The underwriter will, in the first instance, look for a full disclosure from the applicant. This will usually be with a point of sale questionnaire designed to elicit the key areas of concern. These are date of onset, cause, whether the person is still on treatment and if so, what type. Whether there has ever been any inpatient treatment or a suicide attempt and whether there has been any time off work, if so, when and how long?
Depending on the client's answers, the size of the sum assured and benefits being applied for, it may be possible to accept some applications without having to obtain any further information. This will usually be for short-lived reactive episodes now fully resolved although it may be possible to offer terms if the client is still on treatment if there is a detailed and adequate disclosure. Because there is often an element of under-disclosure due to the stigma of depression, it is therefore more often than not necessary to obtain a GP's report. Again this would involve a specifically tail...
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