More diverse workforces could ensure more people benefit from protection cover – particularly where customers are penalised for being open more about mental health conditions.
This is according to Evric Davis, protection specialist at London & Country (pictured), who was participating in a panel debate at Protection Review 2024 last week.
Helping customers navigate complex issues
Davis explained advisers who are mothers and who have suffered post natal depression would be best placed to navigate issues with securing income protection for example.
“This is very complex especially when advising on income protection,” Davis said.
“They can probably best advise on which insurers are going to be best for them because different insurers have different underwriting stances on that.”
Underwriting mental health issues
Davis maintained that when it comes to underwriting and issues with income protection, that it is quite unfair that the sector fails to look at these on a case-by-case basis – especially when it comes to mental health.
“And just in terms of how things have changed when it comes to mental health and how people are more open with mental health, there are blanket exclusions if you have had post natal depression, you’ve given birth, why is there a whole mental health exclusion on that policy?” Davis said.
“Or it could be someone that has lost a parent for example, they’ve gone through a period of counselling, they’re not necessarily on medication when they’ve been going through this hard time.
“A loss of a parent will definitely affect someone.
“But again, having people from different backgrounds who share their experience will help more people take out protection and understand how we can best protect them when the worst happens.”
