I was refused a life insurance payout even though I’m dying because my plan finishes soon – and I CAN’T get new one

A DYING man has been refused a life insurance payout because his plan finishes soon – and he can’t get a new one.

Mark Brookes, 63, was diagnosed with terminal bile duct cancer around four weeks ago.

The West Midlands council worker has paid £52 a month for his Aviva life insurance since 2009, totalling almost £9,000.

But the small print said terminally ill people can only make a life insurance claim if they have 18 months left on their policy.

Mark’s policy expires this December, but he cannot renew it or get a new plan because of his terminal diagnosis.

He told the Manchester Evening News: “It’s immoral. Aviva has happily taken my money since 2009.

“We’ve still got £70,000 of a mortgage left to pay that we thought would be dealt with by a payment

“That will now be left for my wife to pay. My wife hasn’t got a pension, she’s had to give up work to look after me.”

Mark has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer affecting the bile duct.

The cancer can often go without symptoms, and it was only when Mark “just turned yellow” that doctors twigged what was happening.

By then, the cancer had spread irreversibly and Mark was terminally ill.

Aviva stopped selling life insurance policies with the 18-month cut-off for terminally ill people in 2013.

But Mark claimed he was never told about the decision to end the cut-off.

Mark now fears his family will have to downsize and that they will struggle to care for his dad, who has dementia.

He called on Aviva to refund his payments as a gesture of goodwill – adding he has to pay another £400 before his policy expires.

Aviva said: “We were very sorry to hear about Mr Brookes’ diagnosis and are very sympathetic to his situation.

“We understand the seriousness of his diagnosis and appreciate that this must be a very worrying time for him.

“Life insurance is designed to provide a payment to the customer’s beneficiaries if the customer dies within the policy term.

“Terminal illness benefit allows advance payment of the death benefit up until 18 months before the policy end date.

“A medical specialist must confirm that they are sadly expected to live for less than 12 months.

“It isn’t a separate benefit and shouldn’t be confused with critical illness benefit.”

‘IMMORAL’

An Aviva spokesperson said Mark’s financial adviser would have explained the small print when he took out the policy.

They added: “Life insurance cover is available for the full 15-year term of Mr and Mrs Brookes’ policy.

“This would be payable to the beneficiary if either of them sadly died.

“An advanced payment through the terminal illness benefit is not payable within the final 18 months of the policy.

“This is to ensure that any benefit is paid whilst the policy is still in force.

“It is clearly explained in the terms and conditions of the policy, as well as in pre and post-sale literature that was sent to Mr Brookes.

“We are very sorry that Mr Brookes was diagnosed with his condition within the final 18 months of his policy after the terminal Illness benefit has ceased.

“We regrettably were unable to accept a claim under the terminal illness benefit.

“To provide fair and consistent outcomes for all customers in this scenario, it would not be reasonable to consider a claim which clearly falls within the exclusion.”