It is often mistakenly assumed that a life insurance policy would not pay out for suicide, but that simply isn't the case. Most leading life insurance providers in the UK will payout for suicide, however a suicidal death clause is likely to apply. In this article we reveal which insurers pay out for suicidal death and whether they apply a suicidal death clause.
Getting help if you are having suicidal thoughts
If you find that you are struggling emotionally and need someone to talk to the following organisations can provide you with help:
You can call the Samaritans for free at any time on 116 123 (UK and Ireland).
CALM is the campaign against living miserable. It aims to prevent male suicide in the UK and offers anonymous, confidential listening, information and signposting. Call 0800 58 58 58 (Open daily - 5pm - Midnight)
Life insurance suicidal death clause explained
Most life insurance providers in the UK will pay out in the event of suicide, however be aware that most policies will have a 'suicide clause' within the terms and conditions of cover. The suicide contestability clause sets out where death by suicide wouldn't be covered and each insurance company has its own clause.
What is a suicide clause and what does it do?
A suicide clause will typically set out the exclusion period at the start of a policy in which if suicide takes place, a death claim will not be paid.
What is the time period set out on a suicide clause?
Most suicide clauses set out a time period of between 12 and 24 months in which if suicide takes place, a payout will not be paid. The time period will vary from insurer to insurer.
Will life insurance pay for suicide once the time period on a suicide clause has expired?
Yes. Once the contestability period on a suicide clause has passed, any claim arising from suicide should be paid. A word of caution however, an insurance company may request additional medical evidence in the event of a claim and this can include doctor and hospital reports.
The most common reason for a declined life insurance claim is 'non disclosure' regardless of what suicide provision there is within the policy. So make sure that you are completely honest when you apply for life insurance and don't leave anything to chance.
Which life insurance providers pay out for suicidal death in the UK?
In the table below we have summarised how 10 of the top life insurance companies in the UK treat suicide:
| Insurer | Covered for Suicide? |
Suicide not covered within the first:
|
| AIG | Yes |
12 months of taking the policy out
|
| Aviva | Yes |
12 months of taking the policy out
|
| Beagle Street | Yes |
12 months of taking the policy out
|
| Legal & General | Yes |
12 months of taking the policy out
|
| LV= | Yes |
12 months of taking the policy out
|
| Royal London | Yes |
12 months of taking the policy out
|
| Scottish Widows | Yes |
12 months of taking the policy out
|
| Vitality | Yes |
12 months of taking the policy out
|
| Zurich | Yes |
12 months of taking the policy out
|
Applying for life insurance if you have had depression and/or suicidal thoughts
When you complete a life insurance application you will be faced with a number of health and lifestyle questions and so you need to be as honest as you can when completing the forms.
The questions will ask about your past and current health information but in some cases, this is timebound so they only wish to know about some medical information if you had symptoms or saw a doctor in the last 5 years, for example. Pre-existing health conditions that you have recovered from and occurred in the distant past may not be relevant but you should answer the question accurately and honestly as it is asked.
One of the key questions on a life insurance application relates to whether you have suffered any anxiety, depression or stress and whether you have had any suicidal tendencies.
Even if you have suffered from mental health issues in the past it does not automatically mean that you will be declined for life insurance cover. Most insurance companies will ask for a little more information, perhaps asking you to complete a mental health questionnaire and it is likely that they will write to your doctor.
If you are unable, for any reason, to relay information to the insurance company about your mental health, it is always best to tell the insurance company - misinformation or omissions could lead to a declined claim.
Life insurance - Additional mental health questions
If you have suffered with your mental health in the past then you may be asked some additional questions when applying for life insurance.
Additional questions relating to mental health could include:
- The name/type of condition you suffer from
- The diagnosis date
- Have you had any specialist referrals or hospital admissions
- Are you still suffering
- The severity and regularity of symptoms
- Have you had any time off of work
- What medication do you take, how much and how often
Do all types of life insurance applications ask about mental health?
Most types of life insurance applications include a question that asks about your medical history of mental health including term life insurance and whole of life insurance.
Over 50s life insurance applications do not ask you about your health but most of them have a qualifying period so claims are not usually paid in the first 12 to 24 months.
Group life insurance that is arranged by a business to cover its employees may not have a suicide clause that prevents a death benefit for an employee who committed suicide regardless of the time elapsed since the policy was started.
Can I get life insurance if I have suffered with anxiety, stress or depression (or had suicidal thoughts)
In most cases yes. Rather than declining your application, it is likely that you would be offered life insurance with an increased premium (often referred to as a rating or loading) owing to the increased risk. It may be that your mental health has been affected by a difficult time and this will be taken on board by the underwriters when they assess your application. Only those who suffer from severe or recurring mental health issues will find that their application is either postponed or declined.
Every insurance company is different and so we would recommend that you always speak to an independent life insurance specialist* who can ask all of the relevant questions before speaking to the insurance companies on your behalf. They do all of the hard work for you meaning you can be confident that the company you apply through is the best and cheapest for your own unique circumstances. Any contestability clause can be explained to you if you ask about it and it can be helpful to hear this in lay terms rather than read the technical guides provided by insurance companies. To speak to an independent specialist, who can compare the best and cheapest quotes for you, simply complete this short form*. You may also wish to read our article 'Can I get life insurance with anxiety, stress or mental illness?'
Getting help if you have had suicidal thoughts
If you find that you are struggling emotionally and need someone to talk to the following organisations can provide you with help:
You can call the Samaritans for free at any time on 116 123 (UK and Ireland).
Mind has a confidential telephone helpline. Call 0300 123 339 (Lines are open Monday-Friday, 09:00-18:00)
Shout is a text service that you can text for free from any major mobile network service. It is open 24/7 - Text SHOUT to 85258
CALM is the campaign against living miserable. It aims to prevent male suicide in the UK and offers anonymous, confidential listening, information and signposting. Call 0800 58 58 58 (Open daily - 5pm - Midnight)
If a link has an * beside it this means that it is an affiliated link. If you go via the link, Money to the Masses may receive a small fee which helps keep Money to the Masses free to use. The following link can be used if you do not wish to help Money to the Masses and do not wish to qualify for the cashback referred to in the article - LifeSearch
