Do life insurance rules that deny payment after suicide discriminate against those with mental health issues? If those rules didn't exist would suicide rate increase?

Today@lemm.ee to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world – 139 points –

Is the discrimination worth it as a deterrent? Or is it just to save the instance companies $$$?

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Let's say your mental health issues has been known before you took out the policy, would that affect the payout regardless of time between taking it and the suicide?

Would they even underwrite the policy?

Typically no. Life insurance companies don’t like anything regarding mental illnesses. Largely because it’s under researched, so they just say “no thanks.”

Wouldn’t affect the payout, but it would increase your premium.

If they even underwrite it and don’t just decline coverage anyway.

My wife got declined for being underweight by 10lbs. No way they underwrite someone with documented suicidal ideations.

I’m not sure what you mean by underwriting it and declining coverage anyway. But you’re correct, it is challenging to get somebody approved for taking medication relating to anxiety/depression. If they have a history of being hospitalized, they will not approve the underwriting.

It’s surprising that your wife got declined for being 10 lbs under weight. If that was truly the only problem, I’d be able to get that approved through just about anybody. Which company did you use?

I didn’t say underwrite it and decline coverage anyway.

I was speaking to your statement of it wouldn’t affect payout but would affect premiums.

It would affect the premium if they do decide to underwrite it at all and don’t just decline you.