18 months ago I took out my first mortgage and thought it would be a good idea to take out some insurance policies to ensure we would be ok financially should the worst happen. I decided to take out a separate critical illness policy which would pay out a lump sum, enough to cover the mortgage. There was no medical questionaire to fill in at the time of application and I was immediately accepted for full cover.
In October 2012 I visited my doctor due to various unusual symptoms I had been experiencing for a few weeks and was immediately referred to a neurologist.
I was subsequently diagnosed with MS in January 2013.
I checked the critical illness cover we had taken out and MS was one of the covered illnesses - the policy did state that no amount would be paid out in the first 2 years from the policy start date had I ever suffered from, sought advice on or been given treatment for any of the ‘pre-existing related symptoms’ of MS.
MS had never been mentioned to me prior to October 2012 and I therefore was of the opinion that I must never have suffered from any of the ‘pre-existing related symptoms’ of MS or surely my doctor would have mentioned this.
I submitted my claim on 28th January 2013 and have received a letter from the insurance company today advising me that my claim had been rejected and I would no longer be covered for MS should I wish to continue with the policy!!!
I rang them only to be told that they were declining my claim due to me suffering from blurred vision in my left eye and tingling/weakness in my left arm, which was documented in my medical notes in 2006. I obtained a copy of my medical notes in January 2013 for my reference so I decided to look up the entry they had used to decline my claim.
My GP had written the following:
‘patient advised migraines are becoming more frequent and difficult to manage on current pain-killers. Migraines present as left sided head, neck and shoulder pain with aura in left eye and tingling/slight weakness down left arm (probably caused by muscle tension in shoulder/neck). Patient history confirms she has suffered from migraines for several years. Reflex tests are normal. Prescribed co-codamol.’
They have therefore said that abnormal sensation, blurred vision and weakness are ‘pre-existing related symptoms’ of MS and therefore my policy was null and void for MS.
I have spoken with my cousin today who is a GP and he has confirmed that migraine can cause all of these symptoms but it does not necessarily mean that the migraines and MS are linked. They can be two completely separate conditions causing similar symptoms. He also said that had my GP had even the slightest suspicion that I may have had MS he would have referred me to a Neuro back then. It is also clear from my medical notes that I have suffered from migraines for years it’s just unfortunate that on this one occasion my doctor has fully decribed the symptoms of my migraine in my notes. The actual symptoms were never mentioned in any previous notes and they simply said ‘migraine’.
Do you think it would help my case if I could persuade my Neuro to write to the insurance company confirming that it would be impossible to confirm whether the migraine and MS were linked?