If you’ve ever tried to sort insurance while living with a chronic illness, you’ll know it can feel overwhelming, jargon-heavy, and frankly demoralising. In Episode 42 of 3Spoonies, Karen, Jo, and Claire are joined by independent insurance adviser and broker, Sarah Gashi (now trading as Clever Duck), to unpack how to approach insurance when you’re already ill—and why there’s almost always a way to get meaningful cover.
Guest:
Sarah Gashi — Independent insurance adviser/broker specialising in life insurance, critical illness, sickness cover, hospitalisation cover, and private medical insurance. She represents the customer, not the insurer, and works across the whole market to find the best fit. You can find out more about Sarah here.
Episode overview:
The conversation covers how to get insurance when you already have health conditions, the kinds of cover worth prioritising (especially if you’re self-employed), and how to navigate medical disclosures, referrals, and “guaranteed acceptance” options. Sarah also shares why women are often underinsured—and what to do about it.
Key points:
You probably can get cover: Being declined by one insurer doesn’t mean you’re uninsurable. Different insurers treat conditions and risks differently.
Use a broker/adviser: Speaking to an insurance adviser should be free for you (they’re paid by insurers). They’ll save you time, reduce repetitive forms, and usually secure better terms and fewer exclusions.
Timing matters with diagnoses: If you have symptoms but no diagnosis, insurers often postpone decisions. Once there’s a clear diagnosis (even if it’s something like IBS), underwriting is usually easier and terms are often better.
If you’re self‑employed: Prioritise income protection/sickness cover or hospitalisation cover if you don’t get employer sick pay. If budgets are tight, you may not be able to afford not to have some protection.
When medical underwriting isn’t possible: If you’re actively in treatment (e.g., for cancer), look at non‑underwritten/guaranteed acceptance policies such as accident, injury, and hospitalisation cover to bridge the gap.
Honesty is essential: Always answer questions as asked—no more, no less. Don’t withhold anything material (e.g., prior cancers), or your policy may be voided later.
Women and cover: Women are significantly underinsured compared to men, yet often need cover earlier. Many women are self-employed due to health needs—making personal cover even more important.
Trusts are your friend: If you take out life insurance, ask to put it in trust (this should be free). You can name trustees (e.g., a sibling) and beneficiaries (e.g., a child) to make sure money goes where it should without delays.
Practical extras: Some guaranteed-acceptance policies include “soft benefits” like virtual GP appointments—handy if you’re stuck on long referral waitlists.
What to do if you’re already ill and starting a business:
– Speak to an independent adviser who covers the whole market.
– List your must-haves: income replacement, hospitalisation, life cover, critical illness (if available), and budget.
– Gather your medical info: diagnoses, dates, medications, recent referrals.
– If you’re awaiting diagnosis: Consider interim, guaranteed-acceptance options; use any virtual GP access included to keep things moving.
– Don’t apply repeatedly to different insurers yourself—let an adviser target the right ones to avoid declines and delays.
Final thought:
Don’t assume you’re uninsurable because you’re already ill. With the right advice, there’s usually a path to meaningful financial protection—especially important if you’re self-employed or supporting a family. Reach out, ask questions, and get cover that works for your real life. You can find out more about Sarah here.
You can find all the ways to watch or listen to the full episode here.
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