Insurance

[Silversmithmonkey]

Hi there, I have had MBL since 2021, I'm 43. I've been trying to take out life insurance however the first one I applied for (Legal and General) turned me down. Is this a common thing? Can anyone recommend a good life insurance company who takes on MBL?

Many thanks, Nikki

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi Silversmithmonkey,

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Here is a link to the 28 previous postings that mention life insurance, I hope you can find some useful information among the replies here: healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

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Len

[Silversmithmonkey in reply to lankisterguy]

Many thanks!

[Pageboy]

Sadly, despite better medication and prognosis, my own experience is that life insurance companies won’t go near me and those that considered it briefly had out of reach premiums. I have CLL and simply don’t tick the right boxes. My life insurance ran out three years ago when I was 50, but luckily my mortgage etc was in place and my partner can get it. There are those adverts on the TV (UK) who say you don’t need a medical and ‘no tricky questions’ etc but I don’t know how accurate that is, and the pay out doesn’t really warrant the investment. I’d be interested to know if you find anywhere. Good luck.

[Silversmithmonkey in reply to Pageboy]

It doesn't fill you with much hope eh! I know the adverts you speak of but your probably right, not worth the investment. If I have any luck I'll let folk on here know. Thanks!

[scryer99]

You are likely out of luck.

Any policy that is of reasonable size, given your likely need at 43, is going to require a medical exam as soon as you mention MBL. They will likely turn you down at that point.

You could consider not disclosing your MBL, but you run the risk of the company later determining you did not disclose appropriately and nullifying your policy.

MBL, however, is not CLL. What you might try is finding a specialist insurance broker who handles hard-to-insure health issues. As long as you have not progressed to CLL you might still have some options. There may be some companies who would write a non-CLL patient or whose underwriting guidelines do not require disclosure of MBL. A specialist will know that space.

If you have CLL, however, you are basically uninsurable from a life insurance standpoint. I've confirmed this with multiple insurance people.

On the "no medical exam" policies... there are some, yes, but the face value of the policies will be relatively small. In theory you could piece together some coverage; in practice it would be expensive and cumbersome.

EDIT: I have seem some reports of CLLers managing to get coverage outside the US as long as they can demonstrate low progression, i.e. a few years of W&W. I've also seen folks post-treatment who have gotten to MRD and remained so for a couple of years potentially having luck. My advice remains, though: find a good insurance broker who specializes in health issues and placement.

Also recognize that premiums may be insanely expensive, $1000s per month in the US. This is often true of conversion from a group policy (employer provided) to an individual policy (if you leave the employer). If you have life insurance options through work, though, they sometimes will write reasonable coverage without an exam.

[Silversmithmonkey in reply to scryer99]

I live in Scotland so it may be different though I'm not holding out much hope really.I'll try and find a specialist company and let you know how I get on. Many thanks.

[The-Man-with-a-Plan]

Good Luck Silversmith. You are going to need it. The life insurance industry is in the business of taking money from healthy people not sick people.

And, if a company does decide to underwrite your request for life insurance, you can almost count on those premiums being astronomically high.

If you do find something, please repost. I see lankisterguy gave you a link.

Man-with-a-Plan

[Silversmithmonkey in reply to The-Man-with-a-Plan]

I'm going to do a bit of investigating. It's a crazy situation, makes you feel like you've not really got that long left.I'll let you know if I find anything useful.

[The-Man-with-a-Plan]

OK. Good luck.

[SERVrider]

Travel insurance seems to be much the same; I tried SAGA and they flat refused to offer a policy. As I haven't needed to travel outside the UK, I haven't needed cover over my EHIC cover so have not yet scoured the market.