Malignant Melanoma and life insurance

FormerMember
FormerMember
  • 85 replies
  • 53 subscribers
  • 207361 views

Hi all

What a great website and 'community' spirit nice to see some positive thinking surrounding such a negative subject. Apologies up front for the long winded post but if anybody can offer any advice or comment on their own experiences surrounding critical illness cover I'd appreciate it...

 

...I was diagnosed in March with an Invasive Nodular Malignant Melanoma on my back (originally went to check a different suspicious mole and discovered this one on my back by accident!) and have subsequently had two minor (although sizable scar!) operations to remove it.

It was recorded as 0.7mm depth on the Breslow scale? A nurse specialist has recently advised me that I would be eligible to claim on my Critical Illness insurance because it was 'Invasive' and 'Malignant'. I requested the claim forms from my insurance company last week who told me over the phone that there are no exclusions associated with this condition (with it being Invasive) and they would send out the relevant forms in the post.

My question...Does anybody have any experience of claiming against a 'critical Illness' insurance policy? Despite it being confirmed as 'Invasive', is 0.7mm significant enough to satisfy the insurance company - given there are no exclusions, or are they likely to avoid settling at any cost? I just wondered what the likelihood of success might be? My claims history is clear and all medical history has always been fully disclosed. Maybe I'm being too skeptical when it comes to insurance companies?

The only negative (apart from the cancer itself of course) is that I was diagnosed in March and the policy states that they must be notified within 13wks of diagnosis. However, It was not fully explained to me by the hospital until last week that the cancer was in fact Invasive and that they suggest I could claim...hence the delay.

Thanks in advance :D

Nigel

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Kelly did you have a Clark level?  I didn't know about these until last night x

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Hi, i had stage 1a with a breslow thickness of 0.28mm a no idea about the clark level.  Stage 1a melanoma is sufficient to trigger the clause in most U.K. Policies. Only stage 0 and non malignant ones are not covered.

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    I was with L&G too. Their ts and cs are on the www. When you ring tomo, read them your diagnosis, and they'll know straight away whether you're in the parameters of what they'll pay out for. 

    I also got the histology report from my doc, if you have that it's worth sending with your forms, and it will possibly have more detail on. My understanding is that you only normally get a Clark level if your breslow is thin, which I think yours like mine was, but even if you didn't get one, the full histology report should detail depth.


    Fingers crossed, it's a lovely bonus! 

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Hi, I'm not too sure I'm afraid! I don't remember them mentioning anything...but to be fair I was in a bubble at the time as I wasn't expecting the news! I had been left for 2 months after my initial operation before they told me it was melanoma...so I presumed everything was fine or they would have got me in sooner! 

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Update: claims well underway being investigated.  They have received the info from my GP, but the Consultant hasn't responded so they are just waiting on 1 bit of info and said they hoped to ring me soon with good news.  It's 2 weeks today since I sent my forms to L&G.  I'm being made redundant end of August so this would come in very handy for me.  Had my fair share of bad luck so hoping this will be my silver lining and things start to improve for me. Thank you for the replies 

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Hi i am in the same position, my wife was diagnosed with t1 kidney cancer this year then whilst in hospital i thought i better have a check on a mole behind my ear which i did get check last year to which the "specialist"said it was nothing to worry about. then whilst my wife was recovering i got the news mine was a t1a melanoma .45mm clarks level 3, checked through my policy, would appear it would be covered, the strange thing is i didnt think it would be as i feel felt fine as most t1 melanoma patients. put my claim in and are waiting, the terms state "skin cancer covered melanoma as long as not confined to epidermis" mine is stated as "invasive in dermis" so i would i like to think will payout, but part of me hopes they wont, so it means invasive melanoma isnt as bad as i have been told it is.. very surreal, and with my wife being ill just feels all weird, and scary, but she has now been given good prognosis, as removed and clear, after my operation and skin graft i have been told no more melanoma cells, but its the worry of recurrence that sits with me and my wife, and i guess thats the worst part of cancer, the what if's..so hopefully a payout will be a bit of a silver lining, as we have had a bad year to say the least, and i guess thats what you pay for after all, i have been paying critical illness cover for 10 years at a hefty sum of 1k per month, ill keep you posted, 

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    HI whatayear

    I am wondering how you are getting a long and how your wife is doing?  Just thought I would update you. Today L & G rang to confirm that my claim has been upheld and the funds are being processed.  Mine was very very early stages so I am hoping your claims will be successful too. 

    Please do keep me updated with your outcome and I really hope you receive some good news soon.  Money isn't everything, we know this don't we, but after a very stressful time, sometimes it is nice to receive an unexpected gift. 


    Best wishes

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    hi Des4dn still waiting, and well done for the results from l&g, Your right money isnt everythin but when you have bad luck its nice to get some good luck to help the pain.

    Hopefully we will have luck, good luck in your future

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Hi all, have been reading through this thread and seeing alot of good feedback about L&G but nothing recent about Royal London/Bright Grey. 

    I was diagnosed with a stage 2a Malignant Melanoma in March which had a breslow thickness of 1.8mm but wasn't told a Clark level. After the panic subsided slightly, being the organised person I am, I thought it time to check the life insurance policies to make sure my hubby and kids would be financially ok should the worst happen. I then discovered I had critical illness cover, which I hadn't realised I'd got with Bright Grey. I phoned them and filled in the forms and sent all the hospital letters I had. They are now waiting on a report from my plastic surgeon who is on holiday. Since claiming, my WLE and SLNB has come back clear, so unsure if the surgeon tells them this, whether my claim will be paid, because technically I am now cancer free! I feel guilty in claiming now, as once my leg heals my life will go on, but I didn't know the outcome when I claimed. 


    Has anyone else had something similar with Royal London/Bright Grey in recent years? Many thanks


    Pook

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    I had stage 1a and cover with bright gray.  They paid out.  i had a large WLE and no SLNB but am under 3 monthly obs.  Away to have a lymph node behind my knee removed today as a precaution - 18 months after the initial cancer in my leg so don't feel bad when they pay out.