July 21, 2025
In the world of financial protection, honesty isn’t just the best policy—it’s the one that ensures your policy delivers the cover you need. Whether you’re talking to your IFA about life insurance, income protection, or critical illness cover, full disclosure during the application process is essential to securing reliable coverage and avoiding having your future claim denied just when you need it most.
Financial protection policies are designed to provide a safety net for some of life’s most challenging moments. But that safety net only holds if the insurer has a complete and accurate picture of your circumstances when you apply. Full disclosure means providing all relevant information about health, lifestyle, occupation, and medical history at the point of application.
Failure to disclose information—even unintentionally—can result in:
As IFAs, identifying the most appropriate financial protections for your circumstances, guiding you through the application process with clarity and care, and helping you avoid the pitfalls, are some of the valuable services we offer.
What do you need to disclose?
One of the things we take time to explain to our clients is what counts as ‘material information.’ It’s not just major illnesses—details like smoking habits, mental health history, family medical conditions, and even hobbies (e.g., scuba diving or mountaineering) can affect underwriting decisions.
That’s why we ask you so many questions!
When we discuss your financial protection options, we’ll ask you about:
Even if a detail seems minor or irrelevant, it’s better to disclose and let the insurer decide its significance.
What the numbers say: claims paid in the UK
The good news? When policies are set up correctly—with full disclosure—the vast majority of claims are paid. Take Royal London, one of the largest providers, for example:
Royal London’s 2024 claims report shows that 98.8% of protection claims were paid in 2024 (a little above the national figure for 2024, which, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), was 97.9%.
That includes:
These figures underscore the reliability of protection products—when disclosure is complete and accurate.
Common Reasons for Claim Rejection
Why do some claims get rejected? The most common reasons include:
Our guidance will help you to avoid accidental errors that could compromise your claim.
One concern that our clients sometimes raise is their fear that disclosing certain conditions will lead to higher premiums, or the application being rejected.
While that is possible, our advice is always that it’s far better to secure a policy that reflects your true circumstances than waste premiums on one that won’t pay out when you need it.
We’re here to help you find the best fit for you, walk you through the application process and liaise with the underwriters where needed.
If you do need to make a claim, we’ll also support you through the claims process, advocating for you with the insurer and following up on medical evidence.
Are you ready to protect your financial future? Find a Talis IFA
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