but yet it seems critical enough to prevent getting the cover?!? Interesting indeed! Thank you

[jimlad2]

AF doesn't come cheap! I was looking for 20 years life cover with L and G, and the standard estimated monthly cost for my age (62) was £23 approx. Once I revealed my AF history (10 years, no surgery, but on bisoprolol 2.5mgs) the cost leapt to £58. . . !

[yanbart in reply to jimlad2]

I think your response sums it all up nicely! Thank you

[Stu13]

I needed to remortgage recently and had a reducing mortgage cover policy with L&G, so needed to up the figure. When asked about any health changes I mentioned AF and got the same response; instant refusal!

[yanbart in reply to Stu13]

Sorry to hear this. I'm clearly not on my own here!! Thanks

[nymima01]

I am concerned as to why you are not on an anti-coagulant? You have AF. Are you at least on aspirin therapy? Do you know your CHAD score?

[Omniscient1 in reply to nymima01]

Anti coags are not universal. I am on no meds at all. The poster is 43 so his Chad's score will (probably) be low.

Gary

[yanbart in reply to Omniscient1]

Hi Gary. Just posted this above....Hi thanks for your concern. All my scans showed that my heart is healthy. I don't smoke. I exercise. Flecanide appears to be working well for me. Before my cardiologist discharged me she wrote to my GP to put on record that I should start taking anticoagulants when I'm 65 (assuming good health until then!) I'm not sure if this is the norm or not to be honest!

[jimlad2 in reply to yanbart]

I got the same advice re anticoagulants, though I was told that if I pushed for it they'd be prescribed. . . . I think money may be a factor. My younger brother lives in a different part of Scotland, is younger than me and was put on anticoagulants for AF immediately. I was advised to take aspirin. I also take Omega 3 for a wee bit more protection. As for your heart being healthy, you should be made aware that AF remodels the heart muscle and the electrical pathways with the result that you are likely to become more prone to AF as time passes. The idea that AF begets AF is widely recognised. The following study is very good on the use of Flecainide and particularly on AF and contains information I wish I'd been made aware of at the start of the AF journey. medscape.com/viewarticle/73.... Eat sensibly, keep your weight at a healthy level, don't over-exert yourself but stay active, avoid stress when you can, ensure that your magnesium (calms the heart) and selenium intake is high enough, and that you get enough sunshine/or vitamin D3, and avoid excess calcium (excites the heart). Good health to you . .

[yanbart in reply to jimlad2]

Very interesting article on medscape. Very technical ! but interesting. Overall though, I am pleased that I am taking something that is 'generally' safe and tried and tested. Some good and sensible advice from you too, thank you. Interesting what you say about aspirin though, I have read on here articles in the past that say that aspirin has no preventative affect on stroke so isn't recommended for AF.

[yanbart in reply to nymima01]

Hi thanks for your concern. All my scans showed that my heart is healthy. I don't smoke. I exercise. Flecanide appears to be working well for me. Before my cardiologist discharged me she wrote to my GP to put on record that I should start taking anticoagulants when I'm 65 (assuming good health until then!) I'm not sure if this is the norm or not to be honest!

[nymima01 in reply to yanbart]

Okay - I guess I'm used to dealing with people who are older than you are and have afib. I'm on this site for my mother who is 91 and started on Eliquis about 5 yrs ago. Before that, she was on Coumadin. She's had afib for over 25 yrs and is doing well considering her age and all. Good luck to you. There is so much good information on this site!

[yanbart in reply to nymima01]

Ah bless her. Yes it's a great site and lots of different opinions/stories and friendly people. Best wishes to you also. Thank you

[IsobelBrown54 in reply to yanbart]

Hi,

All my scans and tests show a healthy heart and I have only had one 6 hour episode of Afib in last two years, but I have been told by my EP that I must take Xarellto for the rest of my life, as it is possible to have a stroke after only 15 seconds of being in Afib. I am aged 62 and swim a kilometre twice a week.

[Lucymoo]

Hi like you my mortgage is with the Natiinwide. I’m female and 67. Legal & general have just turned me down for basic life cover due to the AF. Told me to reapply in 6 months.....did this 5 months ago and also turned down. Basically I’ve heard others on the forum have had major difficulties in getting life insurance and in some cases travel insurance. I’m wanting to move house and will need a mortgage increase