Millions keep ill health secret from loved ones

A new study1 has revealed that seven million people (13% of the population) are hiding a mental health condition from loved ones, while nearly four million (7%) are keeping quiet about a physical health problem.

Although we all have personal information we’d prefer to keep private, concealing the truth from our families can cause symptoms such as anxiety (34%), guilt (29%) and difficulties sleeping (25%), as well as have serious long-term implications.

Protect yourself and your family

Keeping important health issues secret from your family could be painful and shocking if you died or became seriously ill. What’s more, they could find themselves facing financial hardship at an extremely difficult time.

Even if you have a life insurance or critical illness policy, your claim may be rejected if, as with your family, you also don’t tell your insurer about your condition. If you’re hiding a mental or physical health condition when the policy is underwritten, there’s a significant chance you could invalidate your life insurance or critical illness policy.

How we can help

In these difficult times, a problem shared is a problem halved. By talking to us, we can help you put sufficient protection in place that will protect both you and your family against unexpected life events.

1Life Search, 2020

The value of investments and income from them may go down. You may not get back the original amount invested. A pension is a long-term investment. The fund value may fluctuate and can go down. Your eventual income may depend on the size of the fund at retirement, future interest rates and tax legislation.