Firstly, thank you for trusting us with something so personal.

I can completely understand why this feels so frustrating. You're not asking for something extravagant. You're trying to protect yourself and your family from the financial fallout of a health event that could see you unable to work, or have large medical or additional life costs from being unwell, or worse... And instead, you've run into a system that feels like it's punishing you for having disabilities that you were born with. 

Unfortunately, you're not alone.

One of the biggest misconceptions people have about personal insurance is that everyone can simply 'get covered' whenever they want. In reality, insurance is always about assessing risk. And once you apply to increase your cover above the automatic amount provided through super, the insurer will usually ask health questions and medically assess your application (or they can assess at claim stage which can be even more complicated!). 

That assessment generally includes a bunch of very personal info. Like, they will probably end up knowing more about you than your Doctor, Accountant or bestie - because they generally want info on your physical health conditions, mental health history (including ADHD and Autism diagnoses), medications, occupations, financials, family histories, pastimes and anything else that will help them figure out what kind of risk you pose to the 'pool'. Be ready - its a lot!

Sometimes applications are accepted without any changes. And, honestly, that is a rarity in my experience.

Sometimes they're accepted with exclusions or higher premiums (called a 'loading'). 

And sometimes they're declined. 

It feels incredibly personal, but it's usually an underwriting decision based on how the insurer assesses risk, rather than a judgement about you as a person. How I think about it is, even if you are sure you would never claim for that 'issue' or diagnosis - if the insurers had a hundred people also with the same situation - whats the chance of one or more of them needing to claim? That helps to see they are looking at it through a big picture lense and it starts to feels less like you're back in Year 9 and have just been told 'you can't sit with us'.

That said... it still absolutely sucks when the outcome is that the people who most want to protect their families can find it hardest to access cover. 

A few things may still be worth exploring... 

1. Check exactly what was declined. 

Were you declined for: 

• Life insurance? 
• Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD)? 
• Income Protection? 

And have you been able to retain your original cover, and have been declined on the increased amount you wanted?

Sometimes only one type of insurance is affected, while another may still be available.  

2. Don't assume every insurer will make the same decision. 

Different insurers have different underwriting guidelines. One insurer may decline an application while another may offer cover with different terms. Its a bit like how banks will have different rulesets for mortgage applicants. 

 That doesn't guarantee a different outcome, but it does mean one decline doesn't necessarily mean every door is closed forever. I often find it depends on the condition/situation. And the insurers themselves can update their guidelines too (when I first started out in insurance-land we almost never insured anyone who had a history of mental health conditions - that has moved a fair bit in the last 20 years!).

3. Consider working with an insurance adviser. 

 This is one of those situations where professional advice can genuinely add value. These peeps know insurance contracts inside out and back to front. They love knowing the detail, so you don't have to - and they will do their darndest to try to get you adequately covered if they can. 

They can: 

• Understand which insurers may be a better fit for your circumstances. 
• Help present your medical information accurately.
• Explain whether there are alternative policy structures worth considering.
• Save you from making multiple applications that may all reach the same result. 

Sometimes knowing where not to apply is just as valuable as knowing where to apply. They are honestly worth their weight in gold in many instances. 

And importantly...Even if full cover isn't possible, all hope isn't necessarily lost. An experienced insurance adviser may be able to explore alternative options, such as accident-only cover or other more limited policies. They won't suit everyone and they don't replace comprehensive cover, but in some situations they can still provide valuable protection.

Remember that insurance is only one layer of protection. There are other incredibly important pieces of the puzzle, including: 

• Having an up-to-date Will. 
• Appointing appropriate guardians for any children. 
• Making sure your superannuation beneficiary nominations are current. 
• Building an emergency fund where possible (you may want a larger amount if you are uninsurable). 
• Investing in your personal name will build up your asset base and, in time, may be able to supplement part or all of your income.
• Thinking about who would help manage finances on behalf of your children if needed.
• Considering how you structure your mortgage and any additional debt repayments. 

Insurance is important do not get me wrong, but it isn't the only thing that creates financial security for you and your family. 

While we can't provide personal financial advice here, I'd encourage you to speak with a specialist insurance adviser. They may be able to identify options that aren't immediately obvious and help you understand exactly what cover is still available. 

Because while this may not be as straightforward as you hoped, this certainly doesn't have to be the end of the conversation. 

My neuroscpicy and sadly now too uninsurable body is wishing you all the very best in finding a solution that works for you.

Jess x

Have a money dilemma?

Money dilemmas can be a nightmare! They can leave you up all night ruminating about what to do, have you feeling alone and isolated or just plain ol' stuck. So, we are here to help. I am going to tackle one a week and give you my unbiased, no BS general thoughts on how to tackle your conundrum. We would love for you to send yours (or someone you know) in. 

Obvs all of this is general advice only... especially important to note any and all of the comments above do not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information, you should consider the appropriateness of the information provided and the nature of the relevant financial product having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.