Life insurance

If you are refused life insurance or the amount you have to pay is increased, the insurer needs to show that your mental illness could directly affect how long you will live.

Many severe mental illnesses have both an increased risk of suicide and accidental death. You may be denied life insurance or have to pay higher premiums on those grounds.

You may be offered income protection insurance when you take out a mortgage. If you become ill, the insurers will pay your mortgage for a set length of time while you recover.

Among the greatest number of claims are due to mental illness and while we have little experience of discrimination in this area, this type of insurance being relatively new, it is conceivable that insurers may deem people with a mental illness at a higher risk of becoming ill and you may be refused insurance or have to pay a higher premium.